75 years of LWPHomes

The origins of LWPHomes derive from the formation in 1849 of the Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association (MLPMA). With the passage of time, MLPMA felt the need to make specific provision for Local Preachers and their dependents in terms of residential care in retirement. This led to the formation of Mutual Aid Homes (MAH). In 1949 MAH opened Westerley Residential Care Home in Westcliff on Sea, Essex and then it opened a Westerley in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire in 1955 and a home in Minehead, Somerset in 1957. In 2004 Mutual Aid Homes became the Leaders of Worship and Preachers Homes (LWPH).

LWPHomes acquired and renovated a former Christian Retirement site which now has 10 Independent Living flats called Gainsborough House in Milborne Port, Dorset. There are also 2 Independent Living Flats on the site of the Minehead home.

The residents find LWPHomes offer more than just a place to live, they offer a home. "As far as I’m concerned as long as I have to be in a home I couldn’t be in a better place. I’m very well looked after", said one resident. Another commented, "I’m very happy here, everyone is very kind to me. If I want to go out I can and there’s no restrictions."

As part of the 75th celebrations of the opening of the first Home at Westcliff, Robert Davie of Bury St Edmunds has been visiting each of the four sites run by LWPHomes at a gentle pace on his bike. This is a journey of around 550 miles and began on 16 April 2024 from Westcliff, travelling to Minehead via Woodhall Spa in Lincolnshire and Milborne Port near Sherborne in Dorset. His travels are taking in places of Methodist interest on the way such as the new East Anglia Methodist Heritage Centre at Wighton in Norfolk and The Old Rectory, Epworth – the birthplace of John Wesley.

You can follow Robert and make a donation here.