By Sarah Foster

THE approach to Minsteracres, a stone-built mansion set in the County Durham countryside, is truly awe-inspiring. Turning off the A68, you encounter a long, sweeping driveway, and, towering above you as you near the house, are serried ranks of statuesque redwoods. As entrances go, it’s pretty impressive, and, before you even reach the main house, you are struck by the sense of being somewhere unique.

Built in the mid-1700s, Minsteracres was originally owned by the Silvertops, a local family of Catholic coal owners. In the 1940s, it was bought by the Passionists, a Catholic monastic order, and, for a while, was closed to the public as young men entering the order were trained there. More recently, the site became a charity, though it is still run by the Passionists, who sit on the board of governors. It houses a resident community, including two Catholic priests and two nuns, but most of its population is transient, with visitors coming mainly on retreats.

There is a sense of stillness about the building and its 110 acres of land that envelops you, making it ideal for those seeking the space to think and reflect. Although it is unmistakably religious, with St Elizabeth’s Church, built by the Silvertops, standing adjacent to the house, and icons everywhere, Minsteracres welcomes not only Catholics but those of other faiths and none.

Guests are often greeted by Father Mark Whelehan, an elderly priest with a soft Irish accent and a twinkle in his eye. A resident of 50 years, he is part of the fabric of the community and reflects its warmth and hospitality. He explains the Passionist philosophy. “God showed his greatest love for us by dying on the cross, so what we are suffering can bring joy and resurrection,” he says.

“When you come here, you feel you’re entering somebody’s home. I think that’s part of what makes it special,” adds communications and marketing manager, Nuala O’Brien. “The questions you will never be asked as you walk through the door are, ‘Are you a Catholic?’ or, ‘Are you a Christian?’ because it doesn’t matter. It’s why you’re here that matters.”

The house is impressive, with a parlour and ballroom boasting ornate, gilded ceilings and intricately-carved wooden fireplaces, and it is here that some of the events on Minsteracres’ varied calendar are held. Retreats can vary from quiet days to week-long residences and encompass everything from walking to icon painting. The common theme is that they encourage reflection.

“About 80 per cent of our business is around retreats,” says Nuala. “The Passionists say their strength is helping people who are suffering, not necessarily to overcome this, but to be there for them, so outreach is very important. People with addictions come on retreats and we deal with those with HIV and clients of Freedom from Torture – it’s really wide-ranging.

“Some of them have severe issues and to be able to take them away from everyday life and give them a bit of perspective and a bit of peace is invaluable. The sort of thing they say is, ‘I’m able to sleep here’. Once you are out here it’s as if you’re protected from the rest of the world.”

Those on retreats can choose to stay in the main building or the Retreat House, converted from the old stables in the 1960s. The latter is now in desperate need of updating, and a campaign is about to be launched to raise £500,000 for renovations which it is hoped will be complete by the 50th anniversary of its opening in 2017.

Alongside its work with those on the fringes of society and hosting retreats, another key element of life at Minsteracres is conservation. It rents its walled garden to Daybreak, a charity for those with learning disabilities, and its Peace Garden is often used as a place for quiet contemplation. For many, outdoors is where they feel most spiritual – and this is something the community embraces. “Father Mark’s expression for the redwoods is that they’re the open-air cathedral,” says Nuala. “We rely on a lot of volunteers – we have 107 on our database – and some of them are conservationists.”

The stunning focal point of the grounds is a specially-commissioned statue carved from wood. It shows the figure of Christ with his head bowed, surrounded by a disc of multi-coloured glass, which, when the sun shines, becomes a luminous icon representing all that the Passionists stand for.

Another symbol of this is the chapel where once the monks held their worship. Cloaked in silence and with scenes of the Passion looking down from the walls, it has a static electricity which almost crackles. In the window is yet another figure of Christ on the cross – this time, obscured in shadow, giving it ominous power.

Despite being a serious place for serious thought and self-analysis, Minsteracres is far from being dark or depressing. With many of its activities light-hearted, music and laughter are often heard, and one of the key groups it attracts is young people. Organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, and Brownie and Scout divisions, hire two remaining brick huts built for training by the Fire Service during the Second World War, using them as a base to connect with nature.

They are completely different in character from the main building and the Retreat House, comprising dormitories with bunk beds and adjoining leaders’ rooms, and provide a safe, self-contained environment. Teenagers often find it hard at first to manage without their mobile phones and tablets, but most delight in the sense of freedom they experience and engaging in simple tasks such as pond dipping.

Once they have visited Minsteracres, people often return, with whole parishes organising annual retreats. The opportunity to escape modern life and reconnect with lost or forgotten values, it seems, is a powerful draw. “It just sort of sets you free,” says Nuala.

n Minsteracres Retreat Centre, near Consett, Co Durham, 01434-673248, minsteracres.org