eastXwest Angels

The decision to develop a charitable foundation, to be known as Holy Angels eastXwest Charitable Trust (eastXwest Angels for short) has evolved from the work in icons, tuition and retreats carried out by Sancti Angeli Benedictine Skete.

Become an eastXwest Friend

The best possible way you can help us at the moment is to become a Friend. We aim to send out the newsletter three times a year with updates progress. Many of our friends contribute above the odds, whether it is by helpful advice at the end of a phone, a generous gift of time, or a cheque at a timely moment. the cost of subscription is £15.00 per year, so that it does not cut out our poorer friends, who wish to support our aims. Of course all Friends are invited to join the eastXwest network to keep up with us on a regular basis.

Why A Charity?

The decision to develop a charitable foundation, to be known as eastXwest Charitable Trust has evolved from direct experience of the funding black hole encountered by those who - like the skete - are in the process of developing new communities, together with the hardship faced by solitary religious professed under canons 603/604. It has evolved from being approached by women who wish to test their vocation to religious life, but are prevented by student debt, or debt incurred by looking after their siblings or parents. It has evolved from juggling finances on a shoe string to enable retreats for women who cannot afford the ordinary level of charges of a retreat house.

Added to this is the experience of meeting really talented people who cannot afford to come on an icon course or develop their skills, and realising how many heritage church crafts we are losing (e.g. whitework and ecclesiastical embroidery) because crafts people cannot afford to learn the skills and parishes cannot afford to buy the products. These are the funding black-holes not currently covered by other charities, we seek to address.

Progress Report on Charitable Status

The Trust, to be named eastXwest Angels Charitable Trust is currently moving through the stages of dialogue with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, with view to charitable status. Sancti Angeli Benedictine Skete will be the UK office, for the time being, and interest has been shown in setting up a US office.

Principles of the Trust

The principles of the Trust are:

a. Promotion of religious harmony by educating the public in eastern and western Christian beliefs and practises, and their ethnic and cultural context.

b. Advancement of religion by funding religious life with relevance to purposes (a) and (d)

c. Preservation and development of liturgical arts and crafts.

d. Relief of poverty in religious life & religious education, especially where no regular funding or care is provided by other means.

We are still working on a purpose related to conservation of the natural environment and its sustainable development.

Our Trustees

A small group of people with a diverse range of talents have agreed to be our trustees. These people have been, in some way or other, involved with interests significant to the proposed trust over a period of time. They include two Glaswegians - one a priest with significant artistic interests, one an ex-telecomms engineer who is now designing websites, including this one - www.3glensinternet.net - and a Dubliner with extensive experience of voluntary projects in the Highlands. Also on the board are a Benedictine Oblate with his own business, a UN administrator, formerly a civil servant, and a local teacher involved with lay ministries, including catechesis. As we are widely dispersed, we expect most trust business to be conducted via internet conferencing.

Proposed Fund Raising

Fund A Religious education, especially that which promotes understanding between eastern and western churches.

Fund B Religious life and retreat, with a particular emphasis on:

i) funding religious professed under 603/604, new and small communities which fall between current funding provisions.

ii) student debt relief for aspirants to religious life.

iii) Hermitage retreat & premises fund.

Fund C Poor parishes liturgical arts fund.

Making this happen - getting involved

Obviously we have here some very worthwhile projects, and it will take some effort, and the involvement of some of you for the proposed trust to realise its potential. If you have interests and skills which could contribute to our objectives then please do get in contact. We will be delighted to hear from you and discuss how you could be involved.