VISIT US

To discuss holding your wedding or any event at The Monastery, contact Kate or Fran to arrange a personal welcome tour.

Call 0161 223 3211 or email Kate or Fran now.

We would love you to visit us at The Monastery! You’ll be sure of a warm welcome, and we know you’ll enjoy the time you spend with us.

For more information, click here.

Keep up to date with the amazing array of events we hold all year around.

**Please note: The Monastery is closed to the public on Sundays 1st and 15th of December, 2024, for a private ticketed event. Sorry for inconvenience**

Monastery Launches Green Spaces Project After Successful Funding Bid

The Monastery is delighted to announce a successful funding bid in the fifth round of the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Green Spaces Fund. This bold re-greening project will bring the community together and encourage local residents to get involved in nature recovery, from volunteering opportunities and building green skills, to learning how to grow our own food and look after green space.

Sustainable green spaces

The Re-Greening Gorton Monastery project aims to transform the exterior grounds of Gorton Monastery into vibrant, sustainable, green spaces. This includes constructing a willow wall, installing planters, establishing a composting system, creating a memory garden, introducing beehives and bird tables, and establishing a community kitchen garden.

The healing power of nature

The project will enhance biodiversity, promote community engagement, and provide accessible green spaces in one of the top 10% deprived areas of Manchester and an area with the greatest need of quality green space. The project will empower our Gorton communities to get involved with nature, reducing loneliness and isolation, and improving mental and physical health.


Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

“It has become increasingly apparent over recent years that green spaces where nature can flourish are vital – not just for our local wildlife but our residents’ health, physical and mental. We’re currently developing our first Greater Manchester plan for nature, which will be the foundation for nature recovery across the city-region. It’s great to see these incredible community groups who care so much about their areas flourish with the help of the Green Spaces Fund.” 

Daveen Wallis, Co-Founder of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund, said:

“Everyone has a role to play in nature recovery, so it’s great that we have been able to back such a vibrant mix of local groups across Greater Manchester. They really demonstrate the benefits that green spaces can have to the health and happiness of our communities, bringing together people from all walks of life in celebration of nature.”


Creating a green space for the whole community to enjoy has been at the top of the Monastery Trust‘s wish-list for a long time, and we’re incredibly grateful to the Green Spaces Fund for providing the critical funding for us to make it happen.

Viv Andrews, Monastery Social Impact and Fund Manager said:

“We are delighted to have the support of the Mayor of Manchester’s Green Spaces Fund for our Re-Greening the Monastery Project. The funding will enable us to bring the outdoor areas of our much-loved heritage building to a standard that complements the interior in an environmentally sustainable way, that will provide fabulous opportunities for involvement for the local community, as well as creating a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.”


Watch this space for news and volunteering opportunities related to this project. If you’d like more information on current volunteering opportunities at the Monastery, please contact [email protected]



Our project is proud to be funded by the Greater Manchester Green Spaces Fund, accessed through the Greater Manchester Environment Fund.

Monastery Launches NEW Integrative, Holistic Health Conference

The Monastery is proud to announce our first ever holistic health conference here in Manchester, focusing on alternative pathways to health and wellbeing using a range of integrative approaches.

The date for your diary is 9am – 4.30pm on Friday, 5th July, 2024

Wellness hub

The Monastery is a community wellness hub; home to a wide range of therapeutic activities and workshops with a holistic approach. These include our groundbreaking Listening Service, providing free mental health support in the community; Manchester Camerata’s award-winning Music Café, for people living with dementia; free support for people living with COPD; free treatment for those living with anxiety and depression using innovative Alpha-Stim technology, as well as a range of healing modalities, such as trauma release massage, bio-resonance therapy, and various meditation sessions.

Sharing expertise

Having seen first hand the positive and sometimes, life-changing impact of holistic interventions, the time is right to share our findings with the wider community in the form of an insightful conference, open to all those interested in holistic health and wellbeing. Whether you are a health professional, a wellness enthusiast, or someone curious about holistic health, this conference offers valuable knowledge and practical tools to enhance your own wellbeing, as well as that of your clients.

The conference will take you on a deep dive into holistic health, featuring presentations, interactive workshops, demos, research, and Q&A from experts in their fields, as together we explore the possibilities for the future of health & wellbeing.


Speakers


Elaine Griffiths OBE DL

Elaine Griffiths OBE DL is the co-founder and Chief Executive of the Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust.

With a degree in Applied Nutrition and a 20 year successful corporate background as a senior sales executive and marketing professional in the food industry, she has followed that with 28 years charitable experience working in heritage led regeneration.

Elaine has raised over £12 million in grants to save Gorton Monastery and established the Trust’s heritage, health, education, cultural, spiritual and community work here in Manchester. Our Modern Day Monastery is now established as a sacred heritage site, an award winning venue and flexible multi-functional site back at the heart of the community once again.

Elaine is passionate about the healing power and potential of heritage buildings and the potential for sacred sites to support our health & wellbeing. She wants to ensure that we can replicate and share all the learning from the challenges and hard won successes of the Monastery story.

Her personal journey and Monastery experiences have led to other advisory and consultancy roles, including a 5 year term of appointment as Chair of the Manchester Cathedral Council and is currently an appraiser for the 2025 Watch List for the World Monuments Fund in New York.


Dr Rosemary Nyabadza

Rosemary is an Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach who has also practiced as a GP in Manchester.

Parallel to her conventional medical path, her personal journey and its impact on her health opened the doors to the realisation that the wisdom and guidance of practitioners from ancient and embodied traditions have indisputable value. This led to her training as an Integrative Health and Nutrition Coach with Active Health Group, in order to give her the flexibility and freedom to bring a more holistic approach to her work.

 


Dr Jeannine Goh

Dr Jeannine Goh is a psychologist, lecturer and the Co-Director of The Sanctuary at the Monastery, where she founded and created the pioneering Listening Service.

After struggles with her own mental health in her early twenties, Jeannine has dedicated her life to understanding the internal world and expanding peace of mind. After 25 years of voyaging through academia, psychology and numerous esoteric practices, Jeannine is passionate about supporting others who are struggling, by sharing the life-changing practices she has found.

Jeannine is presently laying a path that allows others to find peace but also abundance, joy and liberation.


Richard Johnson

Richard is an Integrative Health Practitioner with over 30 years experience working in the Health and Wellness industry.

Richard works mainly using nutritional therapy for clients with chronic health conditions, and is also Principal tutor on the degree level Nutritional Therapy and Health Coaching courses at Active Health Group.

Richard holds fellowships with the Royal Society for Public Health and the Royal Society of Medicine, with specific interest in food and nutrition.


Allison Angel

Allison’s first hand experience as a recipient of the listening service is what led to her becoming co-director of The Sanctuary at Manchester Monastery.

A social entrepreneur at heart, Allison cares about individuals and communities becoming sufficiently empowered to drive their own development and progress. Her skillset is considerable and wide ranging, thanks mainly to lived experience and a thirst for continuous knowledge and self reflection.

She has specific expertise in business, property and emotional health, and is an advocate for post-traumatic growth.

Allison is a listening pioneer – ready to lead a listening revolution across Manchester and beyond.


Dawn Rothwell

Dawn has worked in the equine, sports and health industry for over 45 years and is a member of the “NASC” (National Association of Sports Coaches) and UKIHCA (UK & International Health Coaches Association).

Having worked with many athletes, senior managers from international companies and many health organisations, she has a wealth of experience with all types of health issues and offers treatment at her clinic located in the Pennines.

 


Christian Platts

Christian is an Integrative Health Practitioner with over 24 years experience and specialising in Myofascial Release and Internal Family Systems, with a firm belief in the Mind-Body connection.

Christian developed the UK’s first Myofascial Release Diploma, and Vocal Massage course, and continues to deliver this training.  Christian has travelled the world to expand his skills and knowledge and is also a trained Sound Therapist and Breathwork Practitioner.

 


Stephen Allen

Stephen Allen is based at the Monastery as one of our resident bio-resonance experts and offers free health talks plus affordable testing, diagnostics and one to one sessions on a regular basis.

Stephen gained his diploma in osteopathy in 1994 and followed up with postgraduate studies in paediatric osteopathy at the Osteopathic Centre for Children in Harley Street London. His continued studies include homeopathy, acupuncture, psychosomatic training and he has been using  bio-resonance therapy for over 27 years.

Stephen’s focus has been on finding solutions for chronic and degenerative conditions including Fibromyalgia and CFS as well as the impact of diet and the potential for nutritional interventions to resolve serious long term health challenges.


Full Programme


 

 


Booking & tickets


Tickets cost £55 with concessionary* tickets for £35

*Concessionary rates apply to senior citizens (people aged 60+); disability (those who consider themselves to have a disability); students (in full time education); unwaged.

**Refreshments and an ‘anti-inflammatory’ lunch is included in the price (for specific dietary requirements, please email: [email protected])

Click here to book your ticket


Directions to the Monastery here.

Greater Manchester Becomes the UK’s First Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia Hosted by Manchester Camerata

The Monastery is very proud to announce that Greater Manchester is to become the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia hosted by Manchester Camerata, based here at the Monastery.

The UK’s ‘most adventurous orchestra’ are incredibly grateful to have been awarded over £1 million through the Power of Music Fund (established by the National Academy for Social Prescribing, the Utley Foundation and Arts Council England), Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and the NHS Greater Manchester.

This award will enable Manchester Camerata to extend their Music Cafés’ to every borough of Manchester, providing moments of joy, connection, and expression to over 1,000 people living with dementia.

Scroll on to read the full, fabulous story!



Over £1Million of Funding

Over £1million of funding has been committed by Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), Sir Richard Lees (Chair of the NHS Greater Manchester) and the National Academy for Social Prescribing’s Power of Music Fund to enable Greater Manchester to become the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia – hosted by Manchester Camerata from their home, here at the Monastery. The project will also receive in-kind support from the University of Manchester and Alzheimer’s Society.

Data Driven Research

This significant and successful bid will see both organisations run four weekly music cafes (two ‘Music in Mind’ and two ‘Singing for the Brain’) in each of the 10 Greater Manchester boroughs. Together Manchester Camerata will collaborate with the University of Manchester and the NHS to undertake anonymised data-driven research into the impact and power that their music sessions have for people living with dementia and the way in which they can reduce pressure on hard-pressed frontline NHS and social care staff.



Training of 300 ‘Music Champions’

Between Manchester Camerata and Alzheimer’s Society, they will recruit, nurture and train a volunteer and community workforce of 300 ‘Music Champions’ who will be trained to deliver the Music Cafes, helping to support over 1000 people living with dementia in Greater Manchester across three years starting from October 2024. The research and data analysed by the University of Manchester will demonstrate the impact of embedding music support as part of dementia care and how this model can be scaled up and rolled outacross the UK and result in cost-saving measures for the NHS.

Music in Mind

Manchester Camerata’s Music in Mind programme is internationally renowned using the principles of music therapy to improve the wellbeing of people living with dementia. The programme was created in collaboration with research partner the University of Manchester and was devised from the foundations of some of the world’s leading dementia experts and their research. Music in Mind has established training, delivery and support offers to help partners create Music Cafes and recruit Music Champions, and has worked with partners in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Sweden and Japan to help them set up their own music and dementia programmes.



Singing for the Brain

Alzheimer’s Society’s Singing for the Brain is a programme based on music therapy principles, bringing people living with dementia together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment. The sessions also include vocal exercises that help improve brain activity and wellbeing whilst also creating an opportunity for people living with dementia and their carers to socialize with others and experience peer support.

The Power of Music

The Power of Music Fund was established by the National Academy for Social Prescribing, with generous support from the Utley Foundation, Arts Council England and other partners. It builds on the recommendations of the 2022 Power of Music report. In addition to the Centre of Excellence in Greater Manchester, the Fund is also awarding small grants to 70 grassroots music and dementia projects across the UK and will support more than 5500 people in total.



Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:

This is fantastic news for Greater Manchester, and a reminder of the power of music to shape our lives and our communities. Manchester Camerata have played a key role in our Music Commission, and I’ve seen firsthand the transformational impact of what they do in our city-region. They are the ideal partner to pioneer the UK’s first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia, working with the Alzheimer’s Society to unlock the potential of music as therapy.This project will provide life-changing support to people with dementia and their carers in our 10 boroughs – support that is grounded in our communities and delivered with a real expert focus. It will also generate groundbreaking research that will influence health and care policy across the country while directly improving lives across Greater Manchester.”


Andy Burnham, Charlotte Osborn-Forde and Bob Riley

Bob Riley, Chief Executive of Manchester Camerata:

“This is a colossal moment built on over ten years of work and research in partnership with The University of Manchester. We know it will bring much-needed support for people living with dementia and their carers. It will create new opportunities for our amazing musicians in the UK, and bring about changes in the way we invest in music to bring the widest possible benefits to society.Sincere thanks to the leadership and vision of Andy Burnham, Sir Richard Leese and NHS GM, the National Academy of Social Prescribing, The Utley Foundation, Arts Council England and many others. We appreciate their boldness and commitment to the power of music, and in recognising the outstanding musicians whose passion and commitment makes such an incredible impact on and off the stage.”

Charlotte Osborn-Forde, Chief Executive of the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said:

“We worked with the Utley Foundation and Arts Council England to create The Power of Music Fund, to ensure that many more people living with dementia can benefit from musical projects. Through the Centre of Excellence, we aim to demonstrate how prescribing music to people living with dementia can improve quality of life, reduce isolation, and lessen the need for medication, hospital admissions and GP appointments. We were delighted to choose Greater Manchester after an outstanding bid. This project will provide a lifeline to people living with dementia in Manchester, but also provide new evidence and a model that can be replicated across the country.” 


National Press

Read all about it in the national press.

BBC News

Manchester Evening News

The Independent


This content was based on an article originally published on Manchester Camerata’s website.

Monastery Memories Project Now Launched

The Monastery Memories Project has now launched, with the aim of collecting memories of the Monastery, from people who remember the building from years gone by, as well as memories of the surrounding area.

Do you, or someone you know, remember the Monastery while it was still a Franciscan church, school and friary, or other Monastery memories that you’d like to share? If so, we warmly invite you to come in and chat with a member of the team so that these precious memories can be recorded.

We hope these memories, once collected, will eventually be turned into a book and potentially, a podcast.

For more information about this project or to book an appointment, please email [email protected]


New Community Projects 2024 @ Gorton Monastery, Manchester

Words | Vicki Kennedy

2-minute read

We are really excited to be launching some brand new community projects over the coming months, here at the Monastery. Some of these projects will in partnership with other local and national organisations such as Mentell, Debdale Nature Centre and Gorton Horticultural Society and you’re warmly invited to get involved!

Take a look at some of the wonderful community projects below, all of which are currently in development.


Gorton Men’s Group

Brand new men’s mental heath talking group, based on the Mentell model. We are working with the guys from Mentell to develop our own version of their project.

We have six volunteers already working on this project but always on the lookout for more.

This project will launch on April 28th, 2024.

For more info or to get involved, drop a line to Chris Kennedy on [email protected]


Men’s Shed at the Monastery

Brand new Men’s Shed due to launch at the Monastery in late spring 2024.

The Men’s Shed is a place to socialise, take part in activities and make new friends. The project aims to tackle social isolation predominantly, but not exclusively, in older men, everyone over the age of 18 will be welcome.

This project will launch on April 28th, 2024.

For more info or to get involved, drop a line to Chris Kennedy on [email protected] or join their brand new Facebook page.


Community Gardening Project

We have ambitious plans to re-green the Monastery site incorporating a kitchen garden, a  native flower garden and a memory garden. We already have a few volunteers signed up for this project but we will always have room for more.

More news coming soon, watch this space!


Monastery Memories Project

Project launching on Belle Vue Day. We are aiming to capture the memories of the people who visit the Monastery or live in the local area. Many of the older generation remember the building in its heyday. We would love to capture these memories before they are lost forever. Eventually we would like to turn the memories into a published book.

This project will launch on April 28th, 2024.


Support Group for Families Living with Neurodivergence

The aim is to support families living with neurodivergence. A space for adults to offload and support each other, a space for children and young people to access activities and help.

We hope to have a trained professional to run some kind of group based therapy/support, and for the young people to take some ownership and develop the group into what they would like it to be, as well as what they feel would be most beneficial to them.

More news coming soon, watch this space!


Volunteer Opportunities

There are volunteer opportunities across all of these projects, so if you, or someone you know might be interested, please feel free to email [email protected] or [email protected] saying which group interests you and we’ll get right back to you with all the relevant information.


Directions to the Monastery here.

Celebrating the Super Listeners Who Quietly & Humbly Transform Lives

Words | Dr Jeannine Goh

5-minute read


It’s a typical rainy day in Manchester, the type of grey skies that lean heavy on your mood, and that incessant rain that makes leaving the warm, cosy house so hard. The Monastery is opening up to the public for the day. A candle is lit (as it is every day in the great nave), the bustle of the café opening wafts pleasantly around, and our big-hearted front-of-house manager, Chris, jokes cheerily with staff arriving for the day’s work.


David’s Story

The roar of a motorbike is heard in the car park and David, one of our volunteer listeners, has arrived for his client. For two years David has volunteered every week for The Sanctuary’s Listening Service, here at our modern-day Monastery.

Retired David lives in Chorley, so it is not quick journey, especially in the rain. Yet for two years and despite an initial commitment of only 6 months, David never misses a session. One of our most experienced Listeners, David is now known as a Super Listener. He has gifted the most sessions to the service, and with no obligation, he continues to volunteer. With equal measures of curiosity and gratitude we ask David what keeps him Listening?

“I feel that when I carry out a listening session, sometimes people have a problem, that has such an easy solution. You reassure them & show them their strengths & it makes such a difference. All I’ve done is be with them for an hour & they go out reassured. I have done so little but their uplift is significant. Not always, sometimes people are deeply in difficult circumstances that are ongoing. This is more difficult and needs continued visits. It’s so rewarding when somebody leaves the room & their head is in a better place.” – David



The Listening Service has many clients who book on to the service who are feeling overwhelmed, and often ‘in a mess’. As David says, the Listener themself sometimes says very little, yet the client leaves knowing exactly what they need and with clarity. It’s a kind of off-loading and emptying, but that is only one aspect.

We are very proud that our Listeners are trained by our pioneering trauma-informed approach (using the IFS model for those who know it!) to be grounded in their compassionate, calm and curious self, and this leads to a reciprocal healing. In this exchange, learning and self-knowledge is gained by both the Listener and the client.

After two years and over 1500 free FTF listening and counselling sessions ran by The Sanctuary, we have learnt a lot, and the impact we’ve seen is remarkable.


Fenia’s Story

Fenia, another Super Listener who was, like David, our first cohort of volunteers echoes the depth of this reciprocal learning..

“I have often experienced a mirroring effect that can be very powerful. It helps me with my personal development, self-awareness and shadow work. By listening to others, it puts things in perspective for me and I learn more about life too. It helps me and gets me used to get out of my ego, to be present. Listening to others is a great way to become a better person with better intra and interpersonal skills for sure.” – Fenia



Over the two years, the Listening Service has seen many clients. The waiting lists for mental health services benefit, lives are changed and transformations and positivity spread across the city. The feedback from all our clients and Listeners makes my own commitment, as Co-Director of the service, to be ever more fulfilling as we consistently see extraordinary things happen.


Allison’s Story

Take one of Fenia’s more recent clients, Allison Angel. Allison arrived overwhelmed and in a challenging place but felt incredible clarity after the session. Allison was so blown away by the care and compassion of Fenia and ‘this incredible service’. She wanted to know more. Allison discovered the heart-felt but powerful vision at the core of the service and crucially, had experienced its impact for herself.


Allison Angel, far right, with our latest, wonderful team of volunteer Listeners


Allison could not believe something so simple, yet so powerful existed. After experiencing the transformative power of Listening, Allison has not looked back and is now the co-director of The Sanctuary! She is helping me to develop the service as a centre of excellence, one that promotes the power of Listening as a revolutionary practice, and one that we believe is set to transform our communities and our city.

This is all thanks to Fenia, who continues to be passionate about the service as well as being a talented, warm-hearted yoga teacher, who will be starting her own yoga class at The Monastery soon (watch this space!)


Olga’s Story

We have two more Super Listeners who have been with us since the very beginning. One is Olga, who continues to volunteer out of the kindness of her big heart. Olga works full time outside of her volunteer Listener role and has two beautiful sons and a busy family life, yet on a Sunday, Olga still finds the time to bear witness to those in need and lend a compassionate ear. We asked Olga what keeps her listening?



“It is the help I am giving to clients. I can feel a weight on their shoulder being removed after the session. I love to experience their feeling of not being alone and not being judged. I like the share their feeling of calm and peace while we are in the session. And the most important thing is…I love to make a difference to somebody’s life just for listening to them for one or two hours.” – Olga


Lois’ Story

Last but certainly not least, is our lovely Lois, another beautiful Super Listener. Lois has been volunteering with The Monastery way before the Listening Service began, and from when The Monastery was first restored. Lois is a corner stone of the service and her contributions, wisdom and warmth and skill as a Listener run deep.

Recently, the father of one of Lois’ clients ran the Manchester 10k marathon and raised over £840 for The Monastery! This was to say thank you to our lovely Lois, who had worked with a young woman struggling with mental distress; and totally transformed her life. We are seeing this level of impact frequently with this simple but deeply profound intervention.

“Being a Listener with The Sanctuary at The Monastery is such a humbling and rewarding experience. It takes so little, from one human being to another, to give so much. And in return, I am rewarded tenfold. The beautiful quote from Saint Francis of Assisi says it all, “for it is in giving that we receive”…the true essence and values of The Monastery and The Sanctuary alike.” – Lois



Lois sums up so beautifully the sentiment of both the history of the building (The now deconsecrated building that was once a Franciscan friary) and our compassionate Listening Service. We are slowly and one by one, changing and transforming lives. It might sound a little corny, but at the heart of the service really are these big hearts, simplicity, and a lot of love, something that is so often missing from the lives of many in our big, busy, beautiful city.

This service is creating a warm light that burns brightly in each of our listeners, transfers to the client who then takes this to their families and homes. We believe the simple process of just listening and sharing some love, kindness and warmth has the potential to light up the whole city.


What’s Next for the Super Listeners?

Firstly, we’re very proud to say that our Super Listeners have all been awarded scholarships to become Health Coaches with the Active Health Group. This is in honour of and in gratitude for their big hearts and commitment. We at The Sanctuary have realised how powerful our training is and we have carefully captured our pioneering training into an online course called Self Mastery and The Art of Deep Listening.


Would You Like to Become a Community Listener?

We are planning to gift 1000 people this transformational course for a hugely subsidised, nominal fee. We want this little warm light to burn brightly, lift the spirits of the city and for Manchester to become the ‘City that Listens.’ If Listener training with the Monastery appeals to you, please email [email protected]


Our new group of 8 shining, bright, volunteer Listeners start their new positions in February 2024 and are poised waiting to listen to you.

Our hearts are full and every day we are touched by a new story of hope and inspiration.

For more information or to access the Listening Service, please click here

A Female Leaders Interview | Monastery CEO, Elaine Griffiths, OBE 

This female leaders interview with Monastery CEO, Elaine Griffiths, OBE was originally published by Dr. Caroline Paige on her website, Content Conscious. The interview is republished here in its entirety with kind permission. To read the original, please click here.


The project is constantly challenging and often takes us to the wire. But remarkably, at the eleventh hour, something always happens to get us to the next stage.

My fourth interview for the female leaders series is with Elaine Griffiths OBE. She’s the CEO of The Monastery in Manchester – an architectural gem she saved from dereliction. Elaine always includes the dedication of staff, volunteers and supporters in this accolade. But it’s hard to imagine it would’ve been possible without Elaine’s dedication.

I first visited Gorton Monastery (as it’s known locally) 16 years ago. Even in its ruinous state, the church was impressive. Its grand scale unexpected and unusual. But there were gaping holes in the roof and large pieces of masonry had fallen – strewn across the ground by vandalism and neglect. The friary was a maze of rooms all in advanced stages of decay. Plaster and brickwork destroyed by the unwanted ingress of rainwater. Pigeons’ messy nests balanced in any remaining dry nooks. And the red and black tiles of the cloister floors were covered with the rotting timber of upper floors and roofs long collapsed.

Now, I walk through the huge automatic doors of the new welcome wing. I pass the glass cabinet brightly lit and full of gleaming crystal awards. And I think how serendipitous it was that Elaine and this building found each other.

Today, I found Elaine upstairs in her sunny office lined with filing cabinets full to the brim. There are plans of the buildings, exhibition posters, samples for the shop, and boxes of donated photos and memories. A plant I bought for the office is still alive and living on a window ledge. We’re both impressed it’s lasted this long. Elaine fusses over the plant and me – checking we’re OK.

So, Elaine…

Why did you decide to restore a ruinous heritage site?

Paul and I were talking about our bucket lists and the important things we wanted to do with our lives. Paul wished someone would do something with Gorton Monastery. He grew up in Gorton and was an altar boy here. It was constantly vandalised and we kept seeing it on the local news. So, in the summer of 1996, I asked Paul to take me to see it. That was when our journey began.

I had a marketing company and regularly travelled to London to see clients. When I was there, I’d visit various experts and organisations like English Heritage. I was working full time, so The Monastery had to fit around that for the first year or so.

When it got more serious – with funding bids to write and deadlines to meet – I managed to get some money for a project leader. The project was much bigger and more complicated than we’d ever imagined. We had to make a commitment to The Monastery then, because a lot of people were pinning their hopes on us. We looked at the family finances and decided it was worth me giving up my job and volunteering for the next few years.

Was the conservation and restoration process what you expected?

We started in 1996 and it took almost 10 years to get the funding to start the restoration. If we’d known it would take that long, we probably wouldn’t have started. The project unfolded a step at a time. We started the campaign and realised how important it was to people locally. Hundreds of people turned up at open days – giving us donations in envelopes. We kept going because so many volunteers and supporters wanted the project to happen.

Every step of the journey minor miracles seem to happen. The project is constantly challenging and often takes us to the wire. But remarkably, at the eleventh hour, something always happens to get us to the next stage. It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this for 27 years now! It was a steep learning curve because heritage and fundraising were a whole new world for me. Perhaps my background in sales and marketing helped, as I wasn’t frightened to talk to people. I suppose, instead of selling and marketing a product, I was selling The Monastery.

What was your career before The Monastery?

I worked in the food industry for 20 years. I remember a placement as a food science and nutrition graduate (wearing a white lab coat) at the Co-op laboratories in Manchester. The senior marketing team used to come to taste and evaluate the food. I realised I’d much rather be in their role – taking the products to market – and started to apply for those kinds of jobs instead.

When I had young children, I set up Playmarket to market children’s products. For one project, I needed a trusted brand to put into supermarkets to become a national franchise. My kids and all their friends were huge fans of Sooty and Sweep. With brand awareness of 98% across all generations they were my first choice. I got in touch with Matthew Corbett and ended up doing his marketing for Sooty International for the next three years. It was a really fun time.

Do you have another passion?

The Monastery combines all the things I’m interested in. In the early days, I met many people with spiritual gifts I didn’t understand. I trained as a healer and learned about working with energy. I went on quite a journey in those early days (training, learning and reading a lot). Many people don’t have a spiritual understanding in their lives and feel there’s something lacking. I’ve met spiritual people from many different backgrounds and beliefs. Knowing there’s more than this physical world is such an important thing to share with people.

It’s in the atmosphere here. You can almost touch it. Some say the veils between heaven and earth are thin here. It’s a beautiful space. It allows people to see we’re all spiritual beings experiencing living in a human body. We’re not a human body that happens to have some kind of spiritual experience.

Over the years so many uncanny things have happened. The brothers (the friars who lived here first) took 10 years, 9 months and 26 days to build the church. From the day we set up the charitable trust to the day we got the keys after the first restoration was 10 years, 9 months and 26 days! There have been these incredible, minor miracles and coincidences. Synchronicities. The right people turn up at the right time to help us and it’s been a leap of faith for us all. The brothers that built this place achieved something remarkable. It was a real labour of love for them and it has been for us too.

It allows people to see we’re all spiritual beings experiencing living in a human body. We’re not a human body that happens to have some kind of spiritual experience.

Do you feel you’re in service to this building and its heritage?

This project has affected me because I know it’s a very special and important place. I also felt it could be the catalyst for so much change. And I do believe we’re coming into that phase now. Lots of things aren’t working in society. The system is broken. The health service isn’t working. The transport system isn’t working. There’s a massive cost of living crisis. People are struggling. And yet, communities display the importance of compassion and supporting one another.

Those values are embedded here. We inherited them from the Franciscan brothers. This is a place for people to come together. The church is deconsecrated but it still has that sacred energy. All those prayers and lives are imbued in every brick and stone. You can’t turn that off. It creates a beautiful healing presence for people.

Each day we have an hour of silence so people can have some timeout. Time to reflect. In summer, when the garden is in bloom, people enjoy peace and tranquillity within the shelter of the cloister walls. And we have a listening service – to ensure there’s always someone here to talk to. We’re very lucky to have our volunteers and a core of people who genuinely feel in service.

All those prayers and lives are imbued in every brick and stone. You can’t turn that off.

You’ve met a lot of people. Who’s made the biggest impression on you?

Terry Waite. His book, Taken on Trust, details his experience as a hostage. It’s incredible what he went through in solitary confinement all those years – normal humans would break. He not only came back from that, he also became a passionate campaigner for other hostages and set up Hostages UK and then Hostage International.

Terry is involved in lots of other charities such as the homelessness charity, Emmaus. I wrote to him out of the blue and he took the time to come to Gorton to meet us. He very kindly supported our campaign and became a patron of our trust. He’s an incredible man who’s become a dear friend. He has such strength. He’s a gentle giant with a heart of gold.

What have you read recently that resonated with you?

Oliver Burkeman’s Four Thousand Weeks. He calculated the average lifespan as 4,000 weeks. Paul and I were laughing and wondering how many weeks we have left. It’s quite scary to think about your life as 4,000 weeks, because it doesn’t seem very long. But it’s an interesting way to think about it! Oliver Burkeman questions why we worry about small things and things we can’t change.

Paul’s mum died leaving behind 5 little kids when he was 12. She used to say, it’s just a swallow’s dive. She was so right…life is just a swallow’s dive.

Life is just a swallow’s dive.

What’s on your bucket list?

I’d love to go on safari in Africa to see the white lions. And I’d like to visit some of the sacred sites around the world that are off the tourist track. When I was younger, it would’ve been to backpack around South America.

When I was a student, I went all over Europe with friends. In those days you could buy an Interrail ticket that lasted a whole month for £28. When we were on an overnight train, we’d string up our washing to dry from the luggage racks and fall asleep. We’d wake up realising we were getting off at the next stop and had to rush to gather up all our washing. It was hilarious and we met some incredible people. I’ve been very lucky.

What advice would you give women thinking of starting a challenging project?

Sometimes, you’ll have to learn from failure but when you try again you’ll be able to do it. But avoid the folly of keeping on going when you sense things aren’t right. Ask yourself if you’re motivated enough to do it and where it’s going to take you. If it doesn’t align with where you want to be or it’s something that’s not that meaningful, maybe let it go. But if it’s going to make a difference and it’s your passion, don’t let go. It’s about balancing your decision with everything else going on in your life.

I use the phrase ‘divine timing’ a lot these days – for when things fall into place at the right time.

Ongoing conservation of The Monastery relies on donations and revenue from venue hire. It’s open to the public from Sunday to Thursday and has a variety of heritage tours and wellness activities. There’s also a free listening service and daily hour of silence. The Monastery houses several charities including the Manchester Camerata orchestra, who run a music cafe for people living with dementia. On Fridays, Saturdays and weekday evenings The Monastery is a unique setting for weddings, concerts and corporate events. All profits are reinvested in the charitable trust.


Words | Caroline Paige   Images | Len Grant


You can easily donate to the Monastery Trust via our Just Giving charity page – click here.

Photo exhibition: Monastery dereliction, art, carvings and light

A 3-minute read

The Monastery is delighted to present a photo exhibition by Graham North, in the Great Nave. It’s a remarkable collection, spanning many years of Monastery history, all documented painstakingly by Graham. Many photos have been metamorphosed into intricate geometric designs using a range of techniques.

You can come and browse the photo exhibition any day between Sunday and Thursday, from 10am-4pm. Entrance and parking are free and our onsite café and garden are open.

In the meantime, here is the transcript of an interview with the photographer, with lots of insights into the collection, along with information about equipment and techniques used for any photography aficionados.


Qu: What is your connection with the Monastery?

I first visited the monastery in 1999 whilst doing research for my wife (Kath), into her family history as her family had lived in the area since before the monastery was built. Many members of her family had been christened there and some of them went on to get married there.

When we arrived, the monastery had obviously been closed for a number of years, but there was a contact number on a board which we rang and spoke to the Monastery Trust. We were invited to come to a meeting a few days later at a local centre, and we met some of the people who were involved in the trust, and consequently we attended an open day.

Some of the first pictures in my Derelict Monastery exhibition were taken on that first open day visit to the monastery.

Qu. What inspired your collection?

I have always liked taking photographs of beautiful and impressive buildings and the monastery has these qualities in abundance, especially so when it was in its most derelict state. When I first saw the inside of the building I wanted to take pictures of all the broken altars from every possible angle, and every aspect of the dereliction that I could capture with my camera. This building was a gold mine of beautiful pictures. Even the most unpleasant scenes of decay and destruction held, for me, a great attraction, and all this was almost on my doorstep.

Qu. Can you talk about the techniques you use to create your magical images?

I have a series of pictures which I have called Artfotos. These are pictures that I have taken during the course of events, or just ordinary day to day photos taken in and around the monastery. Some of these photos I have altered in such a way that they might be changed so completely that they are quite difficult to recognise the original picture. It could be the simplest of changes, what I call cut and flip where I crop the picture and copy one half, then flip it over and stitch it on to the original image. I might do this multiple times for one picture. The results can be very effective. I might also use dark or light vignettes to soften or fade out the edges. Another tool I often use is colour saturation which creates vibrant colours. I might also superimpose various extra elements from different pictures, like using Christmas tree lights on a darkened background to create a starry sky effect. Using these tricks I have created some pictures that appear to be taken from outer space. I have had a lot of enjoyment making these pictures, and the only rule that I keep to is that I never use any image or element that has not been taken within the monastery grounds.

Qu. What camera equipment did you use and why?

When I started taking these pictures I was using a small digital pocket camera made by Fuji, because that was what I had at the time. Most of the ‘Derelict Monastery’ exhibition was taken with this camera.  After a while I bought a couple of Minolta cameras, models MD5 and MD7, and bought extra lenses from E-bay whenever I could afford them, These cameras were quite large and cumbersome for me so after a few years, when Minolta sold their business to Sony, I changed to the smaller but better quality Sony cameras, I still use these quite often but have also bought a Nikon which is now my most versatile camera.

For digital development of photos I use mainly Windows standard computer software, and sometimes for the Artfotos I use Lightroom, which I have an old basic version of, I don’t use it that very often, as I only have it on an old laptop which is about fifteen years old.

I find the most useful tool is the ability to see the pictures in my head before I take them. I try to imagine not just the subject but the background of any photo before I take the picture. I think that if you have your frame set straight, in focus, and centralised, remembering that the background is just as important as the subject, then you have the makings of a really good picture.

Qu. How long is the exhibition on show for?

The exhibitions are usually on show from Sundays through to Thursdays during the regular monastery open days, unless we have to remove them to make way for special services or events in the monastery.

Qu. How many photos are in the exhibition?

This can vary, as I occasionally make changes and updates to the exhibitions. There are usually four separate categories,

1. The derelict monastery

a series showing the monastery when it was in its derelict state before the restoration work started.

2. Artfotos in the monastery

these pictures have been changed to create imaginary views within the monastery.

3. Trick of the light

a set of photos showing various light effects either purposely generated by the structure of the building, or created unintentionally by shadows, or actions during events in the monastery.

4. Carvings around the Monastery

Photos taken during a journey around the roof of the monastery from the cradle of a high cherry picker as it made its way around the monastery.

All these exhibitions consist of frames each containing two or three photos. In total there are about forty five frames, so there could be in excess of 100 pictures.

Qu. How many years do they span?

I started taking these photos in 1999 and have continued taking them since then, so it is pretty much an ongoing project.


Many thanks to Graham North for sharing his artwork with the community, please feel free to come and explore.

National Lottery Heritage Fund Grant Awarded to Gorton Monastery

The Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust has been awarded a £232,000 Heritage Resilience grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund so that the Trust can continue to develop and deliver its important charitable work in the community.

This exciting project, Unlocking the Social & Cultural Capital of the Monastery, will include plans to ensure that the Grade II* listed Monastery can be future proofed for the years ahead. This extensive programme of development work will begin immediately and run until July 2024. This important grant support will not only ensure the Monastery’s continued success and survival during these challenging times, but it will help to develop and sustain the Trust’s visionary work for future generations across a wide range of health, wellbeing, cultural and charitable activities that serve our community, our visitors and the city.

Planning the sustainability of this precious heritage site is more important than ever before following the impact of recent lockdowns and substantial increases in energy costs. This short-term resilience funding enables us to define the new sustainable operational priorities for the ongoing Quinquennial heritage works and the Carbon Management plans. That detailed work will then inform and evaluate the Trust’s future priorities for its heating systems around new boilers, solar, ground source heat pumps, external works, window seals and external decoration.

The Monastery is one of Manchester’s much loved architectural treasures that was rescued from ruin by local volunteers over 25 years ago and it has been serving the city as a cultural and community resource ever since.

Elaine Griffiths CEO of The Monastery of St Francis & Gorton Trust said,

“Gorton Monastery is already a hugely significant landmark for the people of Manchester and is a well-used community space. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project will future proof the Monastery and demonstrates how a heritage building can provide a much-loved resource at the heart of the community. The Monastery not only provides an important link to a community’s roots, but its daily programme of activities continues to inspire and support the health and wellbeing of all of its visitors and local residents.”


About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future.

Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.

www.heritagefund.org.uk

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

#NationalLotteryHeritageFund

Is Science Finally Accepting The Extraordinary? | Dr. Jeannine Goh

“The day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade than in all the previous centuries of its existence.” – Nikola Tesla

Have you ever had an experience that blew your mind and shook your reality? Have you had an experience that made you question all that you knew? Maybe you have had a strange synchronous encounter that changed your life? We often hear people talking of a guardian angel that appears at a significant moment, or a voice…or a figure, or even a goosebump moment of just knowing? These types of curious happenings and meanderings are common occurrences within the religious or spiritual paradigms and also in the spooky and paranormal paradigms, but what does science have to say about all of this?

Rigid Boundaries of Science

In traditional science seeing really is believing and unless something can be measured it is not considered to exist. Moreover, if you did go to the doctor and talk about hearing a voice or something extraordinary they may well whip out the DSM-IV and start looking to categorise you as schizophrenic, or try to give you some kind of label for mental distress and medication. However, voice hearers throughout the world who have been categorised, astutely point out that both Jesus and Moses heard voices and more and more Science is having to move its rigid boundaries to accommodate some very clear findings that maybe these extraordinary phenomenon do actually occur.

I wonder where you sit in this debate?

The Extraordinary

What if I divulged to you that even as a Doctor of Psychology myself, that I have heard voices at times? Would you think I needed to see a psychiatrist? What if I told you that before a meeting with Elaine Griffiths, CEO of The Monastery, I was driving up the road, planning how I was going to explain to her that I did not want to collaborate again on a previous project.

Then, I heard a voice.

It was so clear and so profound I pulled over and I recorded myself repeating the 4 words that were being echoed to me. On meeting Elaine, I told her the four words and she wrote them down and as I was talking, I noticed she kept underlining them and drawing boxes around them. It was those four words that led me to work with Elaine directing the Modern-Day Monastery and to becoming the Co-Director of The Sanctuary.

What are you thinking now? Are you judging me and this situation? If so, what is that judgement based on? Do you think I need to call the psychiatrist or are you intrigued? I will write again about those four words but that’s not for now.

Post Materialist Manifesto

For now, I want to just stay with the idea of The Extraordinary and the forms it can take, as well as whether or not the rigid boundaries of Science and what we as a collective believe, are actually moving. Allegedly they are! With the advent of quantum physics and movements like the post-materialist manifesto, things are changing. It is suggested that there is a revolution brewing in modern thought, with academics from all around the world ‘coming out’ as believing far more than they are able to publish in their research. Next week, I am excited to be going to meet some of these Scientists and I will hopefully be gaining an explanation as to what that voice and those four words really are.

Science & Consciousness Conference

This is all happening at the Science and Consciousness Conference at Broughton Hall, which is run by Ubiquity University. Looking at the schedule, it looks like quite an event. They will be running live experiments that illustrate that remote viewing is possible and that we are all connected. They will be showing us exactly what consciousness and oneness is, through more experiments and using equipment set up from the infamous Princeton experiments. We will watch leading academics illustrate to us that there is much more to the world than meets the eye and certainly more than Science would allows us to believe or thoroughly investigate.

These mind-blowing few days are taking place at the beautiful Avalon Retreat Centre at Broughton Hall and starts on Samhain. I believe there are a few tickets left if you want to see for yourself. Or, if it’s all too spooky and strange for you and you are happy with your understanding of reality then that is great too. I suppose that if we are all connected, it means that if I am going you are kind of going too!

This visit is also the beginning of our collaboration with Broughton Hall and Ubiquity University so look out for the forthcoming courses.

We hope to bring this fascinating event to The Monastery next year. In the meantime, if you’d like more info about this year’s conference, you can do so by clicking here.


Words | Dr. Jeannine Goh

When Having A Baby Messes With Your Mental Health | Dr. Hayley Dunn

Pregnancy and childbirth can have a profound impact on mothers’ mental health. In this article, Dr. Hayley Dunn discusses trauma symptoms & how to get help.

A 5-minute read

Pregnancy, Childbirth & Mental Health

Having a new baby should be a time of joy and love. For some, however, this time is marred by jarring memories of what happened to them while they were giving birth. My interest in perinatal trauma began after the birth of my own son. My experiences left me horribly anxious and haunted by memories. I struggled to process my feelings whilst also adjusting to being a mum. I felt like no one wanted to hear my story, and that I had nowhere to turn. As part of my healing I learnt as much as I could about trauma, determined to understand what had happened to me.

What Is Perinatal Trauma?

Perinatal trauma refers to lasting emotional scars caused by painful or frightening memories from pregnancy, birth or just after. For some people, feelings associated with these memories fade on their own within a few months. For others, they can linger, overshadowing playdates, ruining birthdays and damaging relationships. In these cases, professional help can help to heal this pain and stress, removing the power that memories have over you. Allowing you to move on and start creating happier memories.

Trauma is caused by experiencing acute fear or pain, or feeling like someone’s life is in danger. 1 in 3 births are described as traumatic but trauma is not limited to having a difficult birth. Many people develop trauma symptoms after experiencing extreme morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Breastfeeding can be another source of trauma. Without adequate support, women can struggle desperately trying to feed their babies. Breastfeeding can be much harder after a traumatic birth. This can be a double whammy of pain and distress for new mums.

Pregnancy And Birth Related PTSD

For a small number (1-6%), these lingering feelings can even develop into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Untreated this can have huge consequences for both mum and the rest of the family. It can be harder to bond with your baby. Your relationship with your partner may break down. Your own mental health can end up in a negative spiral.

Secondary Trauma

Anyone can be traumatised by experiencing or witnessing horrendous, life threatening events. Mothers, partners, even midwives and doctors. The fear of thinking that someone you love or who is in your care is going to die can be just as traumatic as going through it yourself. This is known as secondary trauma, and can also have lasting effects on mental health.

Vulnerable Groups

Some people are particularly vulnerable to being traumatised. Eg: Anyone who is highly sensitive or anxious, such as neurodivergent people (eg autistic or ADHD), people who experience body dysmorphia, survivors of abuse or oppression, or previous traumatic events. All of these groups can easily be re-traumatised. To these individuals, events that seem fine from the outside can be overwhelming and terrifying. They need knowledgeable, sensitive, responsive care to prevent acute lasting distress.

My Own Experience

In my case, my son’s birth was all fairly routine, nothing dramatic happened but I felt terrified, alone and out of control. This had little to do with what was really happening at the time. It was undiagnosed, untreated PTSD from my childhood that for me triggered serious mental health problems. Even after my baby was born I continued to struggle mentally and emotionally for some time after, not really understanding what was happening to me. I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t trust anyone else to look after my baby. I had constant mental images of bad things happening to him, even images of me hurting him. Things that once made me feel happy felt stressful and pointless.

Trauma Symptoms

Symptoms of trauma are different for everyone. Generally it involves anxiety, disturbed sleep and uncontrollable upsetting thoughts or memories. Fear grips you even though you know you are safe. You might lie awake at night terrified that something bad is going to happen to your baby. You could be plagued by nightmares, making you fearful of sleeping. You might avoid things that remind you of what happened. You might even struggle to look at your baby without being reminded of the horror. You might feel numb and empty, unable to connect with others.

Isolation

It can be difficult to know what to do with these feelings and thoughts. Untreated trauma can be incredibly isolating. Often, telling someone about it, gets dismissed with comments like ‘Well, at least you’ve got a healthy baby’. Comments like this left me feeling even worse. I felt misunderstood, ashamed and alone, bitter and angry. Of course I loved my baby, but my love did not magically heal those wounds.

Help Is Available

Its so important not to suffer in silence. It is totally possible to recover from birth and other perinatal traumas. Even PTSD can be treated. Get your GP to refer you for trauma-focused therapy such as EMDR, or Rewind. Seek out a counsellor experienced in treating trauma.

I eventually saw a counsellor and began to heal. My healing journey led me to becoming a doula so that I could prevent others from going through birth and perinatal trauma. I later trained as a counsellor so I could have more tools for easing the symptoms of trauma.

What Is A Doula?

A doula is a professional birth companion. You can hire them when you are pregnant and they will accompany you through your pregnancy and the whole of labour and birth. They provide evidence based information, birth education as well as emotional support. They are not a replacement for your midwife or partner. Instead they work along side your birth team, providing continuous emotional support and knowledgeable, practical guidance and encouragement. They can also be hired to help out in the postnatal period, giving hands on practical support in your home whilst you adjust to being a parent.

Trauma Is Avoidable

Its important to remember that trauma is avoidable and birth doesn’t have to be traumatic. The most effective way to prevent lasting trauma is person-centred care. If you are pregnant, make your maternity team aware of your history, or hire a doula to ensure you get sensitive, individualised support. With responsive, reassuring care even if your pregnancy and birth don’t go according to plan, you can adapt and feel in control which cis the best way to prevent lasting traumatisation.


Dr. Hayley Dunn trained and qualified as a geneticist, before becoming a mother and dedicating herself to exploring the reasons why pregnancy and childbirth can sometimes have unexpected consequences on mental health. Since then, Dr. Dunn has specialised in perinatal, birth related and postnatal trauma, helping others to navigate the huge changes and challenges that motherhood brings as a counsellor & doula. You can check out Hayley’s website here or follow her on Facebook here.

 

If you’d like some help and support for any reason, there is a free counselling & listening service available Sun-Thu each week at the Monastery. For more information and to book an appointment, click here.

Help us to restore organ music to the Monastery

An 8-minute read

“There’s nothing as soothing to the soul,
than the tones of an organ of old.
By whispering a prayer with celestial sound,
we catch a glimpse of heaven around.”

We’re fundraising for the next important chapter in the restoration of our much-loved heritage site.

The Church of St Francis has been lovingly (and painstakingly) restored. It has taken twenty-five years of fundraising and conservation to reinstate the fallen roofs and repair fragile masonry. A feat many thought impossible! The buildings were made watertight. The interiors restored and reorganised to support the needs of a heritage and community venue. The car park and an impressive new wing added. Now the original, decorative paint schemes are preserved. The crucifix saved and returned. And, the 12 larger-than-life statues of Franciscan saints – unique to The Monastery – are back standing gloriously regilded in the Great Nave.

So, what’s left to do?

There’s still an integral part of the site missing. Its 1888 Wadsworth organ.

Music has the power to raise our spirits and can lift our hearts and minds. It’s a source of inspiration and provides a soundtrack to our lives stirring memory and emotion. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to reinstate an 1880s Wadsworth organ and fill the church with the music it was designed for.

Gorton Monastery’s organ was dismantled when the church and friary were sold in 1989. The organ pipes were probably sold for scrap. The organ loft has remained empty. We hoped one day an opportunity would arrive to put this last missing piece of The Monastery back where it belonged.

Gorton Monastery organ

History of the old Wadsworth organ

In 1888, Father Aiden decided it was time to invest in a new organ more suitable for the size of the building. He began fundraising. That same year, Gorton celebrated the magnificent, new organ with a special service. A distinguished Franciscan organist, Father Augustine d’Hoole, travelled from Glasgow to play the organ. Many at Gorton thought their lay brother, Brother Raphael, was a musical genius at the organ and equally talented to Father Augustine.

‘Fr. Aiden wanted a new organ. There was a three-day bazaar in May 1888 and on 15th July the Solemn Opening of the new Organ took place with a distinguished Franciscan organist, Fr. Augustine d’Hoole, OFM, being brought from the Friary, Glasgow, for the occasion. There were many that thought the laybrother, Bro. Raphael, a genius in the kitchen, and also an inspired genius at the organ and the regular organist for many years, could have easily compared with Fr. Augustine. But there it was.’

Excerpt from Father Justin McLoughlin’s book, Gorton Monastery 1861-1961

Organ music was at the height of fashion. They were not only found in churches and chapels (as we tend to think of pipe organs today). They provided musical soundtracks at theatres and music to sing and dance to many fashionable houses.

The organ was built in 1888 by Wadsworth & Brother, a Manchester firm of organ builders set up by Edward Wadsworth in 1861. Born in Chorlton in 1839, Edward was the son of an estate agent. He trained as an apprentice organ builder and soon decided to set up his own business. A ‘sound’ decision during a period of huge growth for organ manufacturing.

Wadsworth manufactured over 1,000 organs during their 85 years. Most made for the parish churches of North West England. Today, only a small fraction of these organs exist. As church attendance declined in the 20th century and churches closed, many organs were dismantled as sold as scrap. Just as happened here at Gorton Monastery.

Manchester Monastery organ loft

A new organ for Gorton

We have fabulous opportunity to return a Wadsworth organ – and its magnificent music – to the Great Nave at the Monastery.

In 2020 during the first Covid lockdown, our CEO, Elaine Griffiths, OBE, was contacted by David Emery the organist and treasurer at Patricroft Methodist Church in Eccles, Salford. His church had closed and David was trying to find a new home for their 1884 Wadsworth organ. The organ was originally built for Trinity Church, which stood on the same site. It’s only four years younger than Gorton’s and is almost identical in size and specification.

The organ restoration

The organ was kindly gifted to us, with only a requirement to pay for its removal from Patricroft and its installation in Gorton.

We obtained expert advice, about the practicalities and cost of moving the organ, from George Sixsmith & Son organ works in Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne. The Patricroft organ was originally installed and maintained by Cyril Wood of Ashton-Under-Lyne. When Cyril died, George Sixsmith (who once worked for Wadsworth) acquired his business and continued to maintain the organ.

Once dismantled, the organ will be restored and repaired. It’s in good working order – Wadsworth organs were built to last! But, we must take the opportunity to make relatively small repairs necessary for an instrument’s ongoing maintenance and to clean and restore it to its full glory.

Patricroft Methodist Church in Eccles, Salford
The organ at Patricroft

To fit our organ loft, the organ needs to be rebuilt and reconfigured. This won’t affect the way it sounds – it will just change the way it fits the space. This is no mean feat with over 1000 pipes!

Excitingly, this also gives us the opportunity to add modern playing aids – if we can raise enough.

This would allow us to play the organ from the nave and to program it to play music arranged digitally. We’d love to program the organ to play uplifting music at the same time every day for our visitors to enjoy!

Please help us to reach our target of £100,000 to reinstate the Wadsworth organ and return its rich music to the Monastery. We’ve already raised £35,000 thanks to some generous donors.

Its music can be a powerful instrument of mediation and celebration. It can bring joy, soothe our grief, and move us to think differently. Its power – delivered through over 1000 hand-rolled pipes – can stir our deepest emotions.

“To my eyes and ears the organ will ever be the King of Instruments.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

1884 Wadsworth organ

Ways you can help us to bring organ music back to Gorton Monastery

Sponsor a unique pipe

Would you like to sponsor a unique pipe, or row of pipes, with your name & generosity forever inscribed on a plaque in the Monastery? It’s easy!

Simply click here and fill in our sponsorship form.


Buy our book

All proceeds from the sale of our latest book, Trust: The Story of Gorton Monastery, go to the appeal. You can buy your copy from the Browse our Books section of our website or by clicking here.


Donate online

It’s super easy for you to donate using our JustGiving donate button.


Fundraise for us

You can fundraise using our JustGiving page. You can find it quickly by clicking here or visiting https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/monastery-organ-appeal.


Raise awareness

Help to spread the word about our fundraising.

Do you know a community group who would like this project? Does your company want to sponsor the organ restoration? Please contact us and we’ll be very grateful for your support.


Thank you for helping to support our appeal. You’re helping to bring the music back to the Monastery.


Words | Dr. Caroline Paige  Photography | Len Grant

How to upcycle in fabulous 20th-century style: Feed sacks reinvented as wearable fashion

Subject: textile heritage; Victorian Manchester; Manchester history; Manchester heritage; up-cycling; fashion; style.

Author | Charlie Walker & Cheryl O’Meara  Editor | Dr. Caroline Paige

A 2-minute read.

The Print Pattern Archive holds an extensive collection of American twentieth-century feed sack fabric – a big hit with quilters and lovers of vintage design. The naïve painterly styles are the ultimate in the print industry. There are glorious designs featuring rural scenes, zingy florals and cute, novelty sketches. They make great inspiration for children’s wear and homeware.

What is feed sack fabric?

Feed sack fabric is – well, what it says on the tin – fabric that was used to transport goods like flour, sugar and animal feed. In rural communities, especially in the United States, these materials were not wasted.

Authentic feed sack fabrics from the 20th century were made of rough cotton or burlap. Materials appropriate for their original intention, as protection for the goods they held.

Poultry feed sack with design showing women in fashionable dresses

How did feed sacks become fashionable?

Feed sack fabric rose in popularity in the late 1800s. The invention of cheaper, patterned cotton created a boom in the women’s fashion market. But women in rural areas often had limited access to these fashionable and affordable fabrics.

The feed industry saw an opportunity to increase sales. By distributing their feed to farms in sacks made from cotton printed with modern patterns, they improved the desirability of their sacks and the product they held.

 

squares of feed sack fabric

What was made using feed sacks?

The cotton sacking fabrics were reinvented as new clothes, quilts and other home furnishings.

As popularity for the fabrics grew, the producers of these sacks began incorporating popular motifs of the era into the design of their fabrics.

These are the designs enjoyed by many feed sack fanatics – bright colours and mid-century motifs that represented the home. Overlapping floral patterns were (and still are) a popular choice for quilting and home decoration.

As international trade and technology developed, feed sack fabric was no longer needed for transporting raw goods. Vintage feed sack fabrics – with their pretty and quirky designs – are now a rare find.

We can take much inspiration from the 20th-century women, who reinvented their feed packaging – creating fabulously unique pieces from the most everyday of materials.

 

quilt made from feed sacks

 

The Print Pattern Archive is housed here at the Monastery. Find out more about the collection at www.printpatternarchive.com.

Get in touch for bespoke commissions or to view a collection: [email protected]

Book Review: Gorton Monastery 1861-1961

Subject: Victorian Manchester; Manchester history; Manchester heritage; Franciscan history.

By Father Justin McLoughlin; reviewed by Janet Wallwork, published 1961 (Historical Reprint Series).

Gorton Monastery 1861-1961: The story of 100 years of the Friary, Gorton, Father Justin McLoughlin, Monastery Publications (Historical Reprint Series), 46p, £2.99. First published in 1961. ISBN 978-0-95714-841-3

In 1861, a small group of Belgian Franciscan Friars arrived in Gorton. Despite having a local Catholic population of just a few hundred and very little money they enlisted the famous church architect, Edward Welby Pugin, to build them a friary and church ‘of cathedral-like proportions.’

Over the next century, they also established three schools and an impressive range of parish organisations – spiritual, educational, cultural, and social.

This little book, written by the archivist of the Order, was published to mark the centenary of the friars’ momentous arrival. It tells the story of the buildings and of the flourishing parish that surrounded them.

Sadly, in 1989 the friars left Gorton and for years the church stood empty and derelict. In 1996, a charity was established – The Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust – to raise the funds to rescue and restore the church and friary buildings. It reopened its doors in 2007 with a new life as a community, cultural, and corporate venue.

The Trust obtained permission to reprint Father Justin’s book to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the day the friars came to Gorton.

 

Editor’s note: This book – and other Monastery Publications – are available to buy both in our onsite Monastery Shop and via our online bookshop.

Omicron Update | Events Policy & Exemptions

The latest wave of Covid19 in the shape of the Omicron variant has seen the UK government increase some restrictions in hospitality venues to try & curb the spread of infection.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re visiting the Monastery for an event in the run-up to Christmas 2021, or during January 2022.

📣 House Policy 📣

The Monastery will NOT be requiring covid passports for our own events, which are:

December 2021

🌠 Christmas Story & Donkey Day – Sunday 19th Dec
🌠 Service of Light – Tuesday 21st Dec

December 2021 & January 2022

🌠 Daily Silent Meditation – Sun-Thu each week
🌠 ALL of our community groups, workshops and services
🌠 ALL weddings and private parties

📣 Exceptions to our House Policy 📣

Due to the new safety measures recently announced by the government, attendees of the below listed, larger scale events, organised by Tightrope Productions, will be obliged by law to produce either a covid passport, or evidence (by text or email) of a negative lateral flow test result, taken no more than 48hrs before the event, in order to gain entry to the shows.

December 2021

🌠 Queen by Candlelight – 17th Dec
🌠 West End Boys – Tuesday 21st Dec
🌠 Christmas with the Choir – Wed 22nd Dec
🌠 Christmas Hits Live – Thu 23rd Dec

January 2022

🌠 Afternoon Tea with the Jersey Boys – Sat, 22nd Jan
🌠 Tribute to ABBA by Candlelight – Sat, 22nd Jan

You can find details on how to register your test results on the UK Government website.

You can find out everything you need to know about the NHS Covid pass here.

Enquiries or questions about these ticketed events to @tightropeproductionsltd

Please, stay safe & take care of one another 🙏 we’ll keep you updated if and when any of these guidelines change.

Thank you for your patience, love from the Monastery team ❤

TRUST: The Story of Gorton Monastery by Elaine Griffiths OBE

Subject: Victorian Manchester; Manchester architecture; Manchester history; Manchester heritage; well-being; Franciscan history.

First edition, hardback, Monastery Publications, 1 December 2021, 176 pages & 304 images. ISBN 978-0-9571484-6-8

A history of the restoration of Manchester Monastery

When Elaine Griffiths stepped over crumbling masonry into the derelict nave in 1996, she was overcome with the power of this incredible Gothic masterpiece.

It was as though Gorton Monastery spoke to her. To save the church and adjoining friary, her and husband Paul set up the charity, The Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust.

TRUST is the story of a labour of love. It’s one woman’s extraordinary journey over 25 years not only to restore ‘Manchester’s Taj Mahal’ but secure its future. Elaine writes frankly of the setbacks, despair, breakthroughs, and small miracles that have changed her life and touched the lives of thousands more.

A foreword from Terry Waite CBE, patron of The Monastery and founder of Hostage International

No words can adequately describe the devastation that lay before me. The tiled flooring was a disaster. The statues of saints that formerly lined the nave had disappeared. The ornate high altar now a target for brick-throwing hooligans.

I looked at Elaine and could see she was no pushover. She was the sort of person who, once she made up her mind up to something, would do it no matter what the odds. How could I refuse to join her and Paul in such a worthy cause?

This book records the story of the rebuilding. It’s a story that will bring hope to many by demonstrating that two ordinary people, with vision and commitment, can achieve what in fact is miraculous.

Terry Waite CBE

Trust Elaine Griffiths

Interview with the author, Elaine Griffiths OBE, Executive Officer at Manchester Monastery

One question I’m often asked is why I got involved with the Monastery project.

It’s very much part of our Griffiths family story and would come up in conversation whenever the family had a get-together. Whatever the occasion, it didn’t take long before someone would ask about the Monastery. Who’d seen the latest news report about yet more theft or vandalism at the empty church? Why wasn’t someone doing something to stop it? No one ever had an answer.

Many people have suggested I should write a book about saving Gorton Monastery. I’ve resisted for so long and made so many excuses: I haven’t the time; I’m not a writer and, besides, which story should I tell? Is it the very personal story of constant doubt, worry, stress and struggle, or is it the more professional, sanitised version of endless bid writing and fundraising that eventually led to triumph over adversity?

Should I be brave and share the more mystical and spiritual side of the story – where the magic of the Monastery has guided my every step? I’m sure that’s what motivated me to get involved after our first visit in the summer of 1996. Guidance came to me in dreams, meditation and intuition, and through messages from gifted people. I was sceptical at the beginning but the wisdom and reassurances from these messages have given me the courage, strength and resilience to keep on trusting.

Over the years, I’ve worked more and more with these experiences. My faith has been tested beyond belief, but prayers were always answered. In the eleventh hour, solutions would always arrive. Sometimes answers came in the form of major setbacks that did not always appear helpful. It’s only now, with the gift of hindsight, I realise everything that appeared to go wrong eventually took us one step closer to an even better result.

That’s why the title of this book is simply TRUST. I’ve learnt the hard way and that’s been the process all along. Things happen when the time is right – when everything and everyone is ready. I suppose you could call that divine timing.

This book is a summary of my personal story and a brief recollection of events. There’s so much information and so many memories. We’ve had to leave out more than we’ve included. And I recognise that, over the years, those who’ve shared some of the journey may remember things slightly differently, but that’s fine too.

We’ve nearly given up many times and reminded ourselves we’re the custodians of so many others’ hopes and dreams. We could not let them or ourselves down. The Monastery, now lovingly restored, is in the safe hands of the Trust who will always endeavour to protect and conserve it for the benefit of future generations. With its renewed focus on its charitable purpose this precious sacred heritage site can now step up to serve its highest possible purpose.

The business model is changing so our charity work takes priority, and we hope our new ‘Trusted Partners’ will do more and more in our Modern-Day Monastery. We still need commercial income to pay essential running costs. We’re optimistic that business will continue to grow as we recover from the impact of Covid and weddings and large events gradually return to normal.

Our Modern-Day Monastery is shining brightly as a sanctuary and beacon of hope, which can support others to cope with the challenges of this fast-changing world. I hope and pray we will be guided to do the right thing, so we can continue to ‘do good while doing business.’

I’m so grateful to have been given custody of this amazing project for so long. As we come to the end of this important chapter in the Monastery’s history, I realise I may be mistaken. Maybe the best is yet to come and this is actually the starting line. I will look forward to whatever the future holds and will continue to trust.

Elaine Griffiths

Buy your copy here

Trust inside

 

Editor’s note

This attractive, hardback, coffee-table book celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Monastery Trust and the remarkable work of those involved in restoring and caring for this precious heritage site.

Within its 176 pages are over 300 images of the site collected by Elaine Griffiths and photographer, Len Grant.

Buy your copy of TRUST online and we’ll post it to you (or perhaps to someone else as thoughtful gift).

You can also pick up a copy in our Monastery shop here at the Monastery.

As a charity, we rely on your purchases and donations to support this special heritage site.

Buy your copy here

The Monastery Manchester

 

Music Matters | BBC Radio 3 interviews Manchester Camerata & Elaine Griffiths

BBC Radio 3’s Music Matters have broadcasted a beautiful feature all about Manchester Camerata’s move to The Monastery and how they are making a difference to our local community of Gorton.

Tom Service speaks to local Councillor Julie ReidHideOut youth zone’s CEO Adam Farricker, and Elaine Griffiths, OBE, chief executive of The Monastery about the positive change we are making to the community.

He also interviews Camerata musicians Ryan Breen, Kate Pearson and Dave Tollington about Manchester Camerata’s free weekly Music Café for people living with dementia and their life-changing Music in Mind work.

Tom also speaks to the orchestra’s CEO, Bob Riley, about our plan for the future as well as our Classical Futures Digital Communicator, Reeco Liburd, about how we are inspiring the next generation of local people.

“The power of the collective spirit.” – Bob Riley, CEO

Listen back to the BBC Radio 3 interview here.

*Read the original article here on Manchester Camerata’s website.

Manchester History & Heritage: A Remembrance Story of Friendship and Ice Cream

The Story of Charles Sellars and Emmanuel Sivori

Author | Graham North  Editor | Dr. Caroline Paige

A young recruit

With the onset of the First World War, in July 1914, twenty-two-year-old Charles Sellars enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps. He had a wife, Sarah, and a thirteen-month-old daughter called Phyllis, who was to become my mother. They lived in a small back-to-back terraced house (3 Ajax Street) off Oldham Road in Miles Platting to the east of Manchester.

Charles was a printer by trade. He had a printing shop on Bradford Road near the colliery, which he ran with his brother Joseph and their cousin James Packer. Trade was falling in the run up to the war. The Royal Flying Corps offered a regular income – and it was only going to take a few months to defeat the Germans and he would be back home and life would resume as normal. Sarah pregnant, but Charles expected to be home before the baby was due.

As we know, the war didn’t go quite as planned and the soldiers had to prepare for a long haul. Charles went off to fight, but before long he was injured and brought back to England to recuperate. When Charles recovered, he was deemed as not fit enough to resume service in the Royal Flying Corps. He returned to France, but this time as an infantryman in the Army.

Manchester history Manchester
Charles Sellars stands on the right proudly wearing his Royal Flying Corps uniform

A Little Italy in Manchester

Between Miles Platting, where the Sellars family lived, and the city centre is an area called Ancoats. Due to the large number of Italian immigrants in this area it was known locally as Little Italy and it was home to many ice cream makers.

These were family-run businesses, with their own shops and ice cream carts. They sold penny licks – a little glass filled with ice cream from which a customer would lick out the ice cream and hand back the glass to the vendor, who would then wash the glass and refill it for the next customer.

Emmanuel Sivori started his family ice cream business in 1910, shortly after he came to England.

Charles and his wife had moved to 222 Oldham Road, a few doors away from the ice cream shop, and they became friends with the Sivori family. The Sivori family were patrons of the Monastery and made donations towards the upkeep of the church and supplied flowers for the May Queen celebrations.

Manchester history at Manchester Monastery

A lasting friendship

When Charles Sellars returned to active duty in France, the war had reached stalemate. He joined the troops in the trenches. For a second time he was injured and it was more serious this time, as he had been caught in a mustard gas attack.

When they brought Charles home, he was in very poor health and unable to go back to his printing business. He did manage to find work as a porter at Miles Platting Railway Station, which lasted for a few years. But his health gradually deteriorated until he was no longer able to work. His wife, Sarah, found part-time work cleaning carriages at the station, even though they now had four young daughters to look after.

Over time, Charles became bedridden and in constant pain. To help ease his pain Emmanuel Sivori’s son, Albert, visited every day after their ice cream shop closed, with bags of ice to lay upon Charles’s chest. He brought the ice every day until Charles died – leaving Sarah with four young girls and pregnant with another child.

Charles’s eldest daughter, Phyllis, had to leave school when she was 13 to earn some extra money for the household. Unfortunately, within two years, she became seriously ill with St Vitus Dance (Sydenham’s chorea) and had to spend eighteen months in the isolation ward at Monsal Hospital.

Manchester history at Manchester Monastery
Charles Sellars with his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Phyllis.

A story preserved

Charles’s last surviving daughter, my Aunty Anne, told me this story when my wife and I visited her in 2003, not long before her death.

In October 2006, my good friend, the Monastery historian Tony Hurley, told me that a Mr Sivori and his daughter were visiting us. They were bringing a crucifix that had belonged to the Monastery. I told them this story, and he said it would have been his father that helped my grandfather all those years ago. I was extremely pleased to meet one of the sons of the man who was my grandfather’s friend and had done so much to ease his suffering in his final days.

I am sure I would not have had the pleasure of meeting Mr Sivori had it not been for our connection with Gorton Monastery.

Lest we forget

Our Magnificent Monastery Wins Best Manchester Venue 2021!

We’re absolutely thrilled to report that The Monastery just won the title of Best Manchester Venue 2021 in the County Brides North West Wedding Awards!

The prestigious, annual award ceremony was held at The Mere Golf Resort and Spa on Thursday 21st October 2021 and as we at the Monastery accepted our award, we couldn’t have been prouder of our magnificent building and awesome team.

Here’s a photo of our glittering award!

This huge win for the Monastery coincided beautifully with our wedding fair at the weekend and we were delighted with the stunning turn out and all of the high-quality service providers who brought their excellence and amazing energy to the great Nave. In fact, our social media channels were on fire with tags from photos and videos taken on the day. Here’s just a couple of our favourites!

We’d like to thank all of our brides, grooms, suppliers and partners for all of your support, collaboration and all-round awesomeness since we reopened in June, just 4 short months ago. This award really means the world to us.

If you’re getting married and looking for the best venue in Manchester, please go right ahead and check out our weddings or contact us here.

Every penny generated by our events goes straight back into our Charitable Trust, to help maintain our beautiful, Grade II listed building and grounds and preserve them for future generations.

If you’d like to keep abreast of all things Monastery, then please feel free to connect with us on our social media channels (links in the header) or sign-up for our monthly newsletter below (in the footer).

Love & gratitude from the whole Monastery team 💖

Spooktacular Half-Term Family Activities at Manchester Monastery

FREE Family Activities at Manchester Monastery

Things are going to get spooooky this half-term!

Join us for some spooktacular family activities.

When?

Activities run from 11am to 4pm over three days – Tuesday 26, Thursday 28, & Sunday 31 October.

Full details on the flyer below – please feel free to download, print and/or share 🙂

And…

Our Welcome Café will be open from 10am to 4pm each day, with snacks and refreshments.

Admission and parking are free of charge.

No need to book. Just come along on the day (and bring your best scary face with you!).

Halloween at Manchester Monastery 2

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