Somewhere to Come
Soon after buying the Priory, the ministry was given the name 'The Open Door', and this well describes what it is first called to be: an accessible place of welcome and safety for all who are drawn here.

The door is open for as long as resources allow, which normally means Monday to Friday 10a.m.- 4p.m. (except Bank Holidays).These are times when most churches are locked so those seeking such a place have somewhere else to come.
In our experience people come for many reasons and with them we seek to find by what means God desires to meet their particular need. These are just some of the options:


The Open Door Service
On Thursday at 12 noon a service of worship is held, on the first of each month this being Communion. Each service is followed by prayer for healing, when anyone can meet with the team in the Chapel.

Services are led by a wide range of Christian ministers and leaders, all of whom share an interest in the Christian Healing Ministry.

For many this is the first point of contact here in their search for healing, as with them we seek what if any further ministry the Priory may provide.

Christian Listening
The Priory does not offer Counselling. Our foundational ministry is Christian Listening as developed by the Acorn Christian Foundation, with whom the Priory is in association. There is something very healing in being listened to well. With Christian Listening there is the extra dimension of listening to God who alone understands perfectly what is needed. We value greatly the definition of Christian Healing devised by the late Bishop Morris Maddocks, our former Patron and founder of Acorn:

"Christian Healing is the Lord Jesus Christ meeting us at our point of need."

This we have often found to be through listening attentively and with prayer. Much listening is done informally, but times can be arranged when trained Christian Listeners are available.

Intercessory Prayer
We believe in the power of prayer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. More than fifty Intercessors around the country are committed to praying regularly for the Priory and in particular for individuals who contact us with long term mental and emotional problems. Only Christian names are used for the sake of confidentiality and yet we are in no doubt the Lord honours this prayer of faith. It is humbling to hear the deep appreciation of those for whom we pray and of their families and friends. The fact that this prayer may be sustained over a number of years means even more.

Those who would like someone prayed for by our Intercessors are asked to confirm that the person concerned is happy with this. Those interested in becoming Intercessors are also invited to contact the Chaplain.


Getting Involved, Lending a Hand
We have found it is often whilst getting involved with day to day life of the Priory that people begin to work through various issues in their lives and so enter into a new depth of healing with themselves, with others and with God. This may be over a few days in the case of those who come from the mainland, usually staying nearby and coming in during the day. It may also be over a much longer period.

There is of course great appreciation of help offerred and work done and indeed the Priory could not function were it not for its volunteers. The areas of work are many and varied and there is always plenty to do. Creative work, the practical care of others, developing healthy working relationships are what all of us need to do, some of the time.

But (and it is an important but) it may be right that someone simply come and learn how to be still, to have permission to say " No thankyou" when asked to help and instead find God in the stillness.
Whether we are busy or whether we are still, the aim is to help one another do either for the right reason.

We have learnt not to distinguish too rigidly between those who help and those being helped. It is a requirement of anyone wanting to get involved that we all acknowledge we are 'under repair' and in need of the Lord's healing.