**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**
We're passionate about Manchester history and Manchester heritage. Discover these histories and much more in one resourceful magazine.
A great read if you love history, work in heritage, or are curious about what happens at a historic landmark.
You’ll find helpful, quick reads and longer, in-depth, and thought-provoking articles.
Browse Heritage & Culture Articles
Heritage & Culture
12 / 06 / 23
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
27 / 04 / 23
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
News
17 / 04 / 23
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
03 / 03 / 22
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
18 / 02 / 22
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
31 / 01 / 22
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
News
07 / 12 / 21
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
10 / 11 / 21
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
19 / 10 / 21
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 […]
Health & Wellbeing
Heritage & Culture
17 / 09 / 21
Dementia care Manchester: Music Café at Manchester Monastery is in the news
Looking for dementia care in Manchester? We’re excited to host this new workshop for people living with dementia and their carers. Music Café provides free weekly music-making sessions created and run by the Manchester Camerata orchestra. They’re well-known for innovative collaborations and you could hear them playing dance anthems as well as classical orchestral works. […]
Heritage & Culture
17 / 09 / 21
Book Review: The Greyfriars Players 1937-1948
Subject: Manchester history; Manchester heritage; amateur dramatics. By Father Agnellus Andrew; reviewed by Janet Wallwork, published 1948 (Historical Reprint Series). The Greyfriars Players, 1937-1948, Father Agnellus Andrew, Monastery Publications (Historical Reprint Series), 54p, £2.99. First published in 1948. ISBN 978-0-9571484-3-7 This is a book about the Greyfriars Players, written by them, for them and their […]
Heritage & Culture
13 / 09 / 21
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
03 / 09 / 21
Book Review: Assisi to Gorton
A 2-minute read. Subject: Victorian Manchester; Manchester history; Manchester heritage; Franciscan history. By Father Agnellus Andrew; reviewed by Janet Wallwork, published 1938 (Historical Reprint Series). Assisi to Gorton: A brief record of the work of the Franciscans in England, and especially their work in Gorton, 1861-1938, Father Agnellus Andrew, Monastery Publications (Historical Reprint Series), 108p, […]
Health & Wellbeing
Heritage & Culture
21 / 08 / 21
FREE Storytelling + Den Building Workshop for Kiddies
Manchester’s modern-day Monastery is very excited to present this wonderful 3 x day series of interactive, free storytelling workshops for children and their families by the incredibly talented Round the Twist performing arts collective. And what’s more, as part of our community programme and Belle Vue Week, admission is completely free! For more information about the […]
Heritage & Culture
News
20 / 08 / 21
Belle Vue Week | 5 days of FREE, Family Activities at Manchester Monastery
Whether you love reminiscing or finding out about the fascinating history of Belle Vue for the first time, we invite you to come and enjoy a wonderful week of history and nostalgia here at Manchester’s modern-day Monastery. Manchester History & Heritage Home to a zoological garden, circus, fair, speedway, dancing, boxing, wrestling, fireworks, music, and […]
Heritage & Culture
News
13 / 08 / 21
Stone Carving 2021 | A FREE 2-day Workshop at Manchester Monastery
Ever fancied trying your hand at stone carving? Well, this could be your lucky day! Manchester’s modern-day Monastery is delighted to announce a FREE, 2-day stone carving workshop with Shawn Williamson, Cumbrian-trained stone mason and sculptor. Shawn is a master craftsman who has created some beautiful works of art, such as this one, on the […]
Health & Wellbeing
Heritage & Culture
News
13 / 08 / 21
FREE children’s storytelling + den-making workshops | 15-18th August, 2021
Manchester’s modern-day Monastery is very excited to present a wonderful 4 x day series of interactive, performing arts workshops for children and their families, brought to you by the incredibly talented Round the Twist performing arts collective. And what’s more, admission is completely free. Mums, dads, kids – come on down! When are these events? […]
Heritage & Culture
16 / 07 / 21
What is Meant by Social Prescribing?
A 3-minute read. Social prescribing is a relatively new approach to increasing well-being in society. It works through collaboration of healthcare professionals and cultural and heritage centres. Patients with lower risk mental and physical health conditions are directed to cultural institutions who run programmes focusing on activities like volunteering, community engagement and the arts. The […]
Heritage & Culture
15 / 07 / 21
Heritage and Well-being: Guest Post
A 6-minute read. Editor’s note: This guest post was written by our postgraduate placement students, Emma Gossage and Jenny Jackman, who are studying Cultural Heritage Management at The University of York. Heritage and Well-being: Guest Post Over the past year, the coronavirus pandemic has made us all more aware of the importance of looking after […]
Heritage & Culture
14 / 07 / 21
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 […]
Heritage & Culture
07 / 07 / 21
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 […]