150th Anniversary Appeal - Save A Saint

Fundraising at The Monastery
Restoring The Monastery in Gorton, Manchester, began in 1996 by the newly-formed Monastery Trust in order to save the former Franciscan church and friary from dereliction. So far over £6.5m has been raised, much of this through grants and heritage funding, along with generous donations from the public. Today the buildings are safe, attractive and workable and provide a unique environment for corporate, cultural and community activity. The profits from this fund the maintenance of the buildings and the Trust's own charitable work in the local community, reinstating The Monastery at the centre of events for local people. The restoration work remains incomplete and there is still a great need to restore many of The Monastery's original features, the details and features that contribute to the spiritual importance and architectural beauty of this historical treasure. It is now 150 years since the first Franciscans arrived in Gorton, with their mission to work in the local community and ambition to create a parish church with cathedral-like proportions. In our 150th Anniversary year we are launching a new appeal to complete significant features, with a target of £150,000.

Save a Saint
The 12 original statues of the Franciscan saints were removed from The Monastery for salvage. A local historian saw them in the catalogue for a Sotheby's auction and they were rescued for The Monastery by Manchester City Council. The six-foot tall sandstone figures, some badly damaged, are now awaiting restoration and their final journey will see them returned to their vantage points, high up on the pillars in the main space. Perhaps one of the saints’ feast days coincides with one of your own memorable dates, or one is patron saint of a cause or activity that means something special to you. By choosing to adopt one of the saints’ statues, you can help return them to their original home.

Donations

You can donate by Credit/Debit card. Just click on the Donate Now box below. You will be taken to the Charity Choice web site which will process your donation securely.

Donations can be made by a mobile phone text message. Text MONA11 followed by the amount to be donated to 70070. For example to donate £10, text to 70070: MONA11 £10.

Alternatively you can send your donation by post. To download a donation form please Click Here

The Saints

Saint Anthony of Padua, patron saint of lost things, marriage and travellers, June 13th

Saint Berard, priest and martyr, January 16th

Saint Bernadine of Siena, patron saint of advertising, May 20th

Saint Bonaventure, bishop and doctor, July 15th

Saint Clare of Assisi, Patron saint of television, telecommunications, needle-workers, goldsmiths and those with eye complaints, August 11th

Saint Didacus of Alcala, patron saint of San Diego California, the Phillipines and the Franciscan lay brothers, November 12th

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, patron saint of hospitals, nurses, bakers, brides, children, homeless people and widows, November 17th

Saint lvo of Brittany, patron saint of lawyers and abandoned children, May 19th

Saint Leonard of Port Maurice, priest and writer, November 26th

Saint Louis of Toulouse, bishop and patron saint of San Luis Obispo in California and Valencia, August 19th

Saint Louis IX, only canonised King of France, patron of the arts and arbiter of Europe, August 25th

Saint Peter of Alcantara, patron saint of Brazil, Nocturnal Adorers and Estremadura, October 19th