Joy Adams, Chaplain at Whirlow Spirituality Centre In conversation with Leonie Martin

Leonie

It’s good to chat with you today, Joy, in such a beautiful, peaceful setting here on the edge of Sheffield. For those who haven’t heard of Whirlow Spirituality Centre, can you tell me a little about its backstory?

Joy

It’s a pleasure to welcome you! Whirlow Spirituality Centre at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit is a successor to Whirlow Grange Retreat and Conference Centre. When the former centre closed in 2014, it looked as though a precious spiritual resource for Sheffield and surrounding areas would be totally lost. Thankfully, a collaborative partnership was formed between the joint owners of the present buildings and land (Whirlow Grange Ltd) and the PCC from All Saints Ecclesall. I have had the privilege of being Chaplain since 2015. Several members of the former community are still actively involved in various ways, along with many new faces too, as more people discover us and find spiritual sustenance here.

Leonie

One thing that really strikes me on this sunny day is a sense of intentional space and light. Could you tell me about the vision behind the centre as it exists today, and the spirituality underpinning this?

Joy

Whirlow Spirituality Centre is truly ecumenical – though we value our Anglican foundation, and I just happen to be an ordained Methodist minister. Inspired by the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love – with Christ always at the centre – we see denominations as irrelevant. This faith, hope and love is demonstrated by reaching out to offer a place of safety, space, and stillness to people of any faith and none. Our aim is to offer generous hospitality and sanctuary, mirroring the generous hospitality of God, being aware that Christian contemplative wisdom and practices support transformation, and inspire loving action.

We discover, repeatedly, that it is in times of stillness and silence that the Holy Spirit mysteriously works and transforms us to have more of ‘the mind of Christ’. My personal message for people, wherever they are on their spiritual journey, is to never underestimate the importance and value of contemplative prayer – the prayer of silence, where we intentionally sit in the presence of God, not necessarily saying anything, just being.

I truly believe that churches, as well as individuals can be transformed by giving room to God’s Spirit in this way. Personally, having suffered from occupational stress and depression in the past, I have found that it is contemplative prayer which has renewed and restored me. If I hadn’t been able to nurture this contemplative side of my Christian faith, I could be in a very dark place now.

Leonie

Many readers might resonate with this spiritual and psychological struggle you have shared, especially in these ongoing times of social and economic upheaval. Would you like to say a little about Whirlow’s ministry, facilities, and events?

Joy

Our ethos is to offer a safe, sacred place of stillness, and prayer. Since 2015, we have developed a rich and diverse programme of prayer and retreat events drawing from a breadth of Christian traditions. These include led quiet days, days of retreat, workshops on different ways of Christian praying and wisdom, and applying our faith to topical social issues, including climate change, the marginalised, and financial hardship. We hold regular times of reflective worship and prayer. Our weekly Reflective Communion service draws up to thirty or more people from across the city and beyond, seeking a quiet space in a busy life.

We are fortunate to have around eight ministers from different denominations who are drawn to offering contemplative worship. Every first Sunday of the month there is a time of contemplative input and reflection (Space to Reflect) led by a small team of Whirlow regulars. Then we have Praying Without Words monthly, online on the third Thursday of each month.

Post-Covid, and with everything else that’s happening in the world including financial hardship and climate change, we are finding that more and more groups and individuals use this place for prayer. We have beautiful Chapel of the Holy Spirit, a Lounge, a Spirituality Library, and various prayer spaces, including two ‘Poustinias’ (Prayer Hermitages) in the garden, and a quiet room – all these are booked regularly by individuals, including church leaders from a variety of traditions, as a safe and peaceful space – just to be and to pray.

Our well-tended garden invites reflection and relaxation – we are a member of the Quiet Garden Movement – and is used by our neighbours, members of the public as well as users of the Centre. Our location, on the edge of Sheffield close to the Peak District, also means visitors can enjoy many easy-to-access walks in local woods and farmlands.

Finally, our facilities are available to hire both by faith and by non-faith groups. We find that a single booking by an external hirer generally leads to repeated bookings, as these groups value the space and stillness offered.

Leonie

How easy is it for people to access what you are offering, especially in these financially challenging times?

Joy

One of our values is to ‘prioritise those on the margins’ as practised by Jesus. This includes those on the social and financial margins of society. We would not want any group or individual excluded for reasons of financial hardship. Community/inner city projects looking for a place to have ‘time out’ for their staff/volunteers are invited to contact me as we would love to offer our space free of charge; the same goes for individuals.

But those who find themselves on the margins of the church also find their way to us - individuals who have not lost their faith but, for one reason or another, are struggling with what I call ‘inherited church’ and don’t quite know where to go with that. It is uncomfortable to be on these spiritual margins so another of our values, ‘time and people are precious – neither should be rushed’ is becoming increasingly important, particularly for those who may have been hurt by their institution – we journey with them as they try to find God in their situation.

Leonie

Do you get a sense that after coming here people are better able to find their calling/role within their community, or in some other way, so it doesn’t just stop once they leave here?

Joy

Absolutely. I see one role of Whirlow as holding people in that liminal space of not knowing where to go spiritually, to hold them in loving prayer as they find their way forward. We offer a safe place for people to come and spend time in quiet, perhaps to have a safe conversation without fear of being judged, so that they can begin to discern their next steps – wherever they might be called.

Leonie

Is there anything else you would like to say to those who haven’t yet discovered Whirlow Spirituality Centre?

Joy

I’d like to mention another of our values, which is to walk lightly on the earth. God speaks to us through Christ, and Christ reveals himself through his Word and through creation, so we cannot help but respect and love creation. We are a welcoming, eco-friendly, and high-quality venue to hire. We think carefully about what we use, or do not use, conscious that our decisions will always impact those on the margins.

Finally, there is the well-resourced Christian Spirituality Library (1500+ items), open to anyone to browse or borrow, and Whirlow Grange Ltd is a grant-making body, supporting and resourcing individuals and communities in their Christian development. You can find up to date information on all our facilities and how to hire them, plus the latest programme of events and how to book them, on our website: https://www.whirlowspiritualitycentre.org

We look forward to meeting you! Be assured you will find a warm welcome and a place of solace.

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