Rise Up: A Celebration That Told the Monastery Trust’s 30-Year Story
There are moments that become part of a place’s story. To mark the 30th anniversary of The Monastery Manchester, the Great Nave welcomed a full house for Rise Up. This one-off performance celebrated the remarkable transformation of one of Manchester’s most treasured historic buildings. A Story Told Through Music Created especially for the anniversary, Rise […]
The Monastery Becomes Manchester’s First Level 3 Trauma Responsive Organisation
We’re delighted to announce that The Monastery Manchester has become the first organisation in Manchester to achieve Level 3 Trauma Responsive accreditation through Manchester City Council’s Trauma Responsive Manchester programme. While the title may sound a little technical, the idea behind it is beautifully simple. What Does Trauma Responsive Mean? At its heart, being trauma […]
30 Years of Transformation: The Monastery Manchester Marks Milestone Year with Industry Recognition
2026 will be a landmark year for The Monastery Manchester, as the charitable trust that saved it from ruin celebrates its 30th anniversary. That’s three decades of regeneration, community impact and the careful restoration of one of the city’s most remarkable heritage venues. The Monastery was originally a 19th century Franciscan friary designed by E.W. […]
Following the Tug | Walking the Labyrinth
Editors note: This article about walking the labyrinth was written by Nicola Smalley, who, together with her husband Jason, form The Way of the Buzzard, with an indigenous approach to spirituality that is native to the British Isles. Nicola and Jason run regular shamanic ceremonies here at the Monastery and all over the UK.
The Monastery Wins Leading Live Event Venue at the 2025 This Is Manchester Awards
The Monastery has officially been crowned Leading Live Event Venue at the prestigious This Is Manchester Awards 2025! In a glittering ceremony held at The Point, Lancashire Cricket Club, our beloved Monastery stood tall among some of the region’s biggest names in hospitality, live entertainment, fashion, tech and community impact. Hosted by television personalities Jenny […]
Securing the Future: Heritage Funding to Celebrate 30 Years of The Monastery
£249,650 Grant Awarded to the Monastery 26/07/2025 There’s a deep stillness to summer at the Monastery – the kind that allows for both reflection and quiet celebration. This year, that stillness carries something new: a sense of joyful momentum. We’re delighted to share that The Monastery has been awarded a transformational £249,650 grant from The […]
The High Altar of Gorton Monastery (Church of St Francis, Manchester)
Design and Original Construction (1860s–1885) The former Church of St Francis (Gorton Monastery) is a High Victorian Gothic masterpiece designed by Edward Welby Pugin in the 1860s. The church’s crowning feature is its high altar and towering reredos at the north end of the nave, which became the focal point of the interior. Notably, the […]
Growing Together: A Greener Future at the Monastery
There’s something truly inspiring about watching life bloom in unexpected places. Here at the Monastery, our re-greening project is blossoming into something extraordinary. Thanks to the passionate efforts of our Men’s Shed volunteers, the green team, and the incredible support of the Greater Manchester Environment Fund (GMEF) and Groundwork Manchester, our historic site is being […]
Gorton Monastery’s Senior Tour Guide, Grahame Birtles, Shortlisted for the Heritage Hero Awards
The Monastery is proud to announce that long-standing volunteer and Senior Tour Guide, Grahame Birtles, has been shortlisted for the Heritage Hero Awards—a prestigious recognition of individuals who go above and beyond to protect and promote the UK’s heritage. A Passionate Storyteller and Dedicated Volunteer As a key figure in Gorton Monastery’s visitor experience, Grahame […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]