On 13th May, Father Alexis Raphael participated in a day retreat in Birmingham for members and friends of ‘Single Consecrated Life’, an Anglican network of solitaries.  He met solitary monastics from a variety of traditions, from Evangelical to Anglo-Catholic, where participants shared the stories of their respective call to the solitary life.  Developments in the religious life in the UK were discussed and there was a talk on Christian Healing given by Sister Beverly SCL. There was a vegetarian lunch and plenty of opportunities to meet other solitaries.  Father Alexis felt encouraged that so many people of different ages, traditions and walks of life are embracing the solitary call in Britain today and was also pleased to learn of an increase in interest in the solitary vocation has been reported.