The Rose Castle Foundation gathered a Working Retreat at Rose Castle for active peacebuilders as part of their ongoing peacebuilding initiatives, convened by the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, with the support of the Wayfarer Foundation. We were further delighted to have BBC Radio 4 on-site to record the 'Impossible Friendship' Sunday Worship programme broadcast on October 6th, featuring contributions from this 'Peacemakers in Action' network to amplify the voices of all those who seek peace in the face of ongoing war.

The Tanenbaum Center and Rose Castle Foundation both aim to "build a world that respects religious difference" within and between faith traditions. To this end, it was especially appropriate that hospitality teams across the Rose Castle estate supported these Peacemakers in Action throughout their Working Retreat. 

These award-winning peacemakers gathered from across the globe - including Iraq, El Salvador, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, and many other countries - to share best practices, insights, and advice. They are celebrated role models within the international peace-building world and in their own regions. These courageous peacebuilders from all walks of life made Rose Castle their home for a week, sharing precious time together and describing Rose Castle as "the most welcoming, safe, and peaceful environment they had ever encountered". 

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Peacebuilders gather to share tea and meet with local Cumbrians in Rose Castle's State Dining Room.

Canon Sarah Snyder, founder of the Rose Castle Foundation (RCF), had the original vision of reimagining Rose Castle's 800-year history as a stone-walled fortress that resisted enemies (most often the Scots over the centuries!) to one that welcomes strangers or enemies to convene and engage.

Sarah states,

"We are passionate about equipping the next generation to build sustainable peace across some of the world's most difficult divides in the midst of violent conflict. Anywhere there is division which promotes hate speech and violent action, RCF actively brings together both sides to collaborate, despite major differences. Whether that be opposing sides in the lead up to elections, competing groups on university or college campuses, activists in grassroots communities, or those divided by religious, racial or cultural differences.” 

Rose Castle has hosted groups from across the world since 2014, offering a shared sanctuary in which to understand and celebrate their differences, form friendships, share experiences, and come together with a deeper respect for one another, without necessarily agreeing. This is a recipe for sustainable peace and flourishing.

An inspiring moment during the retreat for the Rose Castle team was meeting Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, whose unlikely friendship is featured in the acclaimed film The Imam and The Pastor. Both once led Christian and Muslim militias who had killed and maimed each other in armed conflict before taking tentative steps to end the violence by building bridges of peace between enemies. "Their story exemplifies the real and lasting change that can occur when dialogue and understanding replace violence and hatred," John Snyder shared.

“I was delighted to hear Pastor James exclaim that Rose Castle has that sense of space where “hearts will talk”. It is as if our physical space and the sanctuary of Rose Castle went beyond just being a canvas for re-connecting. The beauty and variety of spaces helped to enhance their transformative experience together.”

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Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye with John Snyder, of Rose Castle Company, which maintains the Castle buildings and estate.

As we mark the anniversary of significant global conflicts, such as the Hamas attack in South Israel and the ongoing war in Gaza, we reflect on the urgent question: How can endless cycles of violence be broken? The Rose Castle Foundation and Tanenbaum are working to answer this by mobilising peacebuilders across divides, both internationally and here in the UK. 

The work at Rose Castle also extends to partnerships with seminaries, churches, other houses of worship, and universities like Princeton, where students learn reconciliation skills through the Princeton Rose Castle Society—a cohort that fosters deep, faith-formed relationships across campus divides.

We continue to honour Rose Castle’s 800-year tradition of welcoming and hosting guests, following in the hospitable footsteps of 67 bishops of Carlisle—whether for weddings, family gatherings, corporate teams, or Rose Castle Foundation Programmes.

"We tell our guests that Rose Castle is “Your Castle in Cumbria." Our attentive hospitality team makes the Castle a home-from-home experience in which you and your guests, colleagues, or family have the castle to yourselves." John Snyder continued;

“It was a celebration to have such inspirational peacemakers in our midst, and to witness their contribution to the BBC Sunday Worship programme broadcast on Radio 4 on 6th October at 08:10am. We welcome all who want to gather for special reasons, whether bringing together extended family, or convening meaningful corporate events, or hosting residential programmes - all in a beautiful historic setting in which local, national and international folk have gathered together throughout its 800 years of history.”

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Canon Sarah Snyder (right) with members of the RCF team.

Learn more about the Rose Castle Foundation and its work on the RCF website. Alternatively, if you're interested in hosting your own gathering at Rose Castle, get in touch here.

BBC Radio 4 Programme 'Impossible Friendship', catch up now: