Come behind the scenes of Lee Abbey, a Christian Retreat Centre in North Devon England, to hear your favourite guest speakers, all about community life and how to live as a Christian in todays world. Mostly hosted by our warden and chaplain David and Caroline Hammond, but as the nature of this place, you will meet lots of new faces.
If You Have a Creative Gift, Do Something About It with Fiona Crowther and Samuel Jackson-Reed
This week Fiona sits down with Samuel Jackson-Reed to talk about worship in all its forms. Sam dives into what deconstruction looks like (even as a cliche Lord of the Rings, craft coffee lover Christian) while maintaining his love for Christ. We love to highlight what is happening around us in a creative Christian space. It was a joy to have Sam on!
Find more of Samuel here: @samjacksonreedmusic (https://www.instagram.com/samjacksonreedmusic)
Looking for a creative retreat?
Find various retreats on writing, singing, reading, clay making and more here:
https://leeabbey.venue360.me/event/app
Wanting to join a community of christians to walk through life with?
Find openings at Lee Abbey here:
https://leeabbeydevon.org.uk/community/current-vacancies/
6 Sept 2026
Reaching Youth Through Multiplying Pasties with Ben Knowlman
Do you have a passion for youth ministry? This week Simon, our marketing lead sits down with Ben Knowlamn to talk about his journey to being called to youth ministry. Through the twists and turns, the highs and lows, Ben and Simon talk about how God is still working to reach the younger generation even we aren't and how to help the process.
To learn more from Ben and Simon, check out our advance week October 5-9 open to those 18-30. This week will give you a taste of Christian community and Encountering God. Limited spaces available!
https://leeabbey.venue360.me/event/app?eventNumber=253#/landing
28 Aug 2026
Big News- an update from David and Caroline Hammond
This week David and Caroline are coming to you with some updates on what is happening at Lee Abbey. Through some unexpected news, we as a community are staying closer than ever and pursuing the Lord in all that we do.
Please keep us in your prayers for more community members, a clear direction of what to pursue for the visa situation and to keep moving forward with what is important.
Keep an eye out on our website and socials for role openings and updates.
Associate community roles:
https://leeabbeydevon.org.uk/community/associate-community/
Current openings:
https://leeabbeydevon.org.uk/community/current-vacancies/
2026/2027 Programme:
https://leeabbey.venue360.me/event/app
19 Jul 2026
Middling with Emma Ineson
Stuck in the middle? Looking longingly at the finish line while not enjoying what is in the present moment? This week on Encounter, Caroline sits down with Bishop Emma Ineson a current guest speaker at Lee Abbey and past community member, and talked about her book 'Middling What Jesus Said About Perspective, Being Between Things and Not Yet Knowing stuff'.
As a society we often look to the large moments in life, usually the beginning and the end, but what about the middle? On top on that, as Christians we are not yet in the kingdom, but here on Earth. So how do we hold onto hope, live in the moment, and look towards this future? In this episode of Encounter, Caroline and Emma go into all the different aspects of being in the middle as Christians.
12 Jul 2026
Life is Worth Laughing About with Mark Scyner
"I shouldn't say this on a podcast...."-Mark Scyner
This week we welcome Mark Scyner a long time Lee Abbey member who has made his mark (no pun intended) in many roles, ways and relationships. As a celebration of his retirement after 16 years of service, David sat down to hear his story. Thank you Mark for all you have done!
Want a taste of the life that Mark has lived! A great way, as mentioned in the podcast is to join our Associate Community, a temporary role that allows you to join community life as much as you would like for weeks or months of the year. Have a look to be blessed and be a blessing!
https://leeabbeydevon.org.uk/community/associate-community/
5 Jul 2026
Making Known the Mystery of the Gospel with Simon Allaby
Meet our new Reach Lead! Simon Allaby started off as our house team lead (now recruiting his replacement!) and has now transitioned into a marketing role through a long journey of finding this role. Feeling like a 'round peg in a round hole', as Simon says, we are so excited to welcome him into the world of telling Lee Abbey's story!
Listen along while David and Caroline talk about how Simon found this role, his long history of involvement in Lee Abbey and how God has put all the pieces together for us all!
Find the House Team Lead role here!
https://leeabbeydevon.org.uk/vacancies/house-team-leader/
28 Jun 2026
Living In Joy and Sorrow with Leah Bucko
This week David and Caroline sit down with Leah Bucko, a speaker, author, mother, writer and guest speaker here at Lee Abbey to talk about her week Flourish! The three talk about living between grief and joy, after Leah's experience with the loss of her child, and how to continue finding the joy in the Lord and the sorrow life can bring.
Leah's Socials: https://www.instagram.com/buckoleah___/
Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Inbetween-Grief-Hope-Bucko/dp/1914388666
21 Jun 2026
Make Church Weird Again w/ Paul Friend
This week David and Caroline sat down with Paul Friend, the director of South West Youth Ministries (SWYM)! SWYM has had a long standing partnership with Lee Abbey, bringing in multiple times a year, groups of passionate youth workers in training. The three of them talk about what community in a church setting really means, authenticity (aka allowing the weird) in churches, and how the newest generation of youth workers has inspired a revival of connection.
We are always blessed when SWYM passes by and wanted to share the love online, so listen along and let's keep it weird!
24 May 2026
Revelations is weird with Ian Paul
Time for a deep dive into Revelations! Have you been avoiding Revelations (we can all be guilty of avoiding what feels like a huge daunting, book) well, meet Ian Paul. Drawn to Revelations after a calling from God when asked, "What do you want" and answering “to help people read scripture” well, God put a challenge on his heart to tackle Revelations.
In this podcast you will hear David and Caroline work through a long lasting marital debate (is the world getting better or worse towards the end), what a true lukewarm Christian is and how the Revelations was not written to us but for us.
Ian Paul has been a beloved speaker at Lee Abbey for years, check out our upcoming programmes to find similar topics, or book ahead for future retreats with Ian Paul.
17 May 2026
Get to know the Hammonds!
Ever wonder what it takes for a couple to run a place like Lee Abbey? Well, now is your chance! David and Caroline sit down together to show a lighthearted side for our listeners, recollecting how they met, David's fast, but ultimately, perfectly timed proposal and what there favourite ways to spend their time at Lee Abbey outside of their work.
10 May 2026
Using Creativity and Worship as a Gift to the World w/David Hammond and Stephen Crowther
Tune into our newest podcast with Stephen and David talking about Stephen's journey at Lee Abbey as a worship leader, family man and singer songwriter! Check out his newest song with Fiona Crowther Above it All which we have coined at Lee Abbey the song of the year.
Also keep an eye out for more of the singing and songwriting retreats run by Stephen and Fiona which allow the singer and songwriters of every walk of life to take time out of their busy schedule to Encounter God through the beauty and flow creativity as form of worship.
26 Apr 2026
Leadership, Motherhood and Following God's Calling with Caroline Hammond and Fiona Crowther
Join Caroline and Fiona, our Chaplain and Worship leader, as they sit down to discuss leadership, songwriting, following God's calling all while balancing the joys of motherhood.
Stay tuned to hear more music from Fiona!
19 Apr 2026
Don't Let Anyone Suppress Your Creativity With Jemimah and Oscar Nash
You don't have to come to the Lord with your perfect, fancy words, all He wants is to have you be real with Him....
Join Fiona, our worship leader at Lee Abbey, as she sits down with old friends in the industry, Jemimah and Oscar Nash as they talk about the creative field of singing and songwriting as work, as a hobby, passion and a form of Worship!
___________________________
On the spectacular North Devon coast in Exmoor National Park, Lee Abbey Devon is home to a Christian Community. A stay at Lee Abbey Devon is more than a Christian retreat or holiday; it is an opportunity to encounter Jesus through worship, teaching, ministry and Community which we pray will transform your life, relationships, community, environment and world.
16 Apr 2026
Helen Collins-Leading a Church in Fragmented Times
This week David and Caroline Hammond sit down with Helen Collins to talk about being church leaders in a fragmented world and how to authentically navigate heavy topics with love and compassion.
Being a minister of the gospel has never been so complex! We know we should lead others in prayer, bible reading and fellowship, but what does it mean to do this amid the huge global challenges of Artificial Intelligence, the climate crisis, global migration, cost of living crisis, social media influence, neurodiversity, decolonisation and mental health struggles – to name a few!
Helen Collins is Vice Principal (Academic) and Tutor in Practical Theology at Trinity College, Bristol. She has written on a range of topics, including Reordering Theological Reflection: Starting with Scripture (SCM), Mary the Worshipping Mother: Reclaiming Mary’s Motherhood for Contemporary Mums (Grove) and Charismatic Christianity: Introducing Its Theology Through the Gifts of the Spirit (Baker Academic). Her forthcoming publication is tentatively entitled: Mary the First Spirit-Filled Disciple. Helen is an ordained Anglican, she is married to Simon and is the mother to three teenaged children.
12 Apr 2026
Big Dreams Small Steps with Simon Guillebaud
Welcome Simon Guillebaud, from Inspired... with Simon Guillebaud, one of Lee Abbey's dedicated speakers, to the Encounter Podcast! David and Caroline Hammond sit down with Simon to discuss his work in Africa while maintaining a life here in the UK. They talk about upcoming projects, dreams, sabbath, work life balance all while making sure to keep the focus on God. Hear their story of dreaming big while faithfully taking small steps.
29 Mar 2026
Introductions, Discipleship Programme and Sabbath
Welcome to Lee Abbey's first podcast! Today we sat down with our Warden, David Hammond, and our Chaplin, Caroline Hammond, to hear there story as new community members (as of the last year) new changes that are being made in Lee Abbey such as a new discipleship programme led by Caroline and a sabbath for all community members.
Let us know what types of speakers you want in future episodes!
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