Convent’s sale ‘an answer to many prayers’

5:50pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

By Lauren Rogers

THE nuns who lived at Stanbrook Abbey for more than 170 years have said the sale of their former convent is “an answer to many prayers”.

As previously reported in your Worcester News, the Victorian abbey at Callow End, near Worcester, has been bought by Amazing Retreats owned by entrepreneur Mike Clare, known for establishing the UK’s biggest bed retailer Dreams.

He plans to turn the abbey into a luxury retreat for weddings, parties and private functions – ensuring it stays at the centre of the community – but wants to hear from local people to see what they think.

The order of Benedictine nuns, who left Worcestershire in May 2009 to move to a purpose-built monastery in the North Yorkshire, have released a statement about the sale.

They said: “This sale is an answer to many prayers although we are sad to finally let the property go. After all, it has been home to our community for 171 years.

“This sale allows us to finish paying for phase one of the new abbey in North Yorkshire. Most importantly, as we are a religious community, we can now begin to raise funds to build a church that we need to be able to welcome properly all who wish to come and worship with us. Since we first thought about moving in 2002, we have been looking for a buyer for our old home who would be sympathetic to its former use.

“We feel that the vision for the buildings which Clarenco (owner of Amazing Retreats) has revealed to us shows that they are sensitive to, and, indeed, wish to celebrate the buildings and their history.

“The church and cloister, and the reason they were built, are major attractions for them. We are confident the property will be cared for, protected and restored.

“Stanbrook Abbey is ready for a new life and the Stanbrook Abbey nuns can now focus on our new life here in North Yorkshire.”

Neighbours are being invited to attend an open afternoon from 1pm to 6pm on Friday, September 17. They will meet the buyers and discuss the abbey’s future. It is understood that the two cemeteries will be turned into quiet gardens, but Amazing Retreats will have to secure planning permission from Malvern Hills District Council before making any renovations or changes are made.

Mr Clare has confirmed the acquisition of the building and said: “We are very excited to add Stanbrook Abbey to our growing portfolio and keen for it to remain at the centre of the local community. It is very important to us that any restoration or enhancements we make have the full backing of local residents. As with all the properties in our portfolio, any changes will be sympathetic to the building’s heritage.”