LEFFLER RETREAT HOUSE

Situated on North Capitol Hill with stunning views of the cityscape, Puget Sound and snow-capped Olympic Mountains, Saint Mark’s Cathedral and the adjacent Saint Mark’s Greenbelt are designed to be an urban haven of rest, renewal, and gathering place for prayer and action. A short walk from the cathedral’s front doors, Leffler House’s main floors serve as a center for ministry groups to gather. A private residence upstairs serves as Leffler Retreat House, a studio apartment intended to serve individuals making spiritual retreat on the cathedral close.

Saint Mark’s outdoor labyrinth is just yards away from your front door. The cathedral nave and chapels and vistas overlooking the Greenbelt are all available to you. Cathedral Yoga gathers year-round on Mondays at 6:30 in the nave (freewill offering); contemplative prayer meets Tuesdays at 7pm in the cathedral (Sept-May). Daily Morning and Evening Prayer are held virtually on weekdays. Sunday worship services include celebrations of Holy Eucharist (8am, 9am, 11am, and 7pm Contemplative Eucharist), Evensong (4:30pm, first Sunday of month, Oct-June), and Compline (9:30pm every Sunday).

The CSA Director (CSAdirector@saintmarks.org) will assist you in designing the retreat right for you. Let God gift you much needed sleep. Rest on the cathedral domain amidst a century of countless prayers in the air of this sacred place. Read, journal, reflect in the quiet retreat house used only for the purpose of offering souls and bodies rest in their Creator. Meet with a spiritual director (in Leffler House, one floor down from the apartment), or walk the lovely neighborhoods, practicing presence amidst the beauty of the surrounding landscape.

Please Note: Leffler Retreat House is not a part-time Airbnb or short-term rental. We ask that those booking the apartment do so in the spirit of solitude, stillness and silence. The Leffler Retreat House is not available for other good things such as virtual work, sightseeing or visiting friends. In this way we preserve the retreat house as a place of prayer.

“The Desert Christians knew that such clarity in being available to the present moment is possible only when one pauses to exercise awareness…Prayer does involve a discipline of practiced attentiveness …Contemplative prayer is what gets you out of your head. (It) allows the world to surprise me. The universe becomes delightfully open-ended.”

-Belden Lane, Wisdom School featured speaker, 2022.

Saint Mark's outdoor labyrinth looking west at sunset

Saint Mark's outdoor labyrinth looking west at sunset

The Details

Filled with light and charm, the apartment welcomes you with a cozy living room complete with a scenic view to the west, writing area, and clean, comfortable furniture. The apartment has a full bath with a tub/shower combination, sleeping area with twin size bed, a full kitchen supplied with the basics (drip coffee, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, dishes, utensils, pots & pans, etc.) and a dining area. In order to preserve the retreat environment and a return to simplicity, we do not offer TV or sound system. Wi-fi is available.

Should your time of quiet reflection lead you to explore the outdoors, Saint Mark’s Greenbelt, Volunteer Park, Interlaken Park, Boren Park (scenic overlook), and Lakeview Cemetery are all a short walk away and are wonderful places to pray. For more adventurous walkers, the Washington Arboretum is 1.8 miles down the hill.


Spiritual Care

Your retreat is housed in a peaceful space that has been set aside for the sole purpose of spiritual and physical rest. The space is not a guest house for tourists and visitors. It is a “thin place” of prayer.

  • Prayer materials and retreat guides are available in the apartment should you find them helpful.
  • A 60-minute spiritual direction session is included in your retreat. Additional sessions may be booked for an additional fee based on availability.
  • The Cathedral office is open 9:00am-4:30pm, Monday through Friday, and staff can assist with check-in, check-out, and other logistics as needed. The on-site Cathedral Caretaker is available for emergencies only.

Intended Occupancy

Single, 1-twin bed. Additional guests are not allowed. No pets allowed.


Amenities

Twin bed, writing area, couch, full bath, blow-dryer, towels, soap, shampoo, drip coffee maker, furnished kitchen, dishwasher, oven/stove, microwave, refrigerator, dining area. Meals are not included.


Check In/Out

Check In: after 2:00pm / Check Out: before 11:00am


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 cathedral).


Food Options

Order your meals from Hello Fresh or from 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 to the Broadway village just south of the cathedral. QFC grocery is a 12-minute walk from the apartment. There are plenty of electric scooters and bikes available throughout the neighborhood through the “Lime” app.


Address

1229 10th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98102 (on the Cathedral Campus)


Parking

Available in the cathedral’s parking lot (parking pass obtained at check-in)

Note: Because of the retreat intention of the property we ask that retreatants maintain quiet after 9:00pm. No smoking or vaping in the buildings or within 25 feet of any entrance.


Booking

Inquiries can be made to CSAdirector@saintmarks.org or by calling the cathedral office.


Payment

50% deposit is due at time of booking; the remaining balance is due two weeks prior to arrival.


Cancellation

Cancellation less than seven days of arrival will be subject to a cancellation fee equivalent to the first night of the stay. Cancellation within 48 hours of arrival is non-refundable.


Availability and Reservations

(includes one 60-minute spiritual direction session; additional sessions can be scheduled for additional fee and subject to availability)

  • 5 Night Retreat $415
  • 4 Night Retreat $350
  • 3 Night Retreat $280
  • 2 Night Retreat $240

Due to cleaning costs, one night stays are not offered. We encourage you to take the time to make this a meaningful spiritual retreat experience.

View of the Cathedral from the retreat house

View of the kitchen and dining area