It was extremely comfortable and the surroundings were conducive to relaxation and reflection. The Pound House was just right for our needs as a group.

I write to express our gratitude to the community for our stay at Sheldon. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, which provided us with such a valuable time for thought and reflection.

We would have found our stay more useful/helpful/ enjoyable if there were a teapot (small) that pours, a medium sized sharp knife; and the vacuum cleaner in Berkshire pig pen was not working [Webeditor: thanks for letting us know - now sorted].

The setting is beautiful and peaceful. Good paths on which to walk. Care has been taken to look after the less able. The main chapel was perfect for our meditation times and our liturgy. All the ‘public’ rooms are pleasant and comfortable. We have rebooked for next year! We would have found our stay more useful/ helpful/ enjoyable if there were more single rooms. Some of the twins were larger. (We will book the small twin in Pound House as a single next year). …If there were more loo/shower facilities in the Long Barn, [Webeditor: see plans for rebuilding of Long Barn in 2011] given that everyone wanted to use them in a short time period before 7.20 a.m. meditation. (We could have helped ourselves by making sure everyone was aware of the downstairs facilities). …If our caterers could have had earlier access to the kitchen on the Friday afternoon [Webeditor: sorry - we have tight changeover times and need to run on agreed booking times].

Just wanted to say a very big thank you to you all for making our stay at Sheldon a great one. Your support, before and during the event was fantastic, and it was wonderful to stay in modern facilities. The dishwasher made a huge difference. The other leaders and myself, along with the group really enjoyed our stay. I know that the other leaders were very impressed. – I hope they book up for next year! Thank you once again, and good luck with the Long Barn conversion fundraising.

I am writing to say a sincere thank you for all your help in facilitating our (training) days over these last few months. It has been a big project and is really only the beginning of a bigger one, but we have made a great start. That is in no small part due to the very warm hospitality we have received from the community at Sheldon. Part of my hope in bringing people to Sheldon was to show them at first hand what a fantastic place and lovely people the community is and to encourage them to return. I hope that bears fruit. Two of the words we kept using during the days were 'Affirmation' and 'Accountability', and I was very glad of the report that Sheldon produced under that name. It has been an inspiration as we have thought about our next stage in building Mission Communities, and our work with those in ministry in particular.I do look forward to being with you again soon…

Just to say a very big thank you for the wonderful opportunity you gave to my daughter – she was delighted with the Sheldon Centre and thoroughly enjoyed her time there.

We were blessed with a beautiful day which of course helped, and I found the garden outside the conservatory particularly special, but all in all it was a wonderful day. We appreciated the beautiful surroundings and warm hospitality. And both chapels were very ‘welcoming’ as well. Thank you.

Sheldon is the perfect venue for our needs. This is being really picky but for (our needs) it would have been easier if the grass had been shorter. Loved it! Thank you.

Really pleased there is now a freezer in the Pound House kitchen. The dishwasher in the kitchen is also very useful and saves much time. As ever another wonderful weekend for our church, we’ll be back again next year! We would have found our stay more helpful if there were paper hand towels provided in the toilets. These could be composted or burnt after.

Surroundings were beautiful and relaxing. Excellent and modern facilities – the dishwasher made a huge difference! The helpful staff made planning and the actual event less stressful. We would have found our stay more enjoyable if… our boundaries of buildings were made clear to others staying at Sheldon (we had a few people ‘wandering’ into our area).

We found our stay useful/helpful/enjoyable because everything was well prepared for us. Facilities excellent and we felt free to do what we wanted to do. Use of theatre, shop and chapel enabled us to lay on the right activities. We would have found our stay more enjoyable if the toaster was more efficient! We look forward to the new facilities in Long Barn, but in the meantime it was fine.

The location is just fabulous. The kitchen is wonderful to work in and well equipped. The accommodation is excellent and always clean and tidy. The welcome from Sarah was relaxed and welcoming. The facilities are really good and solicit the ‘wow’ when people arrive. Our group just loved it. We would have found it more useful/helpful/enjoyable if… we had two trip switches go at 10.30 pm when it was too late to contact the community. It would be useful if the group leader could know where the trips are (Rooms 1-3 in Pound House and 1 Pig Pen). We brought our own coffee filter machine. We were amazed just how popular it was. Real coffee, bacon, toast – sets you up for the day. Perhaps you could get one?

• It was quiet.
• We had plenty of space – the ground floor of the Pound House and the grounds.
• It was warm and comfy.
• The catering provisions were excellent and everything was easy to find.
• We were warmly and ‘efficiently’ welcomed and knew from the start ‘what was what’. Thank you very much – as usual!

The setting was beautiful, a first visit for some and a revisiting for others – after many years for a few. It was a lovely surprise to be upgraded to the Pound House with its perfect facilities giving us the space to experience our time of worship and meditation. We enjoyed being so well looked after by the staff and welcomed the drinks and the excellent lunch. Thank you for making us so welcome and facilitating a perfect day.

Amazing location; peace and quiet. Good facilities - BBQ; TV. Amphitheatre great! Loads of space – dining room onto the garden. Beautiful chapel. Kitchen great! We would have found our stay more enjoyable if… more showers in Long Barn, hand towels in bathrooms.

We found our stay at Sheldon useful/helpful/enjoyable because of your warm welcome and happy relaxed atmosphere.  As a large family it is hard for us to get together.  It was wonderful to see everyone – in each of the three generations.  A little healing was needed after our oldest son’s death – when everyone was hurting.  Thank God, we found peace.  The space in and around the Pound House was just what we needed.  Thank you all.  Our disabled son did mention the need for a seat in the disabled shower.  If he had mentioned it I would have brought in a plastic garden chair.  Perhaps one could be left in there.  Drivers found the pot holes a bit hard….  Your excellent information helped us to plan.

The accommodation was perfect for our needs.  We were able to enjoy peace and stillness and enjoy each other’s company in comfortable surroundings.  Last year it rained and it was still a special experience.  This year with the weather on our side it could hardly have been better.  Thank you.  It would have been helpful if – being picky – there was a freezer. 

We have had an enjoyable stay in a beautiful location that is perfect for getting away from it all as a team and spending a great weekend building relationships with each other through fun, fellowship and time with God.  It would have been more helpful if there were better signposts on the way in from B1393, particularly when going on an outing on the Saturday - finding directions from outing location back to Sheldon was difficult – especially in the dark!

I am writing on behalf of our group of parishes to thank you for your hospitality at our Away Day.  I particularly ask you to pass our thanks on to Hillary who gave us such a warm welcome.  She ensured that we all felt at ease with everything explained to us and all so well organised, in a quiet sensitive way.  The lunch was truly delicious and presented so beautifully.  Because of the very special surroundings and atmosphere created by the staff it was a both restorative and energising day, and very conducive to helping us to look forward positively to the future of our Mission Community.

The accommodation was perfect for our needs.  We were able to enjoy peace and stillness and enjoy each other’s company in comfortable surroundings.  Last year it rained and it was still a special experience.  This year with the weather on our side it could hardly have been better.  Thank you.  It would have been helpful if – being picky – there was a freezer. 

We have had an enjoyable stay in a beautiful location that is perfect for getting away from it all as a team and spending a great weekend building relationships with each other through fun, fellowship and time with God.  It would have been more helpful if there were better signposts on the way in from B1393, particularly when going on an outing on the Saturday - finding directions from outing location back to Sheldon was difficult – especially in the dark!

I simply wanted to express my thanks to you and your colleagues for making Chapter’s stay last week a very relaxed and enjoyable one.  The accommodation worked out very well, and I am most appreciative of Hillary’s suggestion to modify the room allocations, given the ‘last-minute’ amendments we needed to make. Everyone was very helpful throughout – even to the point of opening the shop again prior to our departure. Many thanks, and I am sure it won’t be the last time that we are in touch.

Thank you so much for a lovely place to stay, everyone has had a very happy and fulfilling weekend and the team has been strengthed and encouraged.

…everyone is always so warm and welcoming. It is always a challenge taking 60 children away on a residential trip, but the calm setting and home from home comforts soon relax us! Sheldon is such a beautiful place and captures so many wonderful memories for the children.

…accommodation was excellent and facilities were well kitted out! Starter packs were very useful. Staff were helpful when we needed anything.

…it was, as always, hassle free. We love visiting Sheldon because it's a place where we feel safe and are always made welcome. The children have wide open spaces and clear boundaries. I am always impressed with the cleanliness and the care taken to make our visit run smoothly. Thank you once again. We look forward to our return.

…the weather was beautiful. The group were really relaxed and all mucked in to help out. This was a new group and this weekend away has really helped them to bond and form new friendships – which is what it's all about. Many had never been away on their own with their children and its really been a positive experience for all. Thank you very much!

~of the relaxed yet helpful approach by community members
~ we were largely left to our own devices
~ we had open access to the Long Barn and Chapel, both of which are basic necessities – very much improved since 19?? Chapel is now a perfect ‘sacred space'. Please don't add more furniture.
We would have found our stay more useful/helpful/enjoyable if … we had not had to bring bedding (I dare say this is reflected in the cost)

The M+M Holiday Project organised a week-long subsidised holiday designed to serve the local population of Perry Common and Short Heath at the Sheldon Centre ...in August ... A central aim was to develop social interaction skills, creativity, physical activity and catering experiences. It catered for a range of ages from babies and infants to 80 years and over who, for good reason, would not be able to have a holiday because of their particular needs: eg. physical disability, family breakdown, poverty, loneliness.
The holiday went very smoothly. Everyone was very helpful, rota's were followed and there were no major crisis or problems. Since 2000 when we first had a holiday at Sheldon, the centre has been extensively refurbished. The gardens are beautiful and inside is so comfortable, clean and well furnished. The Pig Pens were excellent. There were many individuals who specially benefited from this experience; one was able to voice fears for the first time about a forthcoming operation; a fractious group of young people were able to resolve some differences and bond; some other people (not members of the church) were really helped to relax and were able to understand more and accept church members as friends for the first time. In particular two young people, given confidence by performing in the talent show have joined the choir and are attending services regularly; and once again love was in the air - our 2004 visit brought two people together - and this time two others decided to plan their marriage.
On reflection, we feel we learnt the following:
~ Small numbers - we will aim in future to have no more than 35 people.
~ Leaders - we had no clergy, but there were still enough leaders for the numbers. We will aim to ensure we have a leader for every five people attending.
~ Included in this number of seven leaders would be:

• Someone to lead the services
• Youth/children's leader
• Pastoral leader
• An overall leader
• The worship and daily services went very well and we experience a real and tangible sense of God's presence.
• Good to have at least one day where people do not go out on day trips and when they need to make their own entertainment
• Treasure Hunt went well and was enjoyed by adults and children alike!
• Good to have full day out with people being given some money to buy their own dinner out.
• Talent Show at the end of the week is a great climax to the holiday and people enjoy working towards this. It is also a free source of entertainment that people relish.

.... of the comfortable, friendly, beautiful surroundings. The quietness of the chapel and the good facilities.

.... the Pound House was ideal for our group of 20 to meet in. The Cider Press which we used as a meeting room was ideal for a circle of chairs
there were areas for group discussion
the kitchen facilities were excellent
the atmosphere was commented on as just right
we liked having the separate dining area, large enough too for a book stall, and coffee chatter
the patio was good for a bit of air during coffee breaks
I appreciated the helpfulness of the Society's members
the locality, wildlife and particularly the owls!

We would like to thank you, and all those who contribute to the wonderfully efficient service provided at Sheldon, for all you did to make our stay easy and pleasant both before and during the time we were with you. As before, we found the ambiance ideal and the grounds and countryside were enjoyed by all who attended. We particularly appreciated the patience shown by you and Hillary to all our questions and requests when we visited you prior to the actual Retreat.

.You welcomed us so warmly, even to putting a "welcome" poster on the wall.
.The accommodation was very comfortable and we enjoyed being able to sit outside.
.The atmosphere was so peaceful.
.Tea was served quietly and discreetly, and the cake was delicious!

Everyone in our group have been appreciative of the surroundings and environment and the ability to make the centre our home in every sense of the word. We received a warm welcome and been given the freedom to fulfil our plans and programme. Our stay has enabled us to treat each other special and rediscover our special place and relationship with God. The new build is excellent, and superbly designed and well thought out.

... Your facilities were excellent. The rooms were tastefully furnished and welcoming - all contributing to a relaxing environment for our participants. Some of our group were anxious about what they were coming to, but the surroundings put people at their ease. We appreciated the welcome from the staff of Sheldon, and we felt cared for!

Thank you on behalf of the Exeter Cathedral Julian Group for making us so welcome on Tuesday and for looking after us so wonderfully well. It was a very special day. Thank you for all your care and help.

• good company
• good food
• good weather
• grounds looking wonderful
• comfortable beds

I am writing to you on behalf of my ten members and leader to let you know how much we all enjoyed being at Sheldon yesterday. It was a wonderful experience for us all. Your organisation when faced with a full house and no running water for the day was impressive. Thank you so much. We look forward to booking another day at Sheldon next year.

Just a note to say how very grateful we all were for last night. It was a delightful evening and all the comments I have heard have been so appreciative of all that you do.

• Good facilities
• excellent kitchen
• flexible and good bedrooms
• "special" environment
• your attention to detail
• Right environment for social interaction and personal development
• I like you all!

...the venue is extremely comfortable and well appointed. The surroundings are beautiful and relaxing and we thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere of Sheldon.
The staff are very helpful and it has been a pleasure to stay. Thank you to everyone.

We certainly did enjoy our stay at Sheldon with some of the best weather to bless us this summer. Thank you for looking after us so well. Our youngsters wish me to thank you for letting us know about the proposed roadworks over the river Teign at Sheldon.