Thank you for offering spiritual accompaniment. We are aware just how many people appreciate this ministry and keep you in our prayers. We do hope you find these pages helpful. They provide a resource you can access whenever you want.
Please click one of the links below:
- Continuing Development
- Good Practice
- Insurance
- Key Dates
- Leadership
- Policies
- Promotional material
- Referrals
- Reviews
- Revision of Details
- Safeguarding
- Supervision
Continuing Development
To support continuing development, we hold our annual Spiritual Accompaniers’ Gathering over two days in November. In 2026, the dates are 28 and 29 November. We will send details to all spiritual accompaniers in the Accompaniers’ Community.
We offer Quarterly Spiritual Accompanier Resource Evenings, both in person at Whirlow Spirituality Centre and online (see WSC website). We will send details of each event to all spiritual accompaniers in the Accompaniers’ Community.
The Diocesan Resource Centre at Church House, Effingham Street, Rotherham S65 1BL has a wide range of resources. So to does Whirlow Grange.
Some of our accompaniers have greatly valued online courses from other providers. These include:
Also:
- Ignatian Spirituality Centre Glasgow
- Jesuits
- Nick Helm
- Retreat Association
- SpiDir
- Spiritual Direction Forum
- Spiritual Directors International
- Society of the Sacred Mission – Information and resources for Spiritual Directors
- St Bueno’s
Good Practice
We expect:
- Authorised Spiritual Accompaniers in the Sheffield Accompaniers’ Community to follow our Good Practice Guidelines.
- Lay Church of England (Anglican) Accompaniers to follow the guidance for authorised ministers in Lay Ministry Good Practice.
Others may find this guidance helpful. Please to refer to your appropriate authorities.
For further advice, visit The Retreat Assocation’s Guidelines.
We encourage:
- Accompaniers to observe a Rule of Life and consider whether those they accompany might benefit from doing so.
Insurance
Authorised Spiritual Accompaniers are insured for referrals through Sheffield Diocese provided no money changes hands. Whether you charge or not, please consider and reduce risks to those you accompany and to yourself.
If you invite donations or charge for accompaniment, you may consider public and professional liability insurance. At the time of writing, The Retreat Association recommend Oxygen.
Key dates
Dates are subject to change and this list is not exhaustive.
Sat 26 September 2026 Celebration of Lay Ministries Service (Sheffield Cathedral)
Fri 28-Sat 29 November 2026 Autumn Gathering – provisionally with Julia Mourant (Cliff College, Calver)
Sat 18 September 2027 Celebration of Lay Ministries Service (Sheffield Cathedral)
Leadership
We are developing an open, inclusive, transparent aproach to the leadership of accompaniers. We would be delighted if you wanted to use your skills or explore new developing new skills. We encourage this in the spirit of accompaniment. So, if feel you have the gifts or are accompanying someone you think might be able to do one of the tasks below, we would love to hear about it.
If you would be interested in joining one of our leadership teams or becoming a course facilitator, we welcome informal enquiries from anyone.
- The Wardens’ Team has responsibility for overseeing the Spiritual Accompaniers’ Community.
- The Engagement Team is responsible for diversifying our Accompaniers’ Community. It has no executive power.
- Referral Team (see below)
- Supervision Team (see below)
- Course facilitators: Some receive payment for teaching, others are voluntary.
hould you not find what you’re looking for, type the title into a search box and results will appear below. Please let us know if you think links to other policies should appear here.
Promotional material
These resources are provided to help you to promote accompaniment in your church or elsewhere. Please contact Julian before doing so if you intend anything extensive.
Note: The three presentations are identical but intended for different audiences.
Referrals
Suzanna, our Administrator, refers all enquirers for spiritual accompaniment to a member of our Referral Team. After a conversation exploring the enquirer’s preferences and requirements, the referrer provides the contact details of two accompaniers.
To enquire about joining the Referral Team, please contact Julian in the first instance.
Reviews
Regular reviews with those you accompany is good practice. The Annual Review with Accompanee document suggests how to go about this.
Your name may be suggested to an enquirer if the database says you are available. It is thus ESSENTIAL that you keep the Referral Team up to date with your availability. They will tell you if your name has been offered to an enquirer.
Revision of Details
Every year, we will ask you to complete the Revision of Details form to keep our records up to date. Please use this form to tell us about any changes as they occur.
Safeguarding
The Diocese of Sheffield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all Spiritual Accompaniers to share this commitment. Applicants will be subject to relevant Safer Recruitment processes. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Julian.
Accompaniers of all denominations can complete their safeguarding training at the Church of England’s Safeguarding: Training Portal. This training is free of charge. To set up your account profile, please enter the name of the Church of England parish in which you live or “Sheffield Diocese” (whether you are Anglican or not).
Supervision
Supervision provides an opportunity to:
- Share your practice in a confidential setting with a trained supervisor, or in a group led by a supervisor, or in a peer group
- Explore feelings that may have arisen in you as you sit with your accompanees
- Celebrate the joys of accompanying others
Supervision is vital for your safety and that of those you accompany. We expect you to have regular supervision.
