**Please note: The Monastery will be closed to the public for the festive break from Mon 23rd of December, 2024, reopening on Thu 2nd January, 2025**
Find out what's new at Manchester's modern-day monastery
There is so much happening here at The Monastery! Get our latest news, discover awesome events, listen to a talk, attend our daily hour of silence or come on an interactive tour.
Browse News Articles
Health & Wellbeing
News
15 / 10 / 24
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 […]
Health & Wellbeing
News
Science
27 / 06 / 24
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 […]
News
Science
08 / 05 / 24
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 […]
News
07 / 05 / 24
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 […]
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 […]
News
16 / 12 / 21
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. […]
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 […]
Health & Wellbeing
News
22 / 11 / 21
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 […]
News
25 / 10 / 21
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 […]
Health & Wellbeing
News
27 / 08 / 21
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 […]
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? […]
Health & Wellbeing
News
09 / 08 / 21
Music Café with Manchester Camerata @ The Monastery
Please come to Manchester Camerata’s first-ever, free music café this Wednesday, August 11th 2021, between 1-3pm held at their new base right here in the beautiful surroundings of The Monastery! This wonderful event is funded by Music for Dementia/The Paul and Nick Harvey Fund and is for all people living with dementia, their families and […]
News
Science
09 / 07 / 21
Consciousness Tech Meets Regeneration in Northern England | Calen Rayne
Time to Go Wyrd! Global transformational learning provider Ubiquity University is bringing its focus to two projects in the north of England. Firstly, Ubiquity is working with The School of Contemplation at Monastery Manchester on the development of certificate and degree programs in Modern Mysticism, enabling learners to get full recognition for the leading-edge programs […]
News
Spirituality
16 / 10 / 19
The Monastery on Songs of Praise Sunday 20th October
We are so excited to announce that our beloved Monastery featured on BBC Songs of Praise. It aired on Sunday 20th October at 13.15pm on BBC One and is available to watch online here afterwards: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0009mzj The episode features our Chief Executive Elaine Griffiths whose stories about the Monastery really bring it to life. This incredible […]