About The Wellspring
Learn about The Wellspring Ledbury. Discover more about our story, the vision, our mission, and our passion for this ministry of rest and renewal.
"Thank you Cathy and Joe for being obedient and for providing such a wonderful Godly space locally."
- Creative Arts Day Attendee -
Our Story
For years, Joe and Cathy Silmon had dreamed of running a retreat and events centre where they could offer a range of spaces and activities to encourage fellow believers in their walk with Jesus.
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In 2022, as they planned a move from Hertfordshire up to the Malvern Hills area, the couple had all but forgotten their dream - until they were shown a Farm nestling on the southern edge of the hills, near the market town of Ledbury.
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Woolpits Farmhouse is a 200 year-old property situated on a couple of acres of land. In addition to the main five-bedroom residence, a barn adjoining the house had been fully converted to house a new kitchen with adjoining shower room/toilet, a fully self-contained ground floor cottage, plus two large spaces above.
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A month after their arrival on the farm, Joe discovered an old well and a vision for The Wellspring started to emerge...
Vision
The story in John's Gospel of a Samaritan woman's encounter with Jesus at a well near the ancient town of Sychar (John 4:4-42) is a special one.
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Jesus lovingly reproaches the woman for a string of failed relationships, before revealing Himself as the Messiah and teaching her about the true nature of worship. Overcome with joy, the woman unashamedly returns to Sychar and effectively sets in motion a chain of events that will lead to a revival in the town.
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We see The Wellspring much like the well at Sychar...
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A place where people might encounter God in a new way, be equipped to know and journey with the Lord more closely, and to then engage the world around them with His love, grace, and life-giving message.
Mission
Our Mission at The Wellspring is to support and resource the Body of Christ in the Malvern Hills area, across the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire, and beyond. We do this primarily in the following ways:
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We organise and host around 20 Events each year which fall within one of the following categories: quiet days and retreats, creative arts workshops, teaching and ministry, and prayer and worship gatherings.
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We offer our spaces for Venue Hire, with churches and other Christian organisations able to bring groups of up to 25 for their own events. These will typically include leadership or church group away days, or any of the types of activities we provide through our public events.
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We hire out the Cottage for residential use by up to 3 guests. This space is ideal for those seeking an extended period of retreat and solitude. Subject to availability, the Cottage can also be used for daytime/evening activities or as part of a wider venue hire booking.
We can also provide additional services such as catering, facilities, and ministry support, as needed.
Activities
Our events comprise a range of activities which fall within the following categories:
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Quiet Days and Retreats - these days offer an opportunity to come away from our busy lives and abide with Jesus; through gentle worship, imaginative contemplation, guided teaching and reflection, and plenty of time to be still, we allow Him the space to go deeper in our hearts.
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Creative Arts Workshops - these days offer a combination of the practical and the spiritual; a chance to express oneself through a creative artform whilst going deeper in our relationship with Jesus through times of reflection.
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Teaching and Ministry - teaching days place the focus on broadening our understanding of God's Word. Ministry days seek to expand our knowledge and experience on a given subject, such as forgiveness or bereavement, while providing an extended period of worship and prayer ministry.
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Prayer and Worship Gatherings - as part of the Local Houses of Prayer (LHoP) network, we hold a regular Thursday evening prayer meeting. We also organise gatherings offering guests the chance to worship the Lord and soak in His presence.
Wardens
As Wardens, Cathy and Joe manage the day-to-day running of The Wellspring.
Cathy runs front of house, organising and hosting events, booking course/event leaders, managing attendees, and handling catering requirements. She's a Buckinghamshire girl with over 30 years' experience in primary education and heritage sectors. Cath has also served in the church as a worship leader, prophetic singer/songwriter, and prayer minister.
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Joe runs The Wellspring's back office, managing IT and operations, finance and admin, legal and compliance, and marketing. He's a Londoner with over 30 years' experience in business management and finance sectors. Joe has also served in the church as a youth leader, evangelist, and pastoral worker.
Cathy and Joe have been married for 30 years and worship together at St. Andrew's CofE in Malvern. They have two grown up children - Josh and Sarah.
Breath of Life - Album
Despite such a promising offer, we often approach Jesus a bit like the Samaritan woman; with defences up and hearts guarded, we wonder to ourselves: 'Who is this man?'
But as Jesus' divine nature and amazing grace are revealed to us, we begin to understand that this offer is underwritten by a truth that is far more precious or powerful than any cost we could ever pay - we are truly loved and accepted by God, just as we are.
Cathy wrote a song about the Samaritan woman some years ago, and her surprise that someone she had never met before could know all about her past mistakes and yet still love her.
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Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it,”