Worship Songwriting Retreat
January 2021: The retreat is scheduled to go ahead this summer. In the event that it is cancelled due to Covid restrictions, full refunds or deferrals will be available.
Worship Songwriting Retreat is a four-day oasis for worship songwriters in the beautiful surroundings of Wydale Hall in North Yorkshire. The retreat includes core teaching sessions, group critique sessions, one-on-one clinics with tutors and, most importantly, plenty of private writing time. Space to write, on your own or with others, in the seclusion of your en-suite bedroom or under the mid-summer sun in the acres of private gardens.
[Promotional video from 2018 event]
Worship Songwriting Retreat is aimed at worship songwriters from the grass roots to the published artist. It's about your space and time and creativity. While there is input from tutors and structured activities, it's really your retreat to do your writing. Do expect to be fed, inspired and encouraged, but also expect to direct your own time and put in some graft as you hone your own creative works.
If you're a songwriter serving your local church, how about asking them to subsidise a place on this retreat for you? Or if you know a songwriter who would really benefit, how about clubbing together to send them? Or maybe you're an international megastar and you just need a bit of space to write...
PROVISIONAL PROGRAMME
Sunday 27 June
1800 Arrival & registration
1830 Dinner
1915 Core Session 1
2015 Feedback Groups
2130 Bar open / Writing time
Monday 28 June
0800 Breakfast
0900 Core Session 2
1000 Writing time & Clinics / Songwriting 101a
1200 Feedback Groups
1300 Lunch
1400 Writing time & Clinics
1700 Feedback groups
1800 Dinner
1900 Core Session 3
2015 Group vox recording session
2130 Bar open / Writing time
Tuesday 29 June
0800 Breakfast
0900 Core Session 4
1000 Writing time & Clinics / Songwriting 101b
1200 Feedback groups
1300 Lunch
1400 Writing time
1700 Feedback groups
1800 Dinner
1930 Concert
2130 Close
Wednesday 30 June
0815 Breakfast
0900 Core Session 5
1000 Writing time & Clinics
1130 Feedback groups
1230 Communion & Prayer
1315 Lunch
1400 Depart
(Live recording from the WSR17 Tuesday night concert where writers share their new songs)
The price per writer is £299, which includes all teaching sessions, two one-on-one tutor clinics per delegate, private en-suite accommodation and all meals. Places on the retreat are limited so early booking is strongly advised.
If you would like to extend your retreat by staying an extra night, you can do so by contacting Wydale Hall directly.
There is a bursary fund available for those for whom the cost would be prohibitive. If you are, or you know of, a songwriter who would benefit from this, please contact us directly. We really want to use the bursary and we'd love to hear from you!
What they said last year
"Loved it!"
"I really valued the Bible input and intentional prayer."
"What you do has advanced songwriting from something I feared to an adventure to be explored."
"As an unconfident participant I felt I got a good balance of support and gentle pushing."
"I felt it has benefited me in many ways - my writing, my worship, my appreciation of this broad church, my hope for the future... it has fed my ministry and my faith in many ways."
"The concert was the standout!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Booking conditions: Full payment is required at the time of booking. For cancellations before and including 27 April 2021 a refund of 80% will be given. For cancellations between and including 28 April and 25 May a refund of 40% will be given. For cancellations between and including 26 May and 7 June a refund of 20% will be given. No refunds can be given for cancellations after 7 June.
In the event that the retreat is cancelled due to government restrictions, delegates will be able to defer their booking or receive a full refund.