‘We love because he first loved us.’ 1 John 4:19

Love is sacred, powerful and transformative. Love is of God. And marriage can be one of the most lovely, lifelong expressions of love between two people. Something so special deserves a special setting, and that’s where we come in!

A perfect day

Beth and Tom, pictured below, recently held their wedding reception at Waverley Abbey. 

‘It was the most beautiful, special day,’ says Beth. ‘We could not have hoped for a more perfect day!’

‘We loved having such an outdoorsy wedding,’ says Tom. ‘The views were incredible and we loved coming down the grand staircase to everyone waving outside – we felt like royalty! Our guests loved the delicious paella and the outdoor games were a big hit.’ 

A cord of three

For all the Christian couples getting married or celebrating their wedding at Waverley Abbey, the spiritual heritage of our site makes the day extra special. 

‘A definite highlight for us both was having our couple photos over at the ruins,’ says Beth. ‘It was a really special time to reflect on what the day meant and have some time together.’

Weddings at Waverley Abbey

If you or a couple you know are planning a wedding, our estate could be for you. Situated in 112 acres of English countryside in the heart of Surrey, Waverley Abbey House is a Grade II listed manor built in 1723. Under an hour from London, it’s the ultimate countryside experience for your celebration.

Here are three more reasons to consider coming to us for your big day:

1. Every couple is unique, and your wedding should be unique too. We are ready to host your bespoke wedding, exactly how you want it. 
2. Our dedicated team already partner with a selection of trusted suppliers. Working closely with them, and you, we’ll ensure your day goes smoothly with the creative and special touches that make all the difference.
3. Our facilities are flexible. We’re able to host intimate ceremonies of up to 70 guests inside the house or over 200 in a lakeview marquee. When it comes to the all-important food, we’ll help you create a menu that suits you – whether it’s a formal dinner, a relaxed and rustic option, or something more bespoke.

Celebrate your love story at Waverley Abbey. We’d be honoured to host your special day.

We relocated and relaunched our Prayer Room in Spring 2025. The Prayer Room is a space for people to encounter Jesus, for themselves and for others. Here are 10 really great things about our new Prayer Room, compiled with the help of Sarah Schrack, our Impact Lead for the House of Prayer.

1. It helps people to pray. And prayer changes the world (and us).
Prayer is vital to our spiritual and mental health, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy. ‘Prayer is the way we connect with God, but sometimes we can find it tricky for a variety of reasons,’ says Sarah Schrack. ‘In prayer rooms, there are prompts and helpful tools to get you started, so it’s a way to easily step into the conversations He is longing to have. Your community and this world will be changed by your conversation and requests with the Lord, because He is the only one who can change things. Even when prayer doesn’t change a situation, it always changes us.’

2. It’s fully accessible

Our new Prayer Room is on the ground floor of Waverley Abbey House, and open to all: staff, passers by, students, children (accompanied), visitors – everyone.

3. It’s creative 

Not all prayer is silent and still, or confined to our hearts and minds. Prayer can be sung, drawn, written, danced… You’ll find all sorts of tools to help you pray creatively, in our Prayer Room. Maybe you’ll discover a brand new way to connect with God.

4. It’s bigger than before 

More dedicated space for prayer can only be a good thing. We’ve already had feedback from people to say they love the new, bigger room.

5. It’s near the café

Not only does this mean it’s easy for our lovely pray-ers to grab a coffee before or after their time in the Prayer Room; it means the room is in view of visitors to the cafe. ‘It means that those who are curious can easily pop in and see what prayer is all about!’ says Sarah.

6. Views

‘But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you... In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.’ (Job 12: 7, 8 and 10)

Many people find that creation and/or nature helps them feel closer to God. There are views for days outside our new Prayer Room. People can soak in the greatness of God’s creation that surrounds our Prayer Room, and it will bring them closer to Him.

7. It has a door to the outside

Pray-ers can wander out to pray in the open air if they wish, and passers by can pop in. It also means the room can be used even if the main building is closed. 

8. Flexible use 

You can pray alone in the Prayer Room, or book a slot with your family, friends, church or other groups. Pray your way.

9. Time out 

Prayer can take place anywhere, but it can be helpful to have a dedicated time and place to step away from the busy-ness of life and focus on God. Our Prayer Room provides just that.

10. In a place steeped in prayer 

Waverley Abbey has a remarkable history as a site of Christian prayer and worship for over 1,300 years. People tell us it’s a special place to pray. 

‘My absolute dream [for the future] is that we would be praying 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That Waverley Abbey would be what Isaiah calls “watchmen on the wall,” interceding for our nation and beyond,’ says Sarah. And we’ve made a great start towards that, with our Prayer Room open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm.

We would love you to come and spend time with God in our Prayer Room. Book your slot today!

If you’re new to prayer rooms and want to find out more, have a read of this introduction by 24-7 Prayer.

Sarah was a church pastor before she joined the Executive Team at Waverley Abbey. Her journey into the role started at a 24-7 Prayer Gathering in October 2024. 

‘It was such a precious weekend for me, personally and professionally,’ says Sarah. ‘I ended up meeting a bunch of people who worked at Waverley Abbey, and was curious enough to look into some of their job vacancies.’ 

‘I went through the application and interview process [for Impact Lead], still a bit unsure if it was right for me, but once I was offered the role then I knew I had to take it. My whole walk with the Lord, I’ve always deeply resonated and believed in the power of prayer. This is an incredible opportunity to partner with what Jesus is doing in the UK right now, and help serve His church by meeting their spiritual needs in real time.’

A place of prayer

‘Waverley Abbey is incredibly peaceful, even as it gets busier and busier!’ says Sarah, speaking two months into her role.  

‘I love that we truly have a foundation on prayer: the prayer room, midday prayers in the Chapel, even in meetings. It’s expected that prayer will be the centre of all we do, and I think you can feel the peace and rest that comes from that as soon as you step onsite.’

In partnership with Jesus

Sarah says her passion in life is ‘seeing the Church stepping into the things of God, and truly being the Church!’ 

‘It is a wild thing that Jesus would entrust us with His Spirit, but that’s exactly what He did!’ she says. ‘And so we have the most incredible, beautifully weighty responsibility to partner with Him – to see His Kingdom come right here and now. Whatever denomination or worship expression you come from; if you are a believer, you have a part to play in that.’

Sending out

‘My biggest prayer and hope for this role and [our community] here at Waverley Abbey, is that we would meet the spiritual needs of the nation,’ says Sarah. 

‘God is doing so much in our time and our land, and we have a chance to equip His people and get them sent out from a place of intimacy and rest with the Lord. My number one priority is that we would be offering things that do just that… That our retreats and seminars will be teaching into the things the British church needs to know now, for this season; that our worship nights and prayer room will be full of deep encounters that mark us; and that when we launch the 24-7 Academy in September, we’ll see dozens of young adults truly living laid down lives for Him!’

The 24-7 Academy is a life-changing, residential leadership development programme for young adults aged 18-30. Watch this video here to find out more.

Five facts about Sarah

1. Alongside her full-time role at Waverley Abbey, Sarah also serves with David’s Tent.
2. Sarah’s regular order at the Waverley Abbey café is the Oat Flat White.
3. Her favourite Bible verse is Amos 9:11 – ‘In that day, “I will restore David’s fallen shelter – I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins – and will rebuild it as it used to be’.
4. Sarah loves the outdoors. In her spare time, you’ll find Sarah hiking, paddle boarding or sea swimming.
5. Sarah was a pastor for nearly nine years.

In the presence of the Lord

Sarah is encouraged and excited about how she’s seen God move already as she’s settled into the role. 

‘We’ve had some really profound times of midday worship,’ she says. ‘Every weekday at 1pm, anyone on site is invited to join us in the chapel to pray and worship. There’ve been some really rich times in those sessions, where you can tangibly feel the Lord’s presence.’

Prayer retreats have been another highlight for Sarah. ‘I love reading the feedback we get after a retreat. So many people come and get a whole new understanding of who God is and who they are!’

Get involved

‘We believe we have a unique offering for the UK and we’d love for more people to experience that,’ says Sarah. 

‘Please pray for more individuals to come and experience what God is doing here. And that, as we grow, we will continue to walk with humility and integrity to His calling, always rooted in prayer.’

We’d love you to get involved with the House of Prayer. Online, in person, alone or with others – please pray with us.

A first for the UK and a first for Waverley Abbey College. We are so excited to be launching our Masters in Therapeutic Counselling and Supervision – a brand new course from Waverley Abbey College. This isn’t just another Masters degree, it’s the first course of its kind. 

‘It’s a mandatory requirement for qualified counsellors to undergo continual supervision. Qualifying as a supervisor ensures ongoing relevance and employability, making this course a great opportunity for existing qualified counsellors,’ says Catherine Palmer, Head of Faculty at Waverley Abbey College.  

Designed for working counsellors 

Many working counsellors find themselves in a catch-22. They need further training to earn more and progress their career, but they can’t afford to take time off from work to learn and train. Waverley Abbey College’s MA in Therapeutic Counselling and Supervision (MATCPS) breaks this cycle. Fully online and part-time, the course allows students to keep earning while they upskill. 

This course offers a Level 7 qualification in counselling and also qualifies graduates as clinical supervisors. 

Clinical supervision: 

• Is a growth area in counselling
• Opens up new income streams 
• Improves professional opportunities
• Is a mandatory requirement for practicing counsellors 
• Expands potential to mentor others in the counselling profession 

The Masters programme is also open to counsellors who have got lots of clinical experience but don’t have a degree. Waverley Abbey College recognises that clinical experience is just as valuable as a qualification. 

Bringing a Christian worldview to academic and clinical training

Until now, there’s been no postgraduate Christian counselling course like this in the UK. The majority of counselling training is secular. This course encourages Christians to fully bring God into the centre of their work in a meaningful and ethical way. 

Engage with real life conversation and topics

The MATCPS doesn’t shy away from complex contemporary issues. Students are taught to engage with topics like gender identity, sexuality and spiritual abuse, which can be areas sometimes avoided in other Christian training. The result is a richer, fuller counselling practice rooted in both faith and relevance.

Flexible teaching and learning

The structure of the course has been carefully designed with award-winning digital consultants to work around busy lives. 

Students meet for live lectures every other Wednesday evening and Saturday morning. All lectures are taught within 2.5 hours to help with the focus and engagement of the students. Teaching sessions are interactive, using a mix of breakout rooms, group discussions and activities.

Between sessions, students complete short tasks and engage with materials such as: TED Talks, podcasts, reflective exercises, and short lectures that fit around work and life. This helps students to be prepared ahead of each live lecture so they arrive ready to make the most of the teaching. 

Waverley Abbey College has gone the extra mile to recreate the campus experience online, encouraging community and connection. Students can join the college’s live worship sessions, access a digital library and connect through chat tools. 

Counselling taught by industry giants

The MATCPS is delivered by respected voices in Christian counselling, including Dr. Heather Churchill (creator of the Churchill Framework used by Christian colleges across the UK). The teaching team brings real-world authority and faith-based experience to every module.

With a student-to-tutor ratio of 15:1, the course maintains a strong interpersonal dynamic, ensuring personal support throughout.

The course starts in September 2025 with a flagship module on Christian counselling, and covers key modules, such as:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), the preferred method of the NHS and many employers
• Working with Complex Mental Health 
• Working at Relational Depth 
• Working with Trauma and Dissociation
• Integration of Christian Faith in Counselling 
• Clinical Supervision 

Qualify in 2–3 years and start changing lives sooner

While advertised as a three-year course, the MATCPS can be completed in two to two and a half years – getting you to your next career step faster. 

Take the next step in your counselling journey

Join the first cohort of qualified Christian counsellors signing up to shape the future of therapeutic practice in the UK. 

Explore more about the MATCPS course content and see whether you want to join us in September 2025. 

What is a 24-7 Prayer Week?

Kicking-off the week with a dedicated evening of worship, the Waverley Abbey Prayer Room is then open for 24 hours a day for a week. Anyone can book a prayer slot to use the room, night and day. 

‘Often in houses of prayer, we refer to the furnace of prayer. The idea being that praying through the night keeps the embers of prayer glowing,’ explains Mim. ‘Ready to be fanned back into large flames in the day.’

The prayer room is filled with worship, creativity, and time with God around the clock. The impact of these weeks is felt deeply across Waverley Abbey.

‘The house felt drenched in the Spirit of God,’ Mim said. ‘People talk about ‘thin places’. Places where God and heaven feel close – I believe Waverley Abbey is one of them. And during these weeks of prayer, it feels even thinner.’

Creativity and the presence of God

One of the most moving experiences during the week is something hosted by a group of musicians called Sound Pictures. One person sits down and the musicians begin to play – led by the Holy Spirit. There are also artists in the room painting and people with the gift of prophecy sharing words of encouragement. 

‘It felt like being hugged by God,’ said Mim. ‘It was one of the most moving things I’ve ever been part of.’

These moments are so popular that booking slots fill up fast. But the team is looking to offer more opportunities to experience time with Sound Pictures at the next 24-7 Week of Prayer. 

When and how to join in with a week of prayer 

Waverley Abbey hosts four weeks of prayer each year. The next one will take place 1 –7 September, coinciding with the 24-7 Global Week of Prayer. 

Anyone is welcome to come and pray. To take part in specific prayer slots or workshops, you’ll need to book online.

Booking isn’t yet open for the September 24-7 prayer week, but please come and use our Prayer Room at a different time. Or, join in with the next Worship Night at Waverley Abbey.

Get the latest information about upcoming prayer weeks, worship evenings and all other events at Waverley Abbey by signing up to our email newsletter.

We’re passionate about hosting at Waverley Abbey, and enabling community and connection. Our site is bursting with life, as it should be: a new abbey for a new generation.

If you like the look of Easter, check out what we have planned for this summer! We’d love to see you there.