What's on at the Monastery in January 2024 👀

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✨ New Years Blessings ✨

We begin this, the first of our 2024 monthly newsletters, with the warmest of wishes and blessings for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year. Thank you so much, for being here with us and supporting the Monastery. We couldn't do any of it without you and hope that 2024 brings all that you wish for and dream of 🙏

35 years since the church of St Francis was sold

2024 marks 35 years since the Monastery closed forever as a church, before being sold, becoming derelict, then rescued and reborn as a modern community resource. Since then, the Monastery Trust has been determined to continue the community work of the founding Franciscan brothers, whilst covering costs and remaining free and open to all. We're so grateful for how far we've come and may the universe continue to smile upon our efforts!

Organ restoration begins this year

2024 also marks the year when we shall begin to restore a magnificent, Victorian Wadsworth organ back into the Great Nave's organ loft, after the original was stripped and sold for scrap by the property development owners, back in the 1990s. Our charitable trust raised over 60K during 2023 for our organ appeal - enough to begin the process of installation. But we still have another 40K to raise in order to fully restore and configure the Monastery organ, so please keep your eyes peeled for news coming soon about fun ways YOU can help make this historic restoration happen.

The Monastery team is expanding

Finally, there's exciting news in the pipeline of 3 new vacancies shortly about to arise at the Monastery, spanning health & wellbeing, community and general operations. Recruitment news coming soon, watch this space! 👀

What's on this month

Please scroll down to browse our lovingly curated collection of January 2024 events, with a wide range of stunning shows, fabulous fairs, fascinating talks, historical tours, wellness workshops; community groups; and soulful, spiritual gatherings.

👇 Browse January events below👇

Our doors are wide open and visits welcome from 10am-4pm, Sunday-Thursday. Entry to our magnificent Grade II* listed building, café, gift-shop and secret, central garden remains free, as does parking. You're warmly welcome to join us 💖

Many thanks to our amazing, veteran volunteer and photographer, Graham North, for this beautiful photo of the Great Nave during the recent Christmas concert by Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra 💖

News

New Community Listeners

We're immensely proud of our newly qualified community listeners who've had their BACP approved training & will be offering a sympathetic ear to all Manchester residents who need support, right here at the Monastery, from January 2024

Our listening service is completely free. We’ve found that just 1 session with a 'listener' trained in counselling, may be all a person needs to feel better able to cope. If you, or someone you know is suffering today please know your feelings are valid, your struggles are real, and you are not alone.

Experience our confidential listening service. Tap on the button below for further info and how to book.

Appointments are available between 10am-3pm, Sun-Thu each week.

Find out more or book

Special January Events

Wedding Fair and Wedding Open Evening

January brings 2 glittering, FREE wedding events to the Monastery, starting with an afternoon Wedding Fayre on Sunday 14th Jan, when all guests will receive a FREE goody bag, special wedding offers and mountains of inspiration.

Then Tuesday January 30th brings an awe-inspiring Wedding Open Evening, when you can gasp in delight at the cathedral-esque Great Nave dressed up for a breathtaking wedding, including tables set for a sumptuous wedding breakfast.

Click on the orange links above for details on each specific event.

Find out more or book

Winter Baroque by Candlelight

Set in the stunning Great Nave of the Monastery, this winter warmer concert by Manchester Camerata will be an intimate celebration of baroque music, performed in the round led by Artistic Partner, Daniel Pioro. These acclaimed musicians will conjure up the grandeur of the baroque greats Bach, Vivaldi and Rameau, lit by candlelight.

Tickets from just £3 (+booking fee) for Gorton residents.

January 28th, 2024

Find out more or book

LIVE Tribute Shows to Queen & the Jersey Boys

Join us this January for a choice of 2 fantastic LIVE shows, featuring the Jersey Boys with afternoon tea with one of the UK’s leading Jersey Boys Tribute acts. Or rock on with a stunning, live tribute to the classic songs of Queen featuring some of this legendary band's best loved masterpieces, by candlelight.

Click on the photos or buttons below for full info and tickets

Queen by candlelight

Jersey Boys & afternoon tea

Conscious Connected Breathwork

Join expert breathwork practitioner, Paula Flanagan, to embrace the transformative power of your own breath.

Sundays 7th + 21st Jan, 2024

Find out more

Kundalini Meditation Workshop

Join Gill Harbach for this one-day workshop designed for you to learn how to meditate using the chakra system.

14th Jan, 2024

Find out more

Creating Sacred Art

Rev Fay's first class of 2024 will be dedicated to creating vision boards for the coming year, expressing our hopes, dreams and intentions. After some inner questioning and guidance, we will create one individually for ourselves and a group one for the whole planet using multi media; paints, pens, pastels, and a variety of collage materials.

Sunday, 21st Jan, 2024

Find out more

Historical Talks & Tours

If history's your thing, we have 5 distinct talks & tours for you to choose from.

Mondays bring our ever-popular Taste of the Monastery Tour, when expert guide, Grahame, explains the Monastery's incredible history, from the mid 1800s to now, covering the building's original construction, subsequent ruin and current restoration.

Join Gill Harbach for a fascinating, monthly Hidden in Plain Sight tour of the Monastery, going down the rabbit hole to discover all about sacred architecture, symbolism & mysticism. Or attend Gill's Hidden in Plain Sight Sunday talks which expand on these esoteric subjects in detail. This month's illustrated talk is about sacred earth energies in the Monastery.

For a wider, local view of history, then our informal talk & monthly trip down memory lane at Heritage Club with Brian over tea & biscuits could be just the ticket!

Finally, if you're fascinated by vintage textiles and fashion, then don't miss Cheryl O Meara's monthly tour of the unique, vintage, Print Pattern Archives.

Tap on any of the orange links above for more info about each talk or tour.

Browse all talks & tours

Regular Community Services

We have a range of regular community services here at the Monastery.

Our innovative Listening Service based here in the sanctuary, is free and available to anyone who needs it. The service is self-referral, so no need for a note from your GP. You can book a slot here.

Community services include; Manchester Camerata's music café for people living with dementia and their carers; a free legal advice surgery most Thursdays with Arshad Solicitors; and weekly rehearsals with Gorton Voice Community Choir.

There is also a wonderful, free photography exhibition by Graham North from Sun-Thu each week.

Finally, we're delighted to welcome amazing new community volunteers, Vicki and Chris Kennedy and family. Vicky and Chris are doing some wonderful outreach work with local schools and the wider community and have launched a community gardening group who meet on Thursdays, 10am-2pm. If you'd like to join in, please whizz an email to Vicki 📩

Click on any of the orange links above for more info about each specific activity.

Regular Wellness Activities

Choose from a de-stressing yoga synergy session with Stef or laugh your way to health with Robin & Claire's brilliant monthly Laughter Club. If you prefer gentle movement, we invite you to flow peacefully into Thursdays with Peggy's Infinite tai-chi session, or learn to crochet mindfully with Claire at this month's fabulous crochet workshop.

John Hofton is here every Thursday with his sublimely relaxing healing sound bath sessions, or find your zen at Christine Lineker's monthly sacred drumming circle.

All classes are suitable for any level.

Join in with our daily hour of silence, Sun-Thu each week, you're welcome to stay as little or as long as you like. We also offer free healing each Wednesday with Hook Healers, and a friendly, fortnightly arts & crafts session - mindful crafting.

Click on any of the orange links above for more info about each specific group.

Regular Spiritual Events

Healing Sundays

.Join us on the first Sunday of the month, Jan 7th, for Healing Sunday with a holistic selection of workshops, talks and activities to nurture mind, body & spirit. Choose from: walk the labyrinth 👉 healing sound bath 👉 circle dance 👉 Transformational Journeys somatic workshop 👉 Fibromyalgia talk & testing 👉 a range of meditations 👉 free healing.

Click here to see the full programme for Jan 7th, 2024

Then on the third Sunday of the month, January 21st, we invite you for a wholesome day of spiritual togetherness. Choose from: walk the labyrinth 👉 somatic movement and meditation classes 👉 flowers & vibrational essences 👉 family yoga 👉 laughter club 👉 chakra healing 👉 silent meditation 👉 creating sacred art 👉 One Spirit service

Click here to see the full programme for Jan 21st

Last but certainly not least, there is a Circle of Angelic Light workshop on the last Saturday of each month, hosted by the very kind and gentle Carl.

Click on any of the orange links above for more info about each specific event.

And that just about wraps it up for January, dear friends and family, we hope to see you soon! If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please feel free to reply to this email, we're always delighted to hear from you.

Warmest new year wishes as always, from all of us here at the Monastery.

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