THE CATHEDRAL RETREAT
St. Mark’s has created a simple space for retreat on its North Capitol Hill campus in Seattle. The Cathedral Retreat is located on the top floor of a house that is used as a meeting space by St. Mark’s ministry groups, which sits just yards away from the cathedral’s outdoor archetypal-Chartres-pattern labyrinth. It is also a minute’s walk from the Cathedral building itself, where many worship, educational, musical, and spiritual practice offerings take place every week. Should you be led to explore the outdoors, multiple opportunities for walks are available in the area, including the St. Mark’s Greenbelt trail, and beyond.
The Center for Spirituality and Action (CSA) Director is available to assist you in designing the retreat that is right for you, should you so desire. Let God gift you much needed sleep. Rest in the cathedral domain amidst a century of countless prayers in the air of this sacred place. Read, journal, reflect, and pray in the quiet retreat used only for the purpose of offering souls and bodies rest in their Creator. Join a worship service or daily office, move with Cathedral yoga, be transported by sacred music, pray with a contemplative prayer group, learn from a class or guest speaker. Meet with a spiritual director (one session included with your stay), if you would like. Take advantage of the small retreat library of books and prayer items. Slow down, and attend to the Holy One who calls you ever more fully into relationship.
This is not a guest house for tourists and visitors. It is a “thin place” of prayer.
“It is not you that shapes God: God shapes you. You are the work of God. Await the hand of the artist who does all things in due season. Offer God your heart, soft and pliable; and keep the form in which the artist has fashioned you. Let your clay be moist lest you grow hard and lose the imprint of God’s fingers.”
-St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, 1st century
CATHEDRAL RETREAT DETAILS
Location/Address
1229 10th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102 (on the Cathedral Campus)
A studio apartment on the top floor of Leffler House, near the exit from the St. Mark’s parking lot.
Uses
The Cathedral Retreat is set aside as a place of prayer; we ask that those booking the apartment do so in the spirit of solitude, stillness and silence. It is not available for other good things such as short-term rental, virtual work, sightseeing or visiting friends. Additional guests are not permitted; it is reserved for single guests at a time.
Spiritual Resources
Prayer materials and retreat guides are available in a small library; a 60-minute spiritual direction session is included in your retreat, should you wish. Additional direction sessions may be booked for an added fee, based on availability.
Walks Off Campus
Walks are possible to Volunteer Park, Interlaken Park, Boren Park (scenic overlook), and Lakeview Cemetery. For more adventurous trekkers, the Washington Arboretum is 1.8 miles down the hill.
Amenities
Full kitchen, supplied with the basics (drip coffee maker, microwave, oven, fridge, dishwasher, dishes, utensils, pots & pans, etc.); full bath with tub/shower combination; towels and sheets supplied. We do not provide food, beverages, or personal toiletries.
Occupancy
Designed for and limited to single occupancy, with a twin-size bed
Parking
Available in the cathedral’s parking lot (pass obtained at check-in)
Accessibility
Located on the third floor, reached by flights of stairs
Internet/Media
To preserve the retreat setting and an environment of simplicity, we do not offer a TV or sound system. Wi-fi is available.
Food and Drink
We do not provide food or beverages. Bring supplies with you, or order your meals. Options include Hello Fresh or one of many restaurant delivery services (Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats, etc.). Several restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops are a 10–15-minute walk; QFC grocery is a 12-minute walk.
Pets
We cannot accommodate pets
Smoking
No smoking or vaping in the buildings or within 25 feet of any entrance.
Length of Stay
2 to 5 days
Price
- 5 Nights - $415
- 4 Nights - $350
- 3 Nights - $280
- 2 Nights - $240
We are unable to offer a single night’s stay
Deposit
50% deposit is due at time of booking; the remaining balance is due two weeks prior to arrival.
Cancellations
Cancellation less than seven days before arrival will be subject to a fee equivalent to the first night of the stay. Cancellation within 48 hours of arrival is non-refundable.
Booking
Inquiries can be made to CSAdirector@saintmarks.org or by calling the cathedral office.
Travel/Transportation
- Saint Mark’s Cathedral is located on Seattle’s Capitol Hill, roughly 25 minutes by car from Sea-Tac Airport.
- Uber/Lyft/Taxi to Saint Mark’s from the airport is roughly $60-70.
- Light rail from the airport to Capitol Hill station (40 minutes) is $3.00 each way. From the Capitol Hill station, it is a 20-minute walk to the cathedral, or the Metro 49 bus connects the Capitol Hill station with the Cathedral (bus stop in front of St. Mark’s).
- There are plenty of electric scooters and bikes available throughout the neighborhood through the “Lime” app.
Check-in / Check-out
Check In: after 2:00 pm / Check Out: before 11:00 am, both with the Cathedral office
Logistics/Contacts
The Cathedral office is open 9:00 am-4:30 pm, Monday through Friday; staff can assist with check-in, check-out, and other logistics as needed. The on-site Cathedral Caretaker is available for emergencies.
Emergencies
The on-site Cathedral Caretaker is available for emergencies. We also ask retreatants to bring a mobile phone in case of urgent situations.