A new Home for the Sisters in Preston – Help needed!

Presentation of the project by our Canons:

Dear friends and benefactors,

Since arriving in Preston in November 2017, the Sister Adorers of the Royal Heart have been living at the former St Augustine’s Presbytery, which was kindly offered by the Diocese of Lancaster and the Parish ‘St John XXIII’. It is located approximately 30 minutes from St Walburge’s Church.

They have been travelling twice a day to St Walburge’s for Mass and the Divine Office, rejoicing the congregation with the beauty of their Gregorian Chant, as well as edifying them in their discretion and dedication for the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Since the beginning of this other wonderful adventure of our Prestonian apostolate, they have been teaching the children of St Benedict’s Cultural Centre.

Recent updates to our apostolate included the extension of our lease, including the complete use of the entire St Walburge Parish complex, and the relocation of St Benedict’s to one of the buildings. This has revived the idea of bringing the Sisters closer to the centre of the life of our shrine church. The former convent of the teaching sisters at St Walburge’s Primary School fits their needs perfectly, but it is in need of complete renovation.

Currently, we are able to cover the costs of exterior repairs. However, what use is a building with no leaks or draughts if we cannot use it? The second phase of works still needs to be financially secured, so the Sisters can move into their new home as soon as possible and help us make the beacon of our shrine church shine even brighter.

As you can see from the aerial view below, having the Sisters close to the church would greatly simplify their lives and reduce their travel times. They would also be preserved from the noise of their current “milieu” and enjoy a quieter residential area more conducive to their life of prayer and silent work.

We provide more details inside about this tremendous, yet expensive project, which will take several months to complete before the Sisters can move in.

Please help us to achieve this restoration. The Sisters and the Canons will remember you and your families in our daily prayers, especially during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

God bless you!

Your Canons of St Walburge’s


A word from the Sisters:

Dear friends,

As you will have already read, Providence is hastening things to enable us to move to our new convent near St Walburge’s Church as soon as possible. This project has been on the minds of our superiors and our community for a long time. Living near the church, the presbytery and St. Benedict’s will save us a considerable amount of time, as we will no longer need to make so many daily trips. It will also provide us with the stability we need for our religious life, as we will be less exposed to the outside world.

Most importantly, dear friends, we will be closer to Our Lord, and living near the church means we will be able to come and adore Him more often! In this way, we will fulfil our vocation of making the adoration of God present in all our lives and close to everyone. Our vocation stems from Eucharistic Adoration for the glory of God and the sanctification of His priests. With all our heartfelt gratitude and prayers for you and your families, thank you in advance for your indispensable help!

Your Sister Adorers

July 2025 – Roofing works

Dear Friends and benefactors, 

In this gallery, a few pictures to show you the quick progress upon our future roof. The builders have now remove a good third of the surface, and protected the building with a rainproof sheet, while scaffolding work are continued around the two other faces of our convent.

Be assured of our prayers

Your Sister Adorers

July 2025 – Beginning of the building works of our future convent

After months of preparatory works, the restoration of a building next to St Walburge’s began on the 1st July. As you may see on the first pictures, this former convent of the teaching sisters of St Walburge’s old school is in quite a derelict state. Before being able to do anything inside, we need to secure the roof, and the windows of the 2nd floor.

With God’s grace, we will be able to move in, when everything will be completed. But we are in need of your help. You may find more details in our appeal. Contact our canons, if you would like to help us. Thank you very much and be assured of our prayers.

Our first newsletter

St Augustine’s Convent

Dear Friends and Benefactors

Since the opening of our little convent in Saint Austin’s Place, in November 2017, following the kind invitation of Bishop Michael Campbell O.S.A. (now retired), we have begun our mission in Lancashire.

Ora..

Following the example of many generations of monks and nuns, our life is centred on daily prayer and meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We now have Adoration every Thursday at St Walburge’s from 9.30 am to 7 pm. We have the particular mission to care for the sacristy of the Shrine Church of Saint Thomas of Canterbury and the English Martyrs, which has been entrusted to the Canons of the Institute.

et labora

Following the motto of Saint Benedict, “Ora et Labora”, prayer & work, we dedicate a part of our time to cleaning and tidying this beautiful church of the English Martyrs, especially before the great litugical feasts such as Easter, Saint George, protector of England, and the English Martyrs. As we work in the church, it is a sincere joy for us to see people coming to the church to visit and pray.

Teaching at the Saint Benedict Academy

We have been helping our Prestonian Canons at the Saint Benedict Academy, which opened in January 2018. Two of our Sisters teach English, French, Art, Catechism and Gregorian chant to the children. It is a great joy for us to be like another presence of God for these little souls! On Fridays we sing the propers of the Mass, while the children of the Academy sing the Kyriale they have just learned with us.

Gregorian Chant

Every Sunday we sing the Solemn Mass at St Walburge’s, helping our Canons in Preston, uniting our voices to the splendor of the divine Roman liturgy. It is also the opportunity to meet the great family of the Walburgian parishioners.

Be assured of our daily prayers during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: all of our life is sacrificed and offered for you and for your intentions, so please do not hesitate to send them to us.

May God bless you and may Our Lady of Walsingham protect you!

God bless you,

Your Sister Adorers

Your Sisters need your help!

We have chosen to live true and real poverty as part of our vocation for the benefit of souls. Our contemplative life therefore does not provide us any income, and we have our expenses, which we try to keep as low as possible: we rely solely on the generosity and charity of our friends, and we would be very grateful if you could help us financially.

If you were able to set up (even a small) monthly donation, this would be a great help and would enable us to more fully dedicate ourselves to Adoration and prayer for all of you. Please see the email address on the ‘Contact’ page to request details.

Thank you in advance for your support, and please be assured of our special prayers for our benefactors.