Spiritual Direction

A Spiritual Director or Accompanier is someone who journeys with another person, encouraging them in their spiritual life. Together you seek God’s direction. The role of a Spiritual Director is listening, discerning and supporting the other person to deepen their relationship with God. Spiritual Direction is for you if you desire to develop your faith and want a deeper relationship with God. Anyone, clergy and lay, can be matched with a trained Spiritual Director in the Diocese.  

In the Diocese, we develop and support the ministry of Spiritual Direction by:

• Offering and maintaining a list of trained ecumenical Spiritual Directors in the Diocese
• Helping those looking for a Spiritual Director to find the right person.
• Offering guidance on safe practice for those seeking and offering Spiritual Direction.
• Maintaining a support system for Spiritual Directors and resourcing them for their ministry.
• Delivering a training course for people to explore the ministry of Spiritual Direction. The next Spiritual Direction Formation Programme will most likely start in September 2027.

Click here to download a leaflet with more information on Spiritual Direction. 

Click here to download Guidelines for Spiritual Direction. Click here to download a working agreement template. 

The Retreat Association has useful information about Spiritual Direction and choosing a Spiritual Guide. You can also access the National Forum for Spiritual Direction UK. 

Finding a Spiritual Director

We recommend that anyone looking for a Spiritual Director for themselves (or for any parishioners), contacts their Episcopal Area Coordinator who know the Spiritual Directors and their availability and will be able to help with the matching process. Please complete an online enquiry form here and they will be in touch with you or contact them directly by clicking on their name in the list below. 

All licensed clergy in the Diocese, Spiritual Directors and Area Spiritual Direction Coordinators can download the Diocesan List of Spiritual Directors here. Please note that this is a password protected document. If you do not have the current password and fall under one of the previously mentioned categories, please contact charlie.scott@leeds.anglican.org to request the password. 

We hope and pray that the ministry of Spiritual Direction will be a blessing to you. 

Our Team
	Henriette Howarth Diocesan Spiritual Direction Coordinator
	Paul Wheelhouse Bradford Spiritual Direction Coordinator Contact Mavis Rouse if you are looking to be matched with a Spiritual Director
	Michelle Petch Huddersfield Spiritual Direction Coordinator
	Ann Nicholl Leeds Spiritual Direction Coordinator
	Vacancy Ripon Spiritual Direction Coordinator Contact Henriette Howarth if you are looking to be matched with a Spiritual Director
	Ruth Harris Wakefield Spiritual Direction Coordinator
	Charlie Scott Mission and Revitalisation Administrator