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Ty Owen

Ty Siwan through trees

Brecon Beacon

Llannerchwen is a Welsh word which means “beautiful holy glade.” Llannerchwen, is a spirituality centre which is three miles north of the small market town of Brecon, in mid-Wales. It is a project of the English/Welsh province and there has been an RSCJ presence in the area since 1979.

The centre is situated in a secluded setting at the end of a beautiful country lane, with panoramic views of the Brecon Beacons. It is a place of great stillness, with an atmosphere that is palpably spiritual. Visitors to Llannerchwen have described it as “a haven of silence and stillness” … “a ‘thin’ place where God is very near.”

There are eight rooms for visitors, of which three are individual hermitages and one a self-contained unit in a small bungalow.  There are two other rooms in this bungalow, and the other two are in a small cottage.  Self-catering facilities are available in every room. At times when Individual Guided Retreats are taking place, there is the option of a cooked mid-day meal. There is also a small Chapel and a cabin for creative arts.

The small community of RSCJ at Llannerchwen is assisted by a team of visiting spiritual directors, many of whom are lay men and women from several different religious denominations. Visitors are welcome to join the community for prayer, but there are no organised liturgies or group meetings specifically for visitors.  
The accommodation and ethos are ideally suited for those who are seeking an experience of solitude and silence. Individually Guided Retreats take place once or twice per month throughout the year.  Private Retreats can be made at any time, subject to the availability of rooms. It is also possible to have an experience of solitude, ranging from a few days to several months.

Visitors to Llannerchwen come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds and none. This “sacred space” has a strong appeal to those who are spiritually searching and to the broader ecumenical community. It is not uncommon to come across people all over the country from all walks of life who have visited Llannerchwen and who carry with them warm memories of their visit.

Recent developments concerning the future of Llannerchwen have led to an affirmation of its work and mission and there is a desire to explore further how this centre of spirituality might play a part in meeting the “thirst” of so many people in our country for places of silence and stillness and for “‘thin” places where God is very near.”

Catherine Lloyd rscj,
Province of England-Wales