Remembering the Grey Friars

On the 10th November 1538, 480 years ago, the Franciscan Grey Friars of Leicester were forced to surrender their Friary and precincts to Henry VIII’s Commissioners. It was part of the great dissolution of the monasteries across the land. The Grey Friars, who had maintained a praying presence in Leicester for 300 years, were evicted and their house rendered uninhabitable.

‘It was a House of Prayer. It will be a House of Prayer again’

In February 2019, The Community of the Tree of Life will move into a new community house, built on the very foundations of the Grey Friars site. Today, 480 years since their Friary was destroyed, God is rebuilding their ancient house of prayer to bring blessing to Leicester again.

Join with us in praying Isaiah 61, as we remember the Grey Friars;

‘I will give them the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit
They shall be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastation’

– Isaiah 61