Ince Benet: New prayer and retreat centre on Merseyside

Image by Ron Davies

Ince Benet is a new prayer / retreat centre near Liverpool set in acres of beautiful woodland. This marks a new chapter in the life of the monastery built by Fr Tom Cullinan in 1980, through the generosity and support of the Augustinian sisters at Ince Blundell Hall. Over the next 40 years, Fr Tom lived the monastic life of a Benedictine monk, putting Ince Benet at the service of the local and wider community, offering hospitality and an atmosphere of prayer, study, conversation and guidance to many people of all faiths and none.

As an evolution of Fr Tom's life and work, Ince Benet has been renovated, thanks to the continued generosity of the Augustinian sisters and is now available to individuals, couples and groups of all faiths or none as a place of prayer, reflection and renewal.

Versatility for relaxing and recharging, prayer and planning

Half an hour from Liverpool and 10 minutes from the M57 & M58 motorways, it is ideal for those looking for somewhere that is easy to reach, yet has an 'away from it all' feel from the moment you enter the woods. The chapel, bedrooms and communal areas have been designed not just to be set in the beautiful surroundings, but to be part of them, allowing visitors to blend contemplation and conversation according to their needs. Ince Benet is ideal for retreats or for quiet days of rest and prayer, for planning and Inset days, and is available for residential stays and away days for individuals and for groups. We welcome people of all faiths and none.

Since opening, it has been used by individuals, small groups and groups of 15-20

- Clergy: groups of priests both for planning days and for overnight stays
- Parish groups: retreat days
- Schools: Inset days for staff
- Individuals: both for quiet days and short stays of quiet, rest and prayer
- small groups: using the meeting room for planning days.

Read more about Ince Benet here: https://incebenet.co.uk/

You can find out more about Fr Tom Cullinan and his work (articles and audios), along with the work of two other well-known Liverpool priests, Fr Austin Smith and Fr Kevin Kelly on: www.fr-tom-cullinan.co.uk/