I have been a Methodist Deaconess and then Minister since 1970. The Methodist Church gave me permission to spend my last year before retirement here in Preston at a L’Arche Community.

L’Arche is French for "The Ark". It began in Trosley, France in 1964 when a French Canadian man, called Jean Vanier, spent some time with a priest friend who was the chaplain of a mental institution. Jean and the priest were very distressed by the plight of the men who lived in the institution. Eventually Jean welcomed two of the men into his home. He found that while these two severely disabled men needed a lot of help they also brought much to the household.

Many books have been written about how, from that early act of compassion, houses have sprung up in many parts of the world. There adults with learning disabilities and assistants live as families and discover how much each person has to offer to the others.

The L’Arche Preston Community only began four years ago. The house at 3 Moor Park Avenue is a home for up to five adults with learning disabilities and five assistants. We live together as a family. Some go to sheltered workshops whilst the rest of us clean, shop, cook etc. In the evenings we share a meal and the evening hours together, which usually includes a time of prayer before bedtime.

We assistants have a rest day each week and a monthly long weekend, besides some free time each afternoon. Some assistants like myself, come for perhaps a year; others stay much longer.

There are eight L’Arche Communities in the UK. Most have a cluster of houses and their own workshops. In time it is hoped that L’Arche Preston will have other houses.

It is proving to be a great blessing to me to have this time here at L’Arche. I hope to retire to the east end of the North Lancs District in October and maintain some contact with L’Arche Preston.

On the last Friday evening of each month we have Open House from 7.30pm – do please feel free to drop in and see us.

Preston Community 3 Moor Park Avenue Preston Lancs PR1 6AS

Telephone and fax 01772 251113 email preston@larche.org.uk

Web: www.larche.org.uk/preston Assistants’ phone 01772 254381