Society of the Sacred Mission

The Society of the Sacred Mission is a historic religious community of the Church of England founded in 1893 by Father Herbert Kelly to increase the number of those who give their lives to divine service, particularly by training clergy for the Church of England, and to work for the conversion and perfection of souls. It was originally based at Kelham Hall, Nottinghamshire, where it operated Kelham Theological College from 1903 to 1973, and is now based at St Antony's Priory, Durham. Today the society is a registered charity centered on spiritual direction training and retreat services, and it manages the Herbert Kelly Institute for Anglican Religious Life, which preserves archives on Anglican monastic communities and supports theological scholarship.