Senior lEADERS RETREAT
4 - 5 JUNE 2026
MILTON HILL HOUSE, OXFORD
The Orchard Women’s Retreat 2026 – ‘My Soul Finds Rest’
Every leader needs a place to receive, be equipped, and be encouraged. A place to find community and understanding among other women who just get it.
Over the last four years, we have hosted several retreats for women in senior church leadership. These have been precious times of connection with other leaders and of meeting with Jesus in a space where we can celebrate the joys—and acknowledge the challenges—of our roles.
If you are a Female Senior Church Leader, we would love you to join us in 2026. Our desire is to make these 24 hours as worthwhile as possible, recognising the demands that leadership places on each of us.
Our theme this year is ‘My Soul Finds Rest’, focusing on caring for our own souls while navigating the challenges of leading others. Orchard co-founders Revd Amy Hughes and Rachel Hughes will lead the teaching alongside our guest speaker Revd Rachel Bedford, with worship led by Zo Ross-Waddell and Beth Croft. Together, we will open the Bible, make space for worship and ministry, and create time for each of us to leave strengthened, inspired, and equipped for leadership.
The retreat will be held at Milton Hill House, a hotel in Oxfordshire, from Thursday 4th June (arrivals from 10:30am) to Friday 5th June (finishing at 11:30am) 2026.
Tickets cost £220 for a en-suite single room and £190 for a en-suite twin room, payment plan available.
We have seen God work powerfully in the past at our retreat and we are so expectant for what he will do in 2025.
We would love for you to join us,
Amy and Rachel
Programme
Thursday 4th June
10.30: Arrivals
11.00am: Pastries and coffee served
11:30am: SESSION 1 - Teaching and worship
1pm: LUNCH
2pm - 4pm: SESSION 2 - Teaching and reflection
4pm: FREE TIME - check in, explore 22 acres of parkland, take a swim, use of leisure facilities including gym, pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi or catch up with new friends!
6.30pm: DINNER
8pm: SESSION 3 - Worship
9.30pm: Finish - bed or bar!
Friday 5th June
7.30-9am: Breakfast
9:00am: SESSION 4
11.30am: Finish
(timings subject to change)
RACHEL BEDFORD
Rachel is a long time friend of the Orchard. An ordained Church of England minister Rachel leads Greyfriars Church in Reading. Previously Head of Training for the HTB network Rachel carries a real passion for raising up leaders and seeing them flourish in the places God has put them.
RACHEL HUGHES
Rachel is married to Tim and together they have 5 children. She is the co-lead Pastor of Gas Street in Birmingham; a church they planted in 2015. Rachel has a background in Television & Media and also served on the staff team at HTB for several years. Two of her passions are seeing young women released into leadership and inspiring families into fostering & adopting.
AMY HUGHES
Amy has been leading Trinity Church Nottingham since 2020 alongside her husband Jonny. She is an ordained priest into the Church of England and a mum of 5. Her life passion is leading people into the beautiful presence of Jesus where life is transformed and freedom released.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions.
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Yes, single rooms are available. Twin rooms can also be booked, if you would like to share with someone you know we would recommend booking for tickets together or at the same time to guarantee the room!
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Yes, this retreat is aimed at women in positions of senior church leadership, if you have leadership in other areas or are serving your church in another way we would recommend booking onto our main conference
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Yes, there is plenty of free parking at the hotel.
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We are trying to be very specific on this retreat that it's for women currently serving as senior leaders (overall church leadership), clergy and ordinands as we've found it's been really precious for these women to have connections with other in the same position (and with similar challenges!) as them. The spaces are definitely in demand!
We're hoping to put on some more wider events for women in other areas of church leadership in the future as we have lots of student pastors, ops pastors, women's pastors, pastoral leads, operational heads and kids leaders who are keen to get more input too!
ACCESSIBILITY
We want everyone to feel welcome at The Orchard Women’s Conference so we’ve answered a few questions to help you plan your day a little better. For more information specific to Milton Hill House please visit their website. Or for any general access queries please email us at hello@theorchardwomen.com.