Whats On & Sunday Diary

See the heritage restoration of the former church and friary. Soak up the atmosphere of Pugin’s architectural masterpiece. Walk the cloisters and enjoy the friary gardens. Delicious refreshments, home baked cakes and cream teas available all afternoon in the Friars Pantry. Enjoy family activities, inspirational talks and concerts. Everyone Welcome.

Entry is free, unless otherwise specified. We have an exciting programme of specials events for 2013, including concerts, wedding fairs, a fashion show and a lively production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

* We are open to the public free of charge most Sundays from 12:00 until 4:00pm, unless a special event is taking place in the Great Nave (see below).

*The First Sunday of every month is reserved for atOne events, with £20 admission (including £5 voucher for the Friars Pantry if pre-paid before midday on the preceding Friday). See listing below.

*Sunday 23 June - St Georges Singers concert (see below)
*Sunday 14 July - Gorton Philharmonic concert (see below)
*Sunday 28 July - sorry we are CLOSED for a wedding
*Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October - BSSK Weekend (see below)
*Sunday 10 November - Werneth Concerts band (see below)
*Sunday 15 December - Gorton Philharmonic concert (see below)

Ed Glinert, Manchester Historian and founder of City Life magazine and Manchester Walks, presents a series of Talks based at the Monastery. He describes its history in the context of the exciting times of Victorian and post-Victorian Manchester and the wider world.

These popular talks are extremely good value at £7.50 per person. The Friars Pantry is open afterwards for delicious homemade drinks, snacks and light refreshments. Please click 'More Info' to book online, or call (0161) 223 3211 during office hours (Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm) to book using a debit card.

THEMED MANCHESTER HISTORY SERIES:
Sun 30 Jun
Martyrs and Mystics - Manchester's Religious History
Sun 18 Aug
Radicals, Rebels and Revolutionaries - Manchester's Political History
Sun 15 Sep
The Glories of Manchester Architecture
Sun 20 Oct
Royal Manchester
Sun 24 Nov
The Pankhursts - Manchester's Golden Family

LOCAL HISTORY TALKS:
Sun 26 May
Local History
Sun 9 Jun
Local History
Sun 21 Jun
Local History
Sun 11 Aug
Local History
Sun 13 Oct
Local History
Sun 17 Nov
Local History

with Chef, Graham Campbell

Enjoy The Monastery’s ultimate fine dining experience in the breath-taking Great Nave.

Food enthusiasts can indulge their passion and their waistlines during an evening that will delight all of the senses.

Arrive at 7pm for champagne and canapés, then listen as our talented Chef, Graham Campbell talks about the meal you are about to enjoy. He will tell you all about sourcing the produce, preparation tips and cooking techniques and the wines that have been carefully selected to support the dishes.

Graham was the youngest chef in Scotland to win a coveted Michelin star while he was at the Ballachulish Country House Hotel in Glencoe, aged just 25. Five years later he is leading The Monastery’s dedicated and talented team, showcasing his expertise and experience to produce an unforgettable series of dining experiences.

The candlelit dinner itself is accompanied by a musical duo, and includes 3 elegant courses plus an amuse-bouche and a pre-dessert.

There is a different menu for each of the confirmed dates, click 'More Info' for details

One Sunday a month dedicated to the Spirit of Life. Inspirational speakers, music and dance workshops, healing, massage, meditation, yoga and walking the labyrinth, on the first Sunday of each month.

Pre-booking before midday on the preceding Friday includes a £5 voucher for the Friars Pantry.
Speakers and details for 2013 and online booking now listed on our Spiritual Sundays and MBS Events section. Or call 0161 223 3211 to book with a debit card over the phone.

Remaining dates for 2013:   2nd June, 7th July, 4th August, 1st September, 6th October, 3rd November, 1st December

We are delighted to be working with Manchester Yoga Social Enterprise Society and their qualified teachers to offer these monthly classes to all of our visitors, on the first Sunday of every month.  Please click on More Info for dates and more details of the classes.

12:00 - 1:00pm  Dru Yoga

1:00 - 2:00pm   Meditation

2:00 - 3:00pm   Qigong (Chi Kung) 

These classes are available on the first Sunday of every month as part of our regular atOne Sunday programme, which also includes speakers, healers, yoga, meditation, Qigong and much more, for just £20 all day. Pre-booking before midday on the preceding Friday includes a £5 voucher for the Friars Pantry. See the atOne page above for booking information.

One Spirit Interfaith Foundation

One Spirit Interfaith Foundation (OSIF) is part of an inclusive global spirituality in ourselves and in the world; we train and enable interfaith ministers to serve people of all faiths and none.
Our Universal worship services bring people together in an inclusive and mutually nurturing community for the sharing and growth of our spiritual life.
For more information on OSIF and the diverse range of services our ministers offer please visit our website: http://www.osif.org.uk/

These services at The Monastery are open to everyone to come and join with us in celebrating our community, regardless of faith or background.

From 2:00pm - 3:00pm Sunday
19th May, 'Family'
21st July, 'Inspiration'
15th September, 'Abundance'
17th November, 'Remembrance and Remembering'

Co-founder of the Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust

Hear Elaine’s personal story of the campaign to save the Monastery from dereliction and ruin. See the stunning interior of EW Pugin’s gothic treasure. Discover why Manchester’s Taj Mahal was built in Gorton. Her passion for the buildings and the people that built them and treasured them as a key part of the local community shines through in a series of talks. All include a delicious homemade two or three course lunch* (see details below), cooked with love and served with soul.

Sun 16 Jun
Father's Day Special 3 course lunch in the Great Nave, with talk, £24.95
Sun 8 Dec
The Monastery, St Francis and the Christmas Story, with 3 course traditional Christmas lunch and talk, £24.95

 Please arrive at 10:30am, Talk starts at 11:00am.

Italian extra virgin olive oil is widely appreciated, yet few have tasted truly fresh and fruity extra virgin that is free of defects, full of flavour and wonderfully balanced on the palate.

OOC 2013 will reveal the striking freshness and impressive range of culinary and beauty uses of best quality Italian extra virgin olive oil. Understand the critical control points—from harvest to storage—that advance or undermine flavours. Experience how many of the best of these flavours are being highlighted and even re-invented by leading chefs, melding the modern with the ancient.

This conference welcomes olive oil growers and producers, chefs and food service providers; and researchers and educators to discuss current practices and potential new innovations in producing and using consistently of high-quality Italian olive oils. For the general public and students, experts and scientists will make recommendations for new standards in the use of high-quality olive oils for health benefits. World class chefs will impart treasured knowledge on the right usage, both sweet and savoury delights. This gathering will champion the ethics, excellence and effectiveness in olive oil use. Talks, tasting, displays, posters and other opportunities for networking will be offered.

A great event for chefs, restaurant owners & foodies alike! Book online and secure your place today by visiting the conference website and booking online. Valuable Knowledge Awaits You on the What, Why, How and Where of Olive Oil Use.

We look forward to seeing you.

Please see: www.lalocanda.co.uk/news-events/  for more information, ticket options and to book.

St George's Singers

St George’s Singers’ season reaches a glorious climax with a concert of uplifting music and song from Handel and Vivaldi.

Please click More Info for more about the programme and the performers.

Coach transport is available from Poynton and Hazel Grove. Tickets can be booked by phone on the ticket line 01663 764012 and via the choir’s website www.st-georges-singers.org.uk.

More information to be confirmed or contact Gorton Philharmonic on www.gortonphil.co.uk

A Handlebards Production

In the instant of a chance meeting, two young people fall in love. Impulsively they marry in secret, but in a divided city their innocent union is threatened by a bloody family feud. Shakespeare vividly captures the beauty, intimacy and ultimate fragility of young love in a hostile world.

The Handlebards bring their lively and environmentally-friendly production of Romeo and Juliet to Gorton - on bicycles. The four actors are touring the UK by bike, and incorporating them into the production too. This is a fresh and energetic take on one of Shakespeare's best loved romances, played out against the stunning architecture of the Monastery.

For more information on the Handlebards and to book, please click More Info.

A superb selection of the area's leading wedding specialists will be on hand to provide you with expert advice on all aspects of your Wedding Day.

"What a venue! Arguably the most spiritual place in the UK to hold a MBS event...The Monastery, Manchester!" BSSK Events

This will be our 9th show at The Monastery, and once again for the October 2013 show, we have stands fitted into every conceivable part of this wonderful building, to bring you a wide range of exhibitors to talk to and explore - some are newcomers to BSSK, drawn by the magic of the event, others BSSK regulars who do many of our shows during a year.

Next we have a huge choice of free lectures throughout the weekend and a wide variety of paid workshops lasting around 2 hours each. These include all manner of exciting things, from psychic development to angels! We use the Private Chapel and various conference rooms in the Monastery for these, some of which seat only small numbers. The two largest rooms are reserved for the free lectures to give the maximum number of free seats, but advanced booking is recommended for all lectures and workshops, even the free ones, to avoid disappointment.

The Monastery has free parking which will be stewarded, overflow parking just across the road, and if that all fills up, there is ample on-road parking in the vicinity. If driving, although only five minutes by car from the city centre, the Monastery is between the outer and inner ring road, so it is not necessary to drive through the city centre, if like me, such a thing would be your worst nightmare!

If taking the train, on reaching Manchester Picadilly, take the local train to a station called Ashbury's. This is the closest to the Monastery. The station called Gorton is actually further to walk. There is also a bus stop right outside the Monastery, with buses every 20 minutes or so.

At previous shows, visitors came from all over the country, even from as far away as Somerset and Aberdeen, and found it certainly worth the trip. Why not book a B&B and have a whole weekend devoted to you - your Mind, Body and Spirit!

For more information visit the BSSK web site
www.bssk.co.uk/events/monastery2012/

All Hallows Eve at the Monastery Manchester will definitely put a spell on you.

The devilish witches brew on arrival will prepare you for a night of feverish fun. The cauldrons are bubbling and chef is preparing to conjure up a mouth watering 3 course feast plus a trick or treat surprise amuse bouche and a pre-dessert.

Dance the night away to live music amongst the saints in this Gothic masterpiece, you won’t be alone tonight.

All nocturnal visitors welcome.

Please Be An Angel for The Monastery

It is 150 years since the Franciscans began building their Friary and Church here in Gorton, decorated inside and out with angels to protect the building and the people inside.
Our Angels Appeal will continue the restoration and protection of The Monastery, for the benefit of future generations.

Our charitable trust was formed in 1996, to save the then derelict buildings and give them a new purpose for the future.

Our Angels Appeal will help us to finish the project and includes the restoration and conservation of the Lady Altar, the High Altar and Reredos behind it, plus many of the stencils, tiles and paint schemes that are in danger of being lost forever.

Whoever you are, whatever you do, however much or little you can give, please make a donation and make a difference. Call 0161 223 3211 or contact Trust Co-ordinator Clare Mount at clare.mount@themonastery.co.uk to find out more.

• We need to raise another £1million as matched funding so that the Heritage Lottery Fund will support us with another £2million grant to finish the Monastery.
• If 100,000 visitors to the Monastery give £10 we will raise the £1million we need.
• We only need 10,000 Angels generously donating £100 or we only need 100 Business Angel Sponsors giving £10,000.

Please Be An Angel and help us to finish the Monastery. Your generous donation will help us to finish the restoration and provide permanent educational, community and visitor facilities to replace the marquee so we can be open every day for everyone!

All profits from events held at the Monastery are used towards the upkeep of the buildings and to support our charitable projects in the local community.

For the ways that you can help with the restoration and protection of The Monastery, click More Info:

Disclaimer: The information on this page represents the opinion or belief of the author of the article and is not necessarily that of The Monastery Manchester. Inclusion on this page does not signify recommendation or endorsement by The Monastery Manchester.