‘A real treat’: Psalm 23 helps visitors to retreat centre

Filmmaker Mark Warburton takes you on a tour of the Quiet Waters Psalm 23-inspired garden.

When Debbie and Andy Jackman took on the running of the Quiet Waters retreat centre in Norfolk four years ago, the dream was always to provide reflections for people to read as they walked through the two-acre garden. 

‘Of course, it never happened,’ said Debbie. But now, visitors to the retreat centre can read Bible Society’s reflections on Psalm 23 alongside the river, in the meadow and in the woodland walk. 

‘We get some lovely comments about how useful they found the reflections and saying that it’s been a real treat to come across such lovely reflections as they walk,’ said Debbie. ‘It’s been having a lot of impact.

‘People like to reflect on Psalm 23 in particular because it’s so peaceful and so beautiful,’ she added. 

Plans are now afoot to invite local churches to retreat days at the centre, enabling congregations to reflect on Psalm 23. 

The initiative at Quiet Waters is part of a nationwide plan to see Psalm 23-inspired community gardens created.

Paul Williams, CEO of Bible Society, said, ‘The psalm paints a vivid picture of the restfulness of creation, of our experience of journeying under the shadow of death, but also of the promise of a place of arrival that is a beautiful sanctuary.

‘We hope that gardening – which so many Britons love – will enable people to reflect on the psalm as they sow and plant.’

You can download the reflections, and find out more about Quiet Waters.