Cornerstone is the annual All Souls church wide holiday centred around Christ our Cornerstone and open to everyone who attends All Souls. We join together to deepen relationships, serve each other and grow in faith. We pray that the spiritual impact of Cornerstone will last throughout the year, better equipping us all to live as church family and as witnesses to Christ in the world.

There will be Bible teaching each morning along with time for discussion in small groups, prayer, worship and reflection. Santhosh Thomas, minister at St Andrews Wimbledon will be teaching us from the book of Hebrews. There will be a teaching programme for the children with a crèche, All Souls Kids and youth. There will be a number of seminars over the week and an opportunity to meet some mission partners.

If you like to be busy on holiday you will be able to fill each minute at Cornerstone from morning to night. However if you prefer your holiday at a more gentle pace you are free to dip in and out of the programme. Everything is optional and you really can do as much or as little as you want.

The Cornerstone team works hard to make sure there is something for everyone. Each year the team listens to feedback to keep developing the programme. There are excellent on-site sports facilities including an indoor sports hall, tennis courts, a field for Capture the Flag and the Cornerstone Games to name but a few. (Please note that the Swimming pool may not be available this summer due to renovations. We will confirm nearer the time. But we will endeavour to make sure plenty of fun with water can be had!). In the past we have run a Cornerstone walk, a choir, craft sessions and a book group. There have also been off-site trips to Fort Purbrook, Petersfield Heath and Alice Holt Forest with an option for climbing with Go Ape. We’ve even gone to the beach. Evening activities have included a ceilidh, quizzes, board games, films and a hog roast party on the last night.

Cornerstone is a place where our big Church becomes a small Church for the week. Whoever you are, however long you’ve been part of All Souls, whichever service you attend, you are warmly invited to Cornerstone. Last year our age range went from babies to over 80s. It included people who were single and married, with kids and without. We had children and youth, students and workers, stay at home parents and those who are retired. It really is for everyone. As we holiday together there are so many opportunities throughout the week to deepen relationships, serve each other and grow in faith together. We pray that the spiritual impact of Cornerstone will last throughout the year, better equipping us to live as church together and as witnesses to Christ in the world.

If you can’t make it for the whole week, you are welcome to join us for the day on Sunday 9 August 2026, arriving in time for the morning meeting and staying until the last activity ends in the evening. The cost is £30 for adults, £25 for children aged 3-18 years and children aged 0-2 years go free. The price includes all activities, lunch and dinner.

Cornerstone happens at Bedales School in Hampshire. The school is very accessible from Petersfield train station (an hour from Waterloo) and within easy access from London, along the A3. It is set in lovely spacious grounds in a beautiful part of the country.

All accommodation is in the boarding houses at Bedales School. The rooms are mainly spacious family rooms and there are a few twin and single rooms. Please be aware that bathrooms are shared.

There is also space on site for anyone who wants to camp with a shower block accessible from the field.

Catering is provided by an excellent team of chefs and is delicious and nutritious and varied. All meals are included in the price. If you have allergies or particular requirements please let us know when you book.

We will send more information including details of what to bring and how to get there nearer the time.

All Souls Church takes safeguarding children and vulnerable adults seriously. Our use of Bedales School also requires us to follow their safeguarding arrangements as well as our own. Anyone wanting to help on the children’s or youth team is required to have a DBS check before being considered for the team. The church also reserves the right to ask related questions to anyone who books for the holiday. Everyone who books for the holiday has a duty to disclose any previous convictions and other issues relating to safeguarding, and everyone is expected to comply with the house rules that are needed for everyone’s care and protection.

All Souls makes a commitment to Bedales School to pay for the beds that are booked. However we do understand that sometimes bookings need to be cancelled for unavoidable reasons and we will do our best to be as flexible as possible.

If a booking is cancelled before the end of April 2026 then the full fee will be reimbursed.

If a booking is cancelled between 1 May and 30 June 2026 then the deposit will be retained but the rest of the fee will be reimbursed.

After 1 July 2025 the deposit will be retained. If the place can be filled from the waiting list then the rest of the fee will be reimbursed. If the place cannot be filled for whatever reason then the full fee is payable.