Sisters Of Charity Of St Paul The Apostle
Charity 211200
www.sistersofstpaulsellypark.org
Overview
Summary
Sisters Of Charity Of St Paul The Apostle appears to be a religious community whose civic role is expressed less through a single public service than through stewardship: deploying people, premises, prayerful hospitality and grants to support wider social and spiritual aims. Its stated commitment to justice and wholeness suggests that its charitable resources are intended to extend beyond the community itself, while its Birmingham base may function as a point of encounter for retreats, conferences and religious formation.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
Bournbrook and Selly Park
Confidence: high
The organisation identifies St Paul's Convent at 94 Selly Park Road as its Birmingham main office and describes Selly Park as its Mother House, Generalate and a current centre for spirituality, pastoral ministry, prayer, hospitality, retreats and conferences.
- Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — Where We Are
Identifies St Paul's Convent, 94 Selly Park Road, Selly Park, Birmingham B29 7LL, as the Birmingham main office. - Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — Selly Park
States that Selly Park is the Mother House and Generalate; describes ministries including pastoral work, chaplaincy, bereavement counselling, education, work with marginalised people and visiting the sick. - Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — Dupuis Centre Selly Park
Advertises the Dupuis Retreat and Conference Centre in Selly Park for retreats, quiet time and day conferences, with accommodation, meeting rooms, chapel and conference space. - Dupuis Centre — official website
Lists the operating address as 94 Selly Park Road, Birmingham B29 7LL and promotes current bookings for retreats, accommodation and conferences.
Handsworth Wood
Confidence: medium
The organisation's current England and Scotland service page lists Handsworth Wood among its UK locations while stating that Sisters minister in the Birmingham diocese and undertake a variety of ministries. The page does not specify the local service, site or scale of activity.
- Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — England & Scotland
States that the Sisters minister in the Diocese of Birmingham and lists Handsworth Wood among UK locations. - Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — How and Where We Serve
Describes the Sisters as involved with local and wider communities, working collaboratively, and lists Handsworth Wood among UK locations.
North Edgbaston
Confidence: medium
The Sisters' relationship with St Paul's School for Girls materially extends their educational and property-based presence into North Edgbaston, but delivery and legal educational trusteeship are now undertaken through the Gaudete Schools Trust rather than directly by the congregation.
- Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle — School Trusts
States that the Sisters are a founding member of the Gaudete Schools Trust and joined it to preserve, develop and promote the mission and charism of St Paul's School for Girls, Birmingham. - Charity Commission — Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle, Trustees' Report for year ended 31 December 2024
Reports that legal trusteeship of St Paul's School for Girls transferred to Gaudete Schools Trust, while the freehold land and buildings remain owned by the Sisters. - Birmingham City Council — St Paul's School for Girls directory record
Locates St Paul's School for Girls on Vernon Road, Edgbaston, in the North Edgbaston ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The Selly Park evidence establishes a substantial physical and service base, but does not show the geographic origin of users of the retreat centre, pastoral work, counselling or other ministries; their Birmingham beneficiary reach cannot therefore be classified as citywide.
- The organisation's website contains differing UK location lists: one current page includes Handsworth Wood, while another includes Walmley but not Handsworth Wood. This leaves the present status, type and precise address of activity in Walmley unconfirmed.
- St Paul's Care Home is named on the Selly Park webpage, but the available official page does not provide enough current operational detail to determine its status, client group or whether it is separately regulated.
- The North Edgbaston school relationship is a significant partnership and retained-property connection, but direct day-to-day school delivery is undertaken through the school and Gaudete Schools Trust.
Additional evidence needed
- A current congregation directory or annual report identifying each active Birmingham community, ministry and address.
- Current information from the organisation on the service delivered in Handsworth Wood and whether Walmley remains an active location.
- Current regulatory or operational information for St Paul's Care Home at the Selly Park site.
- Data on the catchment or participant geography of the Dupuis Centre and Selly Park pastoral services.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- General Charitable Purposes
- Religious Activities
Who they help
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Makes Grants To Organisations
- Provides Human Resources
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A resource-sharing rather than direct-service model
The organisation appears to contribute to civic life principally by making its human, financial and physical resources available to others, rather than presenting itself as a specialist provider of one defined service.
Why it matters
This helps distinguish the charity from a conventional frontline organisation. Its potential influence may lie in enabling other groups, convening people and sustaining activity that is not highly visible under its own name.
Show evidence
“Makes Grants To Organisations, Provides Human Resources.”
Source:Charity Commission“Using our resources to promote justice and wholeness.”
Source:Organisation“Dupuis Retreat and Conference Centre, Selly Park Available for periods of quiet time or retreat and day conferences.”
Source:Organisation
Faith is the organising mechanism, not simply an activity
Religious life appears to shape the organisation's operating model, values and relationships: charitable action is framed as an expression of Gospel life, friendship and solidarity rather than as a separate programme area.
Why it matters
This suggests that understanding its partnerships and decisions may require attention to spiritual affiliation, vocation and shared values, alongside conventional measures of charitable output.
Show evidence
“We are a community of Catholic Religious Women who endeavour to live the Gospel way of life.”
Source:Organisation“Rooted in Christ, we, the Sisters of St. Paul inspired by Geneviève Dupuis seek to live the Gospel in Friendship and solidarity with others using our resources to promote justice and wholeness.”
Source:Organisation“Religious Activities.”
Source:Charity Commission
The organisation may bridge inward formation and outward connection
Its retreat, reflection and religious-life information suggest an inward-facing role in spiritual formation, while grants, human resources and justice-oriented language indicate an outward-facing charitable role. The connection between these functions may be central to its distinctive contribution.
Why it matters
This points to a potentially important but easily overlooked question: whether contemplative and formation activity generates relationships, volunteers, associates or collaborations that strengthen wider community work.
Show evidence
“If you are considering Religious Life or would like more information please contact us.”
Source:Organisation“Available for periods of quiet time or retreat and day conferences.”
Source:Organisation“Education/training, General Charitable Purposes.”
Source:Charity Commission
- Which organisations receive grants or human-resource support, and what issues or communities they serve.
- Whether the retreat and conference centre primarily serves the congregation, Catholic networks or a broader public.
- The scale of the organisation's activity, geographical reach and current partnership network.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing grant recipients, expenditure and staffing or volunteer deployment.
- Information on partner organisations, retreat-centre users and examples of justice or wholeness initiatives supported.