Donate Now
What We Stand For

Five Pillars
of Purpose

Five interconnected charitable focal areas, Religious, Educational, Historical, Local, and Environmental, through which Old Manor Farm fulfils its mission of Making Earth Godly Again.

01Religious 02Educational 03Historical 04Local 05Environmental

Pillar One

Religious Focus

Christian faith, mindfulness and sanctuary for believers and Theist seekers, with a focus on the Anglican clergy, rooted in the Winnington-Ingram legacy.

Explore ↓

Pillar Two

Educational Focus

Faith and spiritual growth explored through ecclesiastical, philosophical and scientific sources, delivered at Old Manor Farm and online.

Explore ↓

Pillar Three

Historical Focus

Restoring a Grade I listed building and its agrarian heritage, central to Flora Thompson's Lark Rise to Candleford.

Explore ↓

Pillar Four

Local Focus

Once again at the heart of Cottisford and Juniper Hill, for village gatherings, fellowship and community life.

Explore ↓

Pillar Five

Environmental Focus

A former working farm now practising environmental stewardship, conservation and spiritual connection with the natural world.

Explore ↓
Making Earth Godly Again

The overarching mission that unites all five pillars

Pillar One

Religious Focus

Old Manor Farm provides an ideal sanctuary for spiritual growth, mindfulness and Christian faith. Welcoming all believers and Theist faith seekers alike, with a particular focus on members of the Anglican clergy, due to the Winnington-Ingram ecclesiastical legacy.

Old Manor Farm has a Christian foundation rooted in the personal faith and experience of the Trustees. That said, staff and volunteers work with individuals and groups of any faith or none at all. It is a place of genuine welcome and open enquiry.

I
Support Making Earth Godly Again Supporting individuals and organisations dedicated to living and working towards a more Christ-like world.
II
Deepen Personal Faith Helping people develop a deeper, more personal relationship with God, regardless of denomination or tradition.
III
Provide a Spiritual Sanctuary Providing a religious retreat for Clergy, People of Faith, and Spiritual Seekers in an ancient and sacred setting.

Community Partnerships

Bishop Winnington-Ingram Church of England Primary School Oxford Diocese, Greenhouse Programme & Nurturing Generosity Shelswell Group of Parishes & the Cherish Ministry Support for missionaries, prisoners of faith, and married couples

"The overarching spiritual aim of the charity is to help people and organisations live and work towards realising a more Christ-like life, with a view to helping to: Make Earth Godly Again."

Old Manor Farm Preservation Trust, Statement of Faith

The dignity of all people, made in God's image to love, be holy and care for creation in harmony and partnership with God.

The Body of Christ both local and universal, enabling all locations to become a Church wherever two or more are gathered in Christ's name.

The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who helps We The People & The Planet work together with God, through Christ, to Make Earth Godly Again.

Read Our Statement of Faith
Stone crucifix, religious focus of Old Manor Farm
A moment of quiet contemplation in an ancient stone chapel, educational focus of Old Manor Farm
Pillar Two

Educational Focus

Designing and delivering educational programmes for clergy, people of faith and spiritual seekers, covering Godliness, Spiritual Mindfulness, Wholeness and Wellness.

Courses to be run at Old Manor Farm could also in future potentially be run at partner venues in the UK, such as another charitable preservation trust with aligned public benefit purposes, Parrox Hall, in Lancashire. In addition to physical courses, OMFPT will provide online courses and other forms of digital based education and podcasting. Working with True Nature Enterprises Limited, these programmes are built on the conviction that faith is often best understood through reason, philosophy and honest enquiry.

Goodness, Greatness & Godliness Spiritual Mindfulness & Wellness The Divine vs. The Deviant Authenticity over Artificiality Being Infinitely Practical
View All Programmes
Pillar Three

Historical Focus

Restoring a Grade I listed building with its distinctive architectural features and its local agrarian heritage, as immortalised in Flora Thompson's acclaimed classic literary work "Lark Rise to Candleford", in which Old Manor Farm is central to the agrarian life depicted.

Built by Sir Roger de Cotesford and formerly believed to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Oxfordshire, Old Manor Farm holds over 800 years of English history in its stone walls. The Trust is working to restore the building as closely as possible to its original 13th to 14th century form, and to open parts of it to students of arts, culture, architectural heritage and science.

Grade I
Listed Status
c. 1280
Original Construction
800+
Years of History
Explore the Farm
1823 engraving of Old Manor Farm, historical focus of Old Manor Farm
Farm buildings and open lawn near Cottisford, local community focus of Old Manor Farm
Pillar Four

Local Focus

Historically Old Manor Farm was at the heart of the local community of Cottisford and Juniper Hill. Once again it will serve as a place for village gatherings, fellowship and community life.

The main dining hall, kitchen and drawing room are available on request for village meetings, celebrations and community events. These spaces have 16th-century origins. Once restoration is complete, the recreated 13th-century first-floor Hall will be available to the local community too, returning the manor to its historic role at the heart of the village.

The Trust is also committed to practical support for Cottisford and nearby hamlets, working with local organisations and charities for the benefit of everyone in the area.

Enquire About the Space
Pillar Five

Environmental Focus

As a former working farm practising traditional husbandry, and now through promoting environmental stewardship through education, conservation and with a deeper understanding of our spiritual relationship with the natural world.

The Trust believes that care for the natural world cannot be separated from care for God's people. Making Earth Godly Again means making it greener, cleaner and more just for all living things. Environmental stewardship runs through everything the Trust does.

At the farm, this means looking after the 7.2-acre estate responsibly, from the orchard and meadow to the buildings and infrastructure. More broadly, it means supporting environmental work through educational programmes and partnerships that put creation care at the centre of the charitable mission.

Environmental Protection & Improvement Local Stewardship Creation Care Theology MEGA Educational Programmes Global Partnerships
Environmental Education
Autumn light over the pond and grounds, environmental stewardship focus of Old Manor Farm
Engage With Our Mission

Together, we can
Make Earth Godly Again

Whether your interest is faith, education, heritage, community or the natural world, Old Manor Farm has a place for you. We'd love to hear from you.

Support the Trust Get in Touch