Friends at the QVA retreat. Photo: Hannah Brock.
Work, worship and play
Alison Smedley writes about a QVA working retreat
Through studying online with Woodbrooke – ‘a Friendly Introduction to Membership’ – some intentions came to mind before pursuing my application to join the Religious Society of Friends. First, I would attend Meetings other than my local one in Dolgellau. Second, I would become more involved in practical activism.
I went on to search for how I could best live my faith and where I could best fit in with Quaker activism. I came across Quaker Voluntary Action (QVA), which happened to have an upcoming working retreat in Mid Wales. Booking onto the retreat also opened up the opportunity to attend other Meetings, including the Pales, the oldest Meeting house in continuous use in Wales.
How, then, shall we lay hold of that Life and Power, and live the life of prayer without ceasing?
Thomas R Kelly, 1941
Quaker faith & practice 2.22
These words were among those which inspired me as I researched the QVA theme of prayer ahead of attending the retreat at the Pales – all of life as a prayer; what a simple yet amazing truth to attempt to live by.
Only hours before this I was in a state of mild panic as I hadn’t considered prayer a subject on which I had much to say. I am quite new to Quakers and briefly forgot that there are usually as many different interpretations as there are Friends, and this diversity gives us great freedom and comfort to explore. So, relaxing and being open to the topic led me to find words which spoke ‘to my condition’ and complete my pre-retreat reflection. I am grateful to Friends who find words for experiences which are so hard to define. I went on to forget to pack my gardening gloves and sunscreen – a reminder to keep my feet on the ground.
Journeys and arrivals
The journey to the Pales was remote and winding. At various points I wondered if I had taken a wrong turn. Eventually, the buildings appeared, unassuming and easily missed. A little further on was the quarry where we could park. Being a little early I decided to sit outside with my flask and take in the spectacular view. Another car pulled up and a couple introduced themselves as Claudia and Marco from Bologna in Italy. We went in together and met Hannah and Laura, the facilitators, and Carol, the Friend in Residence. Tea and homemade cakes were generously shared.
There was an overwhelming smell of ‘old’ in the Meeting house. It is more than three centuries old and it seemed to me that its walls must hold memories from throughout Quaker history.
Soon, Ruth arrived and we quickly became a sociable group. Keith was collected from the railway station at Penybont and we expected two more to arrive later.
Five of us camped. We were fortunate to have a dry day to pitch our tents and familiarise ourselves with the grounds. Carol took us on a tour and explained what needed doing. Nothing looked too daunting, though the enthusiasm cooled somewhat when we looked inside the woodshed! Fortunately, the man with the woodshed plan was yet to arrive. Tony, with his van and array of power tools, tackled this job with relish.
Each meal was prepared by two of us and I opted, along with Marco, to make Friday dinner. We had a selection of ingredients to work with and a suggested menu. This was a pleasure, though from time to time we got curious and popped outside to see what the others were doing in the fruit garden – working miracles, it would seem, as the transformation was impressive. Ripe blackcurrants (those which made it as far as the kitchen) provided a tasty dessert.
Individuals and community
Everyone had arrived in time for our first epilogue in the Meeting room. Here we met with a special silence and an atmosphere that was comforting and welcoming. ‘Be still and cool thy own mind,’ the words of George Fox from 1658, reminded us. They were in a simple, framed quotation on the wall. This room was to be the location for many spiritual activities during our stay – a cool, relaxing space on what proved to be a very hot weekend. We entered the Meeting room as a collection of individuals and left it as a community. The retreat had properly begun.
On Saturday morning we all undertook tasks outdoors, spreading out now over various projects: removing plastic tree guards, clearing the overgrown pond and surrounds, hedge trimming and working in the wonderful woodshed!
By Saturday lunchtime we had worked up a good appetite and, in the heat, quite a thirst. A more relaxed afternoon of free time and a walking prayer session balanced the day well. Afterwards, our pre-dinner work session was quieter and a little gentler. After dinner, epilogue was held on the hillside opposite, with the setting sun and a gentle breeze.
My second cooking duty was with Tony on Sunday morning: a feast of egg, beans, tomatoes and mushrooms, which was well-received. We went on to sing and speak and be silent around the newly-cleared pond. There was a joyful accompaniment from some resident frogs. Our worship continued at Llandrindod Wells Meeting house where we swelled the numbers considerably. This is a simple, modern, purpose-built building set back from the road and shaded. It is so peaceful and cool.
We were able to appreciate the value of a location in the town centre. This ensures that Friends can access the building more easily, and also allows for varied uses for the building, such as providing a space for refugee families to meet with their social worker.
Returning to the Pales for a leisurely lunch and a gradual return to practical work, we found the pressure had reduced because we had been very productive on Saturday. We began to see smaller jobs that had been concealed behind the larger, more urgent tasks: tidying the vegetable garden and trimming the roses around the door. Inevitably, work continued in the woodshed!
Peter came to tell us of the history of the Pales and of the hopes for the future, accompanied by his beautiful illustrations. There is clearly a great fondness for the Pales locally as well as an awareness that, as Quakers, nowhere is any more sacred than anywhere else and the Pales needs to continue to have a relevance in years to come.
Peace and reflection
Discerning the appropriate route forward is a big challenge, yet the feeling is positive. After just forty-eight hours here, I am personally aware of the value of time spent in such a peaceful, reflective setting. This is not a value that we could or should put a price on, but it feels relevant to our current need for spiritual refreshment in fast-paced, often stressful lives.
A very special epilogue among the memories in the burial ground brought this full and fulfilling Sunday to a close.
On Monday I awoke early, feeling a little sad that this was the last day of the retreat, closely followed by a joy that I could sit in the Meeting room alone for a while before breakfast. There was a little finishing off and tidying up to be done, as well as worship and lunch, before we departed at two o’clock that afternoon.
A very special final worship involved walking, perhaps in George Fox’s footsteps, to Penybont Common, where, centuries before, many were convinced and became Friends. Radnorshire became the stronghold of Quakers in Wales. Worship on Penybont Common was a very spiritual, gathered experience and a fitting close to our little itinerant community in Mid Wales. We had shared laughter, tears, chatter and silence, prayer, despair and delight – connection. We had made new friends.
After a long weekend working and worshipping in Radnorshire, I felt spiritually refreshed and physically a little tired. Broadening my experience of – and activity with – Friends has helped to deepen my spiritual experience and feel ‘at home’ among Friends, wherever that may be.
