Nurturing Hope Together
For nearly a century, Ards Friary has offered a place of welcome, rest, and renewal to all who come here. Now, we need your help to keep it that way. Nurturing Hope Together is our invitation to the friends and supporters of Ards, near and far, to join us in safeguarding this sacred place for the generations to come.
Support the Campaign
Br. Ade Green, Guardian
Ards Friary stands at a crossroads. Our retreat centre, which has welcomed thousands of retreatants over the decades, is currently closed. The accommodation needs substantial renovation before it can receive guests again. Across the site, essential buildings and the land that surrounds them need significant care and investment.
Our woodland, farmland, and the historic Father Mathew Walled-Garden are a precious inheritance but ones that require active stewardship to protect. And while Joy Farm continues to offer connection and healing through the land, we have so much more we want to offer; a new retreat programme rooted in Franciscan spirituality, open to all who seek rest, renewal, and community.
Without action, Ards risks losing what makes it irreplaceable. With your
support, we can reopen our doors, restore our buildings, care for this land,
and ensure this place of welcome endures.
Campaign Priorities
In January 2026, we completed a planning process to listen carefully to those who know and love Ards. Through surveys and conversations, we sought advice on our priorities and on how best to care for the future of the Friary. We are thankful to everyone who took part and helped shape this work.
Nurturing hope together, will raise money for three essential priority areas:
- Update, renovate and modernise our buildings
- Take care of Ards Friary land
- Launch Growing Togetherness, a new retreat programme grounded in Franciscan spirituality
Recognition and Thanks
As a way of thanks for your generosity
- All donors will be remembered in a weekly benefactors Mass
- All donors will be invited to an annual Mass of Thanksgiving
- Contributions may be made in your name or in memory of a loved one. They may be attributed to a key feature in the recently restored Peacemakers Chapel, to the woodland or farm
If giving towards a specific aspect, this is not the cost of the item, rather a thoughtful way for us to demonstrate our gratitude. Names will be listed on a plaque (or similar) in the general area (and not on the actual item).
Gifts can be made anonymously, if preferred.