After 16 years since the purchase of Shephall Manor by the Christian Coptic Church in England,  I was privileged to visit Shephall Manor on 26th September 2007 with Kenneth Heathcote and his wife Janet together with my wife, Ginnie Holton, who worked  at the building between 1978 and 1990 as a Residential Social Worker before it closed down.  We were received by Father Shenouda and Bishop Angelos and given a free and open tour of the building.  The transformation has been remarkable and many of the rooms that we saw were in the best condition I have ever seen them in.  Like many people before them,  the people in the church have grown to love Shephall Manor and the many icons around the building seem to blend effortlessly with the Victorian Gothic theme of Shephall Manor.  The future is indeed bright as beyond my greatest hopes, an excellent use for the building has been achieved with the arrival of the Coptic Church.

From right to left

Father Shenouda, Kenneth Heathcote, Bishop Angaelos, Janet Heathcote, Richard Holton and Ginnie Holton

The new cathedral to the south of the building is indeed  very sympathetic to the old building and in itself incredibly beautiful, fully justifying the planners compromise to site it in the grounds of the old manor house.  At the present time I could not be optimistic about the future of Shephall Manor in the hands the Christian Coptic Church or about their open handedness with regard to arranged or ad hoc visits, indeed they have shown the true hand of Christian friendship.

Included below is a photo gallery of various snapshots of the day

Shephall Manor 2007	Close up 2007	The old science room	Now a Reception room	The Hall
A mirror view of the hall and staircase	The fireplace in the hall	The staircase with a wheelchair lift	Candelabra in the hall	Ginnie Holton in south dormitory
The cathedral as seen from the house	The old library	Kenneth Heathcote and Ginnie Holton in East Dormitory	The kitchen	West door
The back of the building	The stunning cathedral	View from the new cathederal 2007	Icons	The tallest tree in Stevenage
Second view from the cathederal 2007	From right to left - Father Shenouda, Kenneth Heatcote, Archbishop Angaelos, Janet Heathcote and Richard Holton	From right to left - Father Shenouda, Kenneth Heatcote, Archbishop Angaelos, Janet Heathcote, Richard Holton and Ginnie Holton	Side from cathedral	Inside the cathedral function hall
The sweet chesnut tree beloved by footballers	Oriole window ( spelin?? )	North side of building	Outside of old sitting room, now a small chapel

Click on this picture to go to Coptic Church website

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