About The Abbey
The Abbey on Lovers Lane is designed to provide hallowed space for Quiet and Reflection. Rooted in the contemplative Christian tradition, it is a place for people to be still, pray, listen, learn; to process with others and receive spiritual guidance. It is where one can find time and space to focus on cultivating one's relationship with God and consider how to live out the implications of that relationship in the world.
Practically, we provide intercessory prayer and pastoral care, individual and group retreats of varying lengths, Christian formation particularly in prayer practices, spiritual direction, prayer counseling, and are available for clergy and spouse wellness and support.
The Abbey on Lovers Lane provides space and care for those who identify themselves as “spiritual, but not religious” and is an arm of the church that resources churches, as well. The Abbey is in the heart of the city to enable people with limited time, money, or necessary support to experience spiritual oasis and renewal.
Our Founders
The Rev. Thomas Hotchkiss (Tom) grew up in Washington, D.C. and went to Vanderbilt University. Tom has masters’ degrees from both Fuller Theological Seminary and Virginia Theological Seminary. Before going to seminary, Tom worked as a youth minister for Young Life as well as an Episcopal church. Tom has worked in various church settings in Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, and Texas for over 30 years. Tom loves God and loves people and enjoys identifying and exploring the intersection of God’s work in people’s lives. Since 2019, he has been part of the Renovare Institute’s program in Spiritual Formation.
Marcia Hotchkiss grew up in Memphis, TN and attended LSU for both of her degrees. Over the past two decades she has taught college level speech which included interpersonal and group communication and public speaking. Marcia is a spiritual director who was trained in a three-year ecumenical program here in Dallas. She also is a trained circle of trust facilitator in the Parker Palmer method. Marcia enjoys working alongside people as a companion on their spiritual pilgrimage and the honor of seeing God at work in her friends’ lives.
Tom and Marcia have taught Christian formation classes together over the years in various church settings as well as at St. Luke’s Seminary, Sewanee, Kanuga Retreat and Conference Center, and numerous other retreat settings. Together they also completed a Healing Listening course at the Acorn Trust in Whitehall, UK. Through both individual and shared experience, Tom and Marcia have seen in their own lives and the lives of others the transformative power of contemplative spirituality. This has led them to begin an urban abbey in the heart of the city.