Pathways to Peace

Heritage & Wellbeing

At Manchester Modern-day Monastery

Heritage & Wellbeing At Manchester Monastery

A visit to Manchester Monastery is a great day out and it can revitalise your wellbeing too.

Our famous architecture — designed to create an uplifting experience of light and sound — provides creative inspiration and a sense of connectedness proven to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Looking at, learning about, and taking part in heritage keeps us well, aids healing and bolsters a sense of richness and fulfilment in our lives.

Heritage can help us all to improve our wellbeing by:

Bringing us together at all stages of our lives
Building connectedness and a sense of belonging
Supporting individual confidence and self-esteem
Providing opportunities for us to be active

The NHS recommends five steps to achieve better wellbeing: connect, be active, take notice (or be mindful), learn, and give back.

Here’s how Manchester Monastery can help you to achieve these five health-boosting goals:

Connect — Meet friends and family here; it’s free entry. Take part in a wellbeing activity or join our friendly volunteer team.
Be active — Walk the Gorton Heritage Trail, designed to promote and conserve the heritage and wildlife of the Gore Brook Valley Conservation Area.
Take notice — Visit the Great Nave during The Silence. We can give you some tips on how to calm your mind. Or take time to look for a new detail in the carved stone here — inside and outside.
Learn — Come on a tour and learn about this incredible building, or visit our Monastery library and archive.
Give back — Volunteer here. We’d love to make you part of our team.

Volunteering is a great way to connect with heritage, meet people and develop skills. We have a wonderful community of volunteers and a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Improving Health & Wellbeing In Greater Manchester

Our Listening Service provides free counselling and accredited counselling training. It’s part of our Healing Sanctuary, which offers a space for you to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Experience The Silence in the tranquillity of the Great Nave — free to everyone at midday every day Sunday to Thursday — or share your story at the Narrative Centre.

Manchester Monastery welcomes you to visit us and to find your steps to peace and wellness.

Find out more about health and wellbeing in these short videos.

Visit Us

Everything we do at The Monastery embraces the values that we’ve inherited from the Franciscan Brothers who created the original building. With creativity and the innovative use of technology, we’ve reached for the stars in aspiring to the greatest of goals in the years ahead.

We’re open to the public throughout the year. You can pre-book a tour, attend an event, or enjoy lunch or a sumptuous afternoon tea in our amazing Victorian Pantry. For more information on events held at The Monastery please visit our Events Diary.

A regular programme of community, health, wellbeing and family activities is also available for everyone to enjoy. Our affordable Community Rooms can be pre-booked for use seven days of the week.