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Mirfield monastery 'out of this world'
IT might look like an alien spaceship but this is how a 21st century monastery planned for West Yorkshire will look.
Monks are planning to swap their 19th century former mill-owner's dwelling in Kirklees for this modern, eco-friendly 2.5m carbon neutral structure.
The plans have been submitted to Kirklees Council by The Community of the Resurrection in Mirfield, which trained Desmond Tutu and played a significant part in the overthrowing of apartheid in South Africa.
The monks are ready to move out of the rambling building, part of which dates back to the 1870s, as it "has come to the end of its useful life."
Superior, Father George Guiver, said: "Young people have certain expectations about the community and life together and, quite frankly, in these old buildings it just doesn't work.
"Our rooms are all scattered so we all go off to the four corners.
"A monastic family needs to be like a family and we need to be together."
The proposal is for the almond-shaped building to be attached to an early 20th century church, one of around nine institutions on the site.
It will be built into the hillside, south facing and heated by biomass – a renewable energy source – and solar power.
There would be 25 rooms for the monks to live in, along with a large refectory, rooms for counselling sessions provided by the monks, plus a small chapel.
Father George said: "When people think about monks and nuns it sounds like something old but we are very much engaged in daily life."
Despite the existing church being a listed building and the dramatic difference in appearances of the two structures, Father George said they were optimistic the plans would be approved.
Cash for the new monastery will come from the sale of two of the Anglican monastic community's properties in London and Cambridgeshire.
Father George said the expense of running old buildings was prohibitive, plus the monks needed to increase their income, which they plan to do by converting the old building into flats and renting them out.
That project is expected to cost around 2m but first there is another major scheme to get under way, as the church is going to be gutted and refurbished this summer at a cost of around 2m.
It is hoped cash for that will come through a global appeal.
The 21 monks who live on site range in age from 37 to 95 and spend 12 hours in silence every day, sometimes longer, as well as holding four services a day.
Planners are expected to make their decision on the Mirfield plans on April 29.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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