A School for the Lord's Service
The Society of the Sacred Mission, at St Antony’s Priory, home of the Herbert Kelly Institute
Latest News from St Antony's Priory
We are excited to announce the appointment of Dr Jeremy Bonner as our first ‘Scholar in Residence’ of the Herbert Kelly Institute for Anglican Religious Life, here at St Antony’s Priory.
Jeremy is a church historian and an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University (see his staff profile here), and has been commissioned by SSM to research and write a history of the House of the Sacred Mission at Kelham.
If anyone who was at Kelham would like to participate in this research project, please get in touch with Scholastica, so that she can compile a list: scholastica.jacob@ssm.org.uk
One Thing at a Time, Johnny
Jonathan Ewer SSM, former Provincial of SSM (and sometime Prior of St Antony's) has now published his memoirs. Growing up in the Western suburbs of Sydney, he eventually found his way to the Society of the Sacred Mission in South Australia. As a member of the order he has been sent to do a variety of things in Australia and the UK; each one, it seems, more exciting than the one before! Available from Amazon.
Dedication of the new Stained-Glass Windows, 28 September 2025
L-R above: Canon Christopher Irvine (Trustee SSM), Canon Sheila Bamber (Trustee SSM), Sophie Hacker (Artist), Rt Revd Stephen Conway (Bishop of Lincoln), Revd Dr Nicholas Buxton (CEO SSM).
The Society of the Sacred Mission (SSM) is an Anglican Religious Order founded by Fr Herbert Kelly in 1893, and perhaps best known in connection with Kelham Theological College (1903-1972). Since its inception, the aims of the Society have been ‘to increase the number of those who give their lives to the Divine Service’, ‘to labour for the conversion and perfection of souls’, and ‘to have regard for the cultivation of Divine Science’.
Today the operations of SSM are centred at St Antony’s Priory, Durham, which offers spiritual accompaniment and training for spiritual directors, hospitality for groups and individuals, and a varying programme of other activities. Overnight accommodation is available in the Cottage guesthouse, which has four self-catering rooms for people wishing to spend a few days on retreat.
The Priory is also home to the Herbert Kelly Institute for Anglican Religious Life, which exists to both preserve the legacy and inform the future of Anglican religious life. The work of the Institute includes managing a specialist theological library, religious archives, facilitating research and publishing.
There is a full timetable of weekday and Sunday services in the chapel, which all are very welcome to attend. Our worship is in the catholic tradition of the Church of England, and includes significant periods of silent prayer. Please note that if attending services outside of normal office hours (e.g. on a Sunday or in the evening) it will be necessary to access the Chapel via the outside steps.
“Therefore we must establish”, to quote the Rule of St Benedict, “a school for the Lord’s service”.
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Where We Are
St Antony’s Priory
74 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1QT
Opening Times
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm (4pm on Friday)
Sat-Sun Closed (except services)
Getting In Touch
T. 0191 384 3747
E. admin@ssm.org.uk