History
The earliest reference to Cold Ash is in a 1549 deed of settlement by John Winchcombe, (son of 'Jack of Newbury') to his third son, Henry. A Civil War battle was fought close to Cold Ash - the Second Battle of Newbury in 1644. Cold Ash was originally part of Thatcham parish but separated as an ecclesiastical parish in its own right in 1866.
In 1912 Lady Alice Fitzwilliams invited the Franciscan missionaries to come to St Finian's house and farm to establish a school. It became an orphanage/ boarding school for poor Roman Catholic girls, and in the 1930s a novitiate was built by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMMs). The name of the convent was changed to St Gabriel’s in 1929, (although the school continues under the name of St Finian’s). Now called the Cold Ash Centre, it was converted in the 70s to use as an adult retreat and conference centre.
In 1912 Lady Alice Fitzwilliams invited the Franciscan missionaries to come to St Finian's house and farm to establish a school. It became an orphanage/ boarding school for poor Roman Catholic girls, and in the 1930s a novitiate was built by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMMs). The name of the convent was changed to St Gabriel’s in 1929, (although the school continues under the name of St Finian’s). Now called the Cold Ash Centre, it was converted in the 70s to use as an adult retreat and conference centre.
Today
The Cold Ash Centre is in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth. In January 2010 it became available for a new project of Franciscan Spirituality. The complex includes the Retreat and Conference Centre, a small farm and woodlands.
International
Our community of Franciscan sisters is diverse; it's international. We jointly bring together our understanding of Franciscan spirituality established on our cultural backgrounds. This is evidenced in our unique retreats and enhances the reality that God and nature transcends culture, education or status.
Mission
Centred in our relationship with God as a Franciscan community of Sisters , we desire to offer young people and the "young at heart" a place of welcome where they may discover a loving God in their lives and in the beauty of creation. Find out about our history at wikipedia.org/wiki/Franciscan
The Cold Ash Retreat and Conference Centre is situated in the countryside of Berkshire near Thatcham.
Cold Ash Centre is a Catholic retreat centre run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Registered charity number 249515
©2015 Cold Ash Centre. All rights reserved
Cold Ash Centre is a Catholic retreat centre run by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Registered charity number 249515
©2015 Cold Ash Centre. All rights reserved