Owned and managed by the Redempotorists, the Centre is truly ecumenical, welcoming people of all faiths and none. In 1981, in response to the needs of the wider community, the facilitiesof the monastery were made available to the general public.  Courses in human development, which are now offered, attract people from all over Britain and from countries around the world, while the local Christian Churches find in the Centre a congenial atmosphere for their own training programmes and spiritual retreat.

Each Sunday over a hundred people come to the Monastery Church , and after the sevice many of these visitors come into the Monastery to have coffee, to socialize with one another and to relax.  As well as these Sunday visitors, there are an increasing number of day visitors.  In 2009 over four thousand people came to the monastery for a day visit .

As  a residential institute of Spirituality, St. Mary’s attracts an ever growing number of participants from all over the world.  Last year alone some five thousand perople stayed in the monastery for an average of four nights each.  Some came for organised retreats and courses: others came for a few days of private reflection and prayer: while others came just to have a few days by themselves in the peace and quiet offered by the tranquil location and the ambience of the historic building itself.  

                                                      Photographs by Sr. Maria Coates.