About St Peter’s Bourne

St Peter’s Bourne is a beautiful property in Barnet, North London that has a rich history as a house of prayer and mission.

Between 1948 - 1994 it served as a convent home for the Sisters of the Community of the Resurrection of our Lord (CoRL). After extensive renovations in the 2010s, an intentional Christian community was formed, gathering people from the local parishes. In 2021 a new leadership team and community was established to further develop St Peters Bourne as a community, a house of prayer and a place of retreat.

Who We Are Today

Today, St Peter’s Bourne is a home to a residential Christian community who are committed to a rule of life centred around “pursuing God and learning to serve in mission together.” We currently have 18 adults living here who are part of different churches across London. In addition to our community prayer rhythms, SPB also operates as a house of worship and prayer for North London and beyond. The house and its lovely gardens also serve as a place of retreat for church leadership teams and groups.

Whether you want to visit for a team retreat, join an open prayer and worship night, or consider joining the resident community, we hope you feel inspired in your journey towards God.

Leadership Team

St Peters Bourne is managed by the SPBMC - a registered charitable company. The Community Leadership Team live onsite and oversee the day-to-day running of the house as well as providing leadership for the community.

The SPBMC board of trustees consists of David Vincent (chair), Rev. John Coles, Rev. Helen Azer, Rev. Seb Cummings and Caroline Overton.


  • Leadership Team

    Ian and Ruth moved to St Peter’s Bourne in September 2023 to join the Community Leadership Team. Ruth has previously worked at LST and Ian is an ordained minister. They have been in church leadership for 21 years and are responsible for the House Operations and House of Prayer – creating a space for visitors and groups to come and pray.  They have a hunger for God’s presence and helping people grow as they discover their new identity in Christ.

  • Leadership Team

    Rich and Lydia joined the community in 2021 with their three children. They are on the Community Leadership Team for Worship and Spiritual Formation. Rich & Lydia are also part of the staff team at King’s Cross Church (KXC). They both lead worship and are dedicated to helping people experience freedom and fullness of life in God's presence.

History

St Peters Bourne was originally a private home until 1948 when it was purchased for the Sisters of the Community of the Resurrection of our Lord (CoRL). It was a British home for this South African order until 1994 when the Community returned to South Africa where they still keep the offices and provide pastoral and educational care.

The day-to-day running of the house is now done by the St Peters Bourne Management Company in accordance with the CoRL’s objectives to serve as a place of retreat and Christian education. There has been a work of renovation within the house and a community of Christians from the local parishes lived in the house providing it with income and a present community once again. In 2021 following the completion of the renovations, a new leadership team and community was established to develop St Peters Bourne as a prayerful house with an intentional community that is “Pursuing God, and learning to serve in mission, together”.

Community of the Resurrection of our Lord

The Community of the Resurrection of our Lord own St Peters Bourne and are our founding community. Cecile Isherwood was just 21 when she heard the call of God whilst sitting in St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, Victoria, London. Responding she set sail for South Africa in 1883 with Bishop Allan Webb of Grahamstown and 10 others. There she set up the Community of the Resurrection of our Lord which undertook pastoral and educational work in Grahamstown alongside the monastic life of the offices and personal prayer and intercession.

In 1948 the community were looking to have a British house and acquired St Peters Bourne. It was named after St Peter’s church where the call of God was first heard and Bourne is the old English word for a small stream. There is a rich spiritual river prayer that flows through St Peters Bourne from the CoRL that in its history includes links with notable Christian pioneers like Catherine Booth, China Inland Mission, Bishop Allan Webb and Smith Wigglesworth.

Contact us