BA (Hons) P.G.C.E PGCert
​
Creating A Safe & Hospitable Space To Explore Your Spirituality & Walk With God
​
​
​
​​
Spiritual Accompaniment
Retreats, Formation & Soul Care​
for individuals, leaders, teams & communities
Hi & Welcome
​​My name is Sam Whiley and I am a spiritual director, rooted within the Christian tradition. I am drawn to contemplative expressions of faith and love creating a safe and hospitable space for anyone looking to explore their spirituality and walk with God.​​​
Over the years, I have had the honour of accompanying people from all walks of life looking to journey with a greater sense of intentionality, authenticity and connection to the divine. Many of these people are church leaders, CEOs, therapists, spiritual directors and creatives.
My interest in spiritual formation began early in my faith journey; however, it was my own desire and need for a deeper and more sustaining spirituality that led me towards contemplative practices and spiritual accompaniment. Over time, these rhythms helped me to slow down, notice, and encounter God’s presence in a way that would nourish and help me experience the sacred in the ordinary moments and challenges of life. As my passion for formation developed, I trained as a Spiritual Director and, having worked in education and church leadership for over 30 years, it is now my delight to offer this kind of accompaniment for others also seeking a richer and more fulfilling experience.
​
Whether through spiritual accompaniment, retreat facilitation, formation education, leadership development, or mentoring, my joy is to be a soul friend — someone who holds space for you to express what is true for you, no matter your season. My commitment is to create a safe and confidential listening environment in which I offer thoughtful questions, gentle observations, and moments for prayer and reflection. I can also help you explore life-giving rhythms and spiritual practices as you seek to make sense of your journey and cultivate your relationship with God.
​
If you are curious about spiritual direction and whether it may serve you in this season of your life, I invite you to explore these pages and connect with me if I can be of further help. You can also find more information about my life experience, training, qualifications, affiliations, and code of practice.
Looking forward to meeting you!
​
​
Sam
Testimonials
Spiritual Direction with Sam has been eventful and insightful from the very first session! Every time we meet I go away having encountered God and with plenty to reflect on and pray into. Sam is kind, gentle but also insightful and courageous. She has a wonderful ear to listen and uses silence as often as questions to bring out what God is looking to do. She is deeply caring and pastoral and has a wealth of experience.
​
Daniel Smith | Church Leader
Spiritual Direction with Sam has been a wonderful sacred space to stop, explore and notice the mysterious movements of God in my life. She has given me the freedom to come exactly as I am, on both good and bad days, in consolation or desolation, and skillfully asks questions that help me notice what is important. I often come away from a SD with greater clarity and peace as I’ve been reminded of how much God is always moving and working. I am so grateful for her!
​
Helen Hicks | Worship Pastor VUKI
I had never had a Spiritual Director and, to be honest, wasn’t quite sure what it was, but I knew, as a leader, I needed something more to live well. Then I met Sam. She explained the role of spiritual direction and has accompanied me on this incredible journey, focusing on how I am experiencing God in MY life. Not just for those I lead and love. I have been able to lean into the mysteries of living in the ‘now and the not yet’. To sit with everything from joy to disappointments and explore how I am experiencing God in and through these. Sam brings an incredible gentleness, wisdom and asks questions that raise my level of insight and understanding.
​
Lynne Archer | Church Planter & Leader
​
What I offer & how I can serve you
There are several ways I companion people looking to explore and nurture their faith journey.
One to One
I offer one to one appointments in person or online. I currently work with people from various countries so distance need not be a barrier! Meetings are usually monthly for one hour and are charged on a sliding scale of £50 to £60 per session - depending on a persons means. I am also available for mentoring as well as spiritual direction.
Please contact me to schedule an exploratory call if you are interested in working with me.
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
​
​
Ignatian Exercises
The Spiritual Exercises is a journey of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Designed to help people deepen their relationship with God, these prayers have enriched the lives of countless people throughout the world - from various denominations and backgrounds.
Considered to be world-renowned and a timeless spiritual classic, it is my delight to offer this "retreat in daily life". ​​​
​​​​
​​​​​​​
​
Retreats
I am available to facilitate retreats, training days, and various group - based activities. I have experience in facilitating formational sessions for senior and regional leadership teams. Throughout the year, I also offer various creative retreats based at Court Street Gallery and Ammerdown Retreat Center.
​
If you would like to explore how I can help, please email me with the details of your request.
​​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​
​​​​​​​​​​​
Debriefing
Do you feel the need to pause and locate yourself in life’s journey? Are you transitioning roles, completing a job, or concluding a pastoral or ministerial position?
​
In life and work, we move from one moment to the next, often without pause.A debriefing retreat offers a nurturing, confidential space to tell your story—what feels most true, relevant, and important to you. It provides an opportunity to process past events, understand their impact, and glean wisdom, insights, and hope for the future.
​​​
​​​
​​​​​​​​​
​​​
​​​​​​​​​​
School of Contemplation
Are you ready to explore new ways of praying and being?​ If so, we invite you to join us for Sustainable Faith’s School of Contemplation — a 9-month, once-a-month retreat rhythm designed to offer space to experience, reflect, and be nourished.
​
This is an opportunity to explore spiritual formation — the slow, grace-filled shaping of the soul through presence, practice, and community.
Loam
​​Loam is a contemplative gathering seeking to cultivate good soil for soulful living​. Rooted in Christ, we believe people thrive as they lean into a life deeply loved by God: authentically, joyfully, faithfully, and sustainably To this end, we offer a hospitable space for adults to experience soul-nourishing practices and meaningful conversations that deepen life with God.
​​
Here, you are invited to discover the joys of the contemplative path
and find companions for the way
School of Contemplation
Are you ready to explore new ways of praying and being?
​
If so, we invite you to join us for Sustainable Faith’s School of Contemplation — a 9-month, once-a-month retreat rhythm designed to offer space to experience, reflect, and be nourished.
​
This is an opportunity to explore spiritual formation — the slow, grace-filled shaping of the soul through presence, practice, and community — and an invitation to lean into the lifelong process of living out the desire Paul expresses in Galatians 4:19: "That Christ be formed in you — by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, for the good of others and to the glory of God."
​
Frequently Asked Questions