Work begins on largest Carmelite monastery in Europe

Artist's impression

Work has started on a purpose-built monastery in Liverpool to provide a single home for the Discalced Carmelite nuns from the communities in Liverpool, Upholland and Golders Green. The complex is likely to be the Order's largest monastery in Europe, with accommodation for some 30 sisters in the main building plus others in an infirmary wing.

The new monastery will be built in the south-east Liverpool suburb of Allerton, and will cost £3 million to build. It will be paid for by the sale of the three previous sites in Lancashire and London (the monastery at Golders Green closed in 2008 since when the nuns have been temporarily resident at the Carmelite monastery in Preston). The Liverpool sisters are relocating from West Derby after 104 years. The nuns say their current convent is no longer a peaceful retreat due to the expansion of two neighbouring schools. The Prioress, Sister Mary, said: "Whilst West Derby has been our home for over 100 years and we will be sad to leave, we felt it was time to move to a location which will be more compatible with our way of life."

In placing environmental concerns at the forefront of the plans for the new building the nuns are following in the pioneering footsteps of their sisters the Carmelite nuns at Thicket Priory near York who moved into their new premises in 2009.

Speaking of the new building Sister Mary said: "The new monastery will allow us to be much more energy efficient and the gardens will also enable us to be self-sufficient whilst protecting the local habitat." The new eco-friendly building will feature solar panels, ground source heating, and rainwater harvesting. More than 1,500 trees and a new wildflower meadow will be planted on the Maryton Grange site on Allerton Road.

The Liverpool building firm Nobles has contracted to finish the new monastery in 60 weeks, meaning that the monastery is expected to open in mid-2012.

Source: The Carmelites