Course Format – we offer this course in two formats, alternating between:
- In-person learning
- Blended learning (a mix of in-person and online sessions)
The course includes a weekend retreat at the accessible Briery Retreat Centre, Ilkley in April.
In-person sessions take place at: Rawmarsh High Street Centre, Rotherham – easily accessible with good transport links.
Blended learning includes:
- Three in-person study days
- A weekend retreat
- Online Zoom sessions with small group discussions
- Video learning between sessions
Course Dates
- September 2027 – In-person course
- June 2028 – Blended-learning course
Duration – Approximately six months
Cost – £250, covering all lunches and refreshments, the residential retreat, and resources.
Course information
Spiritual Growth and Transformation (SG&T) helps people develop their prayer life and their ability to listen for God’s guidance.
The course provides a safe and welcoming space to explore, reflect on, and share experiences of faith and your relationship with God.
Topics include:
- Our understanding of God
- Our understanding of ourselves
- The spiritual journey
- Personal calling and vocation
SG&T focuses on learning through experience and reflection. It is not an academic course.
Who can apply
Everyone is welcome. You do not need to belong to a particular church or denomination to apply. We welcome people of all faith backgrounds and those who do not belong to a denomination.
We value equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are working to make spiritual accompaniment accessible to everyone, and we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and people from underrepresented groups.
The blended format helps make the course more accessible for people across the Diocese, including those living in the east of the Diocese.
Where can this lead?
SG&T can be taken as a course on its own. If you also complete the Art of Spiritual Accompaniment course, it may provide part of the preparation needed to become a Spiritual Accompanier. You may also wish to read: Could you become an Accompanier?
Funding
The course is currently supported by funding from the Church of England’s Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board.
The fees shown apply to participants living within the Diocese of Sheffield and the Sheffield Methodist District.
Additional financial support may be available through a grant from Whirlow Spirituality Centre. Application forms and guidance are available online.
Comments from previous participants
‘I have valued opening to new possibilities; a haven of calm; a creative and stimulating exploration of my relationship to God; listening openly in trust to other’s experiences. Having space and time for connection in this way is like taking a deep breath of fresh air.’
‘I found the course to be very gentle and welcoming, mirroring what the leaders taught about the love of God, learning through experience as much as ‘given’ knowledge.’
‘The course has enabled me to look at and experience new ways of connecting with God and others, that are much gentler, truer and more loving than I have known before.’
‘It enabled me to come closer to God and profoundly experience God’s love.’
‘I can now walk into a greater freedom holding onto God in the power of the Spirit.’
