News & Views from a Modern-day Monastery

Heritage & Culture

Help restore organ music to The Monastery and catch a glimpse of heaven

Subject: Manchester history, Victorian Manchester, Manchester heritage, Manchester music, organ restoration, British history, conservation. Words | Dr. Caroline Paige  Photography | Len Grant 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. […]

Heritage & Culture

News

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 […]

Health & Wellbeing

Science

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 […]

Heritage & Culture

Review: Print Pattern Archive talk

2-minute read Subject: Things to do in Manchester; Manchester tours; textile history; pattern makers This week, I dropped into Cheryl O’Meara’s talk on her textile archive and spent a delightful hour in a world of pattern. If you’re in a hurry, scroll down for the quick facts. A little bit about the archive The Print […]

Philosophy

Spirituality

What Is A ‘Modern-Day Monastery’? | Dr. Jeannine Goh

Here at Manchester’s modern-day Monastery, we are only too aware of the global environmental crisis, the escalating rise in mental distress, the rising gap between the wealthy and those in poverty, the gulf between science and spirituality (that has lead to deep rooted confusion) and now the collective trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic. These are […]

Heritage & Culture

The History of Manchester Monastery: It’s Quite a Story

A piece of Manchester History A 10-minute read. It’s a story of new communities working together to overcome adversity. It’s a story of the people. Read on to explore the extraordinary story of Manchester Monastery and its part in Manchester history. A monastery in Victorian Manchester The Monastery started life with a different name, it […]

Philosophy

In Search of Universal Truths | Dr. Jeannine Goh

In Search of Universal Truths “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed” Einstein We have reached […]

Heritage & Culture

Using Manchester Heritage to Nurture Well-being | Dr. Caroline Paige

A 5-minute read. Heritage and well-being at Manchester Monastery A story of community action to rescue and restore an endangered heritage site. The legacy of the community that built it is now conserved for future generations. The continuing legacy of The Monastery is to nurture well-being. They do this by providing a sanctuary for the […]

Spirituality

The Monastery Prayer

The Monastery Prayer The Monastery is built on a beautiful, perennial truth that we all share.   We invite those who hear and feel our call to come, gather, belong and celebrate with us. We recognise that the time has come to turn away from egocentricity.   For each of us to take personal responsibility […]

Health & Wellbeing

News

A Compassionate Approach to Mental Health in Manchester is Here

LAUNCH: The Sanctuary of Peace & Healing (SOPH) at Manchester Monastery LIFTING THE SPIRITS OF THE CITY It is with great joy that we announce the launch of an innovative urban retreat, spearheading a compassionate and conscious approach to mental health in Manchester at our brand new Sanctuary of Peace and Healing (SOPH). Manchester’s modern-day Monastery […]

Health & Wellbeing

News

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 Reid, HideOut youth zone’s CEO Adam Farricker, and Elaine Griffiths, OBE, chief executive of The Monastery about the positive change […]

Science

Entangled Life | How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, & Shape Our Futures

A 5-minute read It’s a real pleasure to share this interview with critically acclaimed author and biologist, Merlin Sheldrake, son of legendary biologist, Rupert Sheldrake, and an expert in tropical ecology.  In this interview with senior producer, J. P. Harpignies, of Bioneers, Merlin discusses his recently published book on the mysterious, underground world of fungi; Entangled […]