St Antony’s Priory is an operation of the Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM), an Anglican Religious Order founded by Fr Herbert Kelly in 1893, which is perhaps best known in connection with Kelham Theological College (1903-1972). 

The Priory occupies the site of the former vicarage of St Nicholas Parish Church, and was built in 1850. The house was acquired by SSM in 1985, and for the next 15-20 years or so housed a community of professed brothers whose educational and pastoral work was particularly focused on helping young men experience the religious life in community, some of whom were discerning a vocation to ministry within the Church of England. During this time, the award-winning chapel, designed by Sarah Menin, was built in 1991.

Ecumenical Spirituality Project 1998-2018

In 1998 a Methodist minister, David Bosworth, and his wife Linda, were invited to move in and the Ecumenical Spirituality Project was launched. In 2004, Paul Golightly, also a Methodist minister, succeeded David as Project Director and, with his wife Joan, ran the Centre – together with a large ecumenical team of paid staff and volunteers – for the next 14 years until 2018.

The work of the Ecumenical Spirituality Centre began with a programme of quiet days and workshops to explore Christian spirituality. Over the years this evolved into an extensive ministry of hospitality for groups and individuals wishing to spend time in the beautiful setting of the Priory building and grounds. One of the most significant outcomes of this work has been the development of training and mentoring for spiritual directors, and by extension, the provision of spiritual direction for a great number of people across the diocese of Durham and beyond.

This provision remains central to the ministry of St Antony’s Priory, which over the years has also included the development of a wide range of programmes, including support for people in recovery from addictions, as well as a wide variety of other courses, workshops and outreach initiatives intended to lead people deeper into prayer and spirituality.

Latterly, much of this work was based on Capacitar training, a multi-cultural popular education approach to wellbeing and self-empowerment comprising simple Tai Chi and movement, visualisations, meditation, emotional freedom techniques and energy work.

A New Chapter

In September 2018, an Anglican Priest, Nicholas Buxton, was appointed to implement a new vision for St Antony’s. This included the establishment of a praying community, and the further development of St Antony’s as a Christian spirituality centre, complementing its long standing commitment to the training and provision of spiritual directors, as well as other expressions of pastoral support and outreach.

In all of this, St Antony’s continues to be a place of spiritual refreshment and exploration, offering a full timetable of regular services in the Chapel, spiritual accompaniment, retreats, quiet days and a varying programme of other acitvities.