Ridley Hall's Refreshment Programme is tailor-made for anyone—whether you're lay or ordained, actively working, in ministry, or enjoying retirement.

Our programme requires participants to be mature Christians. While Ridley is not suited for addressing major personal issues, it provides a supportive environment including a 'staircase group' with students and a tutor and opportunities for weekly meetings with resident experts and spiritual direction.

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Who Should Consider This Programme?

• Clergy and Lay Ministry Sabbaticals: Step back from the demands of ministry to rejuvenate and find new inspiration.
• Career and Work Sabbaticals: Take a break from your professional responsibilities to sharpen focus and deepen your faith.
• Missionary Furloughs: After intense periods of service, take time to rest, be inspired by our community, and bless us with your presence.
• Pastor Retreats: Even without a full sabbatical, pastors can find a peaceful retreat for prayer, reflection, and rejuvenation in the heart of Cambridge.
• Study Leave for Academics and Ministers: Utilise Ridley Hall and the University of Cambridge’s rich academic resources to advance your studies or research projects.
• Individual Christian Retreats: Whether you’re discerning your next steps, retiring, or simply seeking spiritual growth, Ridley Hall offers a personalised retreat experience.

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Enjoy our serene settings, join community prayers, engage with our rhythms of worship and perhaps relish the cultural delights of Cambridge during your stay. For more insight into the community mission and specific resources, visit our website pages dedicated to each programme.

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Getting to Ridley

Read our "visit" page for information on travelling to Ridley Hall from the airport, or from within the UK.

You may also find the following pages within the same visitors menu helpful:

• Reception hours
• Term dates
• Parking
• College map
• Access

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Getting about during your stay

The rail service between London and Cambridge is excellent, and you can be in the centre of London within 50 minutes of leaving Cambridge, with trains scheduled until late in the day.

The rail and bus service to the London airports is also excellent and there are buses which go regularly to Oxford and other destinations of interest. You may also find our page which has information on local transport helpful.

‍Medical care

Should you need medical care while staying here, there is a doctors' surgery right next door to the college and the local hospital is a world class teaching facility. If you are travelling from overseas, health insurance must, however, be arranged before you arrive, as there is a cost involved.

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Finding a local church

Cambridge has more than double the national average Christian commitment, and an unusually large number and diversity of churches in and around the city, with 80 churches and chapels, around half of which are Anglican. There is a wide diversity of places of worship within walking distance of Ridley, including King's College Chapel, where choral services are held daily in term-time.

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Fees for sabbatical, study leave or retreat breaks at Ridley

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What is included?

The standard fees include:

• A study-bedroom in College
• Weekday meals
• A weekly meeting with a member of the Ridley Hall Tutorial Staff for study guidance or spiritual direction, if required.
• Access to all College lectures, events, discussion groups and social activities.
• Reading rights to Ridley’s library (accessible 24 hours)
• WiFi access in the study-bedroom and around College (also elsewhere on the University of Cambridge WiFi network)

A firm booking can only be confirmed after the College has received a reference from someone who is prepared to support your application.

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2024–25 Fees

For 2024-25 the Refreshment Programme rates are:

• Per day: standard room £90; en-suite £111
• Per week: standard room £493; en-suite £630
• Per term:
  • Michaelmas (Sept 29th to Dec 12th): standard room £5,110; en-suite £6,510
  • Lent (Jan 20th to Mar 27th): standard room £4,555; en-suite £5,807
  • Easter (Apr 28th to June 19th): standard room £3,619; en-suite £4,610

Please note

• En-suite rooms are in limited supply. We have one room that can be available for a married couple, with two single beds. This will be charged at full Refreshment Programme fee for the Refreshment Programme Guest and 50% of the Refreshment Programme fee again for the spouse to join as a room guest with Monday-Friday Meals.
• Non-EU visiting Refreshment Programme visitors may need to pay £100 for the administration required to issue an Immigration Compliance Letter (required by the UK Government). However, this is not necessary if you are visiting is for a briefer break for refreshment rather than a more extended programme of study.
• For those wishing to use other libraries of the Cambridge Theological Federation (CTF) and borrow books, there is a membership fee of £60. This is only available if you are staying for a whole term or more. This also allows visitors to audit modules in the Common Awards program.
• It may be possible to book additional days outside term time (for which appropriate member rates apply), although this depends on room availability. There are no rooms available over the summer.
• There is a non-returnable deposit of 10% of the total due for all bookings six months before your arrival date, with the balance required one month before your arrival date (or when the booking is made if at shorter notice). After your arrival at Ridley, we are not able to refund any part of the fee paid.
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Refreshment Programme Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be sent in writing/email and receipt confirmed in order for them to be recognised.

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IN THE EVENT THAT RIDLEY HALL HAS TO CANCEL YOUR REFRESHMENT PROGRAMME STAY

We reserve the right to cancel the Refreshment Programme stay in the event of circumstances beyond our control. In the case of any such cancellation, we will inform you at the earliest opportunity and refund you in full.

CANCELLATIONS (BY YOU) PRIOR TO ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ARRIVAL DATE

For cancellations prior to one month before the arrival date of the Refreshment programme stay, we will retain your 10% deposit which was paid on booking 6 months in advance. Please contact us prior to one month before the Refreshment Programme stay to inform us of your cancellation.

CANCELLATIONS (BY YOU) FROM ONE MONTH AND RUNNING UP TO ARRIVAL DAY

Due to costs incurred, we are unfortunately not able to offer any refunds for Refreshment Programme stay cancelled from one month and running up to your planned arrival day. Your full balance payment will therefore be retained.

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