Course Residentials
Four times a year, students and tutors join together for our course residentials. These are a mandatory part of the course as most importantly they provide an opportunity for:
- Interesting and useful face-to-face learning sessions relating to the modules.
- Time to talk to your personal tutor and discuss any concerns with staff and tutors.
- Access to the resources available in the CIPT library
- Worship, fellowship, food and enjoyment together.
Our course is very much a welcoming place where we are all able to learn from one another. A sense of fellowship and collaboration develops as students work and learn together and many of us who have been students on the course made friends and networks that last well beyond the time of study.
It is good to note that we are so fortunate to have a committed team of expert tutors, who also have practical experience of real life church work, who give of their time and abilities graciously and voluntarily to the FD Course and provide a very high calibre of teaching and support to the students. We are also blessed that the Congregational Federation continues to invest financially in the course.
The weekend sessions are held at the Congregational Centre in Nottingham, with accommodation in the Lace Market Hotel, within a short walk of the Centre.
If you want to see a little more about what happens at a residential, have a look at our short video -
But… the residentials are about so much more than the learning. This is what some of our new students said about their first residential:
“The sessions were really interactive which suits my learning style”
“The whole weekend was absolutely amazing. The staff and tutors are very friendly and informative, nothing was too much trouble for them. I would most definitely advice people to jump on the course as I have found it to be a real eye opener. As a practising Christian for some years, I thought I knew a thing or two, but now I know my learning has just begun.”
“As we walked into the centre on Thursday afternoon it felt like home, it didn’t feel like walking into a room of strangers. The tutors are all approachable and friendly”
“It is a wonderful experience of learning”
“Amazing weekend, inspiring tutors, good fellowship, altogether brilliant! So pleased I started.”
And from those nearing the end of their studies…
“The course is well delivered, organised and of real value. Love the time to relax and discuss issues too. Great to chat to my new personal tutor.”
“Just keep up the brilliant work. So much thought has gone into making our passage smoother. This is very much appreciated. Thank you!”
2023/24 Course Weekend Dates for the FD
Thurs 7th - Sun 10th September 2023
Fri 12th - Sun 14th January 2024
Fri 12th - Sun 14th April 2024
Fri 28th - Sun 30th June 2024
2024/25 Course Weekend Dates for the FD
Thurs 5th – Sun 8th September 2024
Fri 10th – Sun 12th January 2025
Fri 4th – Sun 6th April 2025
Fri 27th – Sun 29th June 2025
2025/26 Course Weekend Dates for the FD
Thurs 4th - Sun 7th September 2025
Fri 9th - Sun 11th January 2026
Fri 10th - Sun 12th April 2026
Fri 26th - Sun 28th June 2026
