Ministry

Information for Spiritual Accompaniers

Practical resources and development opportunities

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.

If you have suggestions for improvements, please contact me. Many thanks, Julian Raffay

Download handbook

Please click one of the links below:

Continuing Development

To support continuing development, we hold our annual Spiritual Accompaniers’ Gathering over two days in November.

In 2025, the dates are 7th and 8th November. The keynote speaker will be Ruth Holgate, Director of St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre. We will send details to all spiritual accompaniers in the network. In 2026, the dates are 28th and 29th November.

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 network.

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:

If you’ve found a particular course helpful, please let Julian Raffay know.

Good Practice

We expect:

Others may find this guidance helpful. Please to refer to your appropriate authorities.

For further advice, visit The Retreat Assocation’s Guidelines .

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.

7-8 November 2025 Autumn Gathering (with Ruth Holgate) – Wilson Carlile Centre, Sheffield

28-29 November 2026 Autumn Gathering – Cliff College, Calver

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. Please contact Julian Raffay.

  • The Wardens’ Team has responsibility for overseeing the Spiritual Accompanier Network.
  • The Engagement Team is responsible for diversifying our Network. It has no executive power.
  • Referral Team (see below)
  • Supervision Team (see below)
  • Course facilitators: Some receive payment for teaching, others are voluntary.
Facilitator application form

Policies

These policies are provided for reference.

Should 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 Raffay before doing so if you intend anything extensive.

Note: The three presentations are identical but intended for different audiences.

Referrals

Suzanna Schofield, 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 Raffay in the first instance.

Referral Team application form

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 Suzanna Schofield 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 Rev Dr Julian Raffay, Bishop’s Adviser on Spirituality

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.

Documents library

Related courses

Spiritual Growth and Transformation
Spiritual Growth and Transformation

Details of a 6-month course exploring your relationship with God.

Art of Spiritual Accompaniment
Art of Spiritual Accompaniment

A 6-month course to enable growth in the ministry of discerning listening and spiritual accompaniment.

Spirituality
Spirituality

Spirituality means different things to different people. Find out more here.