The Brothers Of The First Order Of The Society Of St Francis
Charity 236464
Overview
Summary
The Brothers of the First Order of the Society of St Francis appears to be a religious community whose shared Franciscan rule is both its identity and its operating base. Rather than presenting itself primarily as a specialist service provider, it combines vowed communal life, public spiritual formation and practical solidarity with people facing hardship. Its role seems to extend through a wider Franciscan family: supporting lay companions, vocation-seekers and related religious communities, while linking care for marginalised people with ecological and peace-oriented Christian witness.
Operational geography
Evidence and reasoning
Supporting evidence
North Edgbaston
Confidence: low
The charity’s official 2024–25 trustees’ report identifies an active Birmingham Friary, and the official hospitality page describes the Birmingham friary as a home for Brothers and destitute asylum seekers. The supplied evidence does not explicitly identify the friary’s ward, so the ward assignment cannot currently be confirmed.
- Society of St Francis, Trustees’ Report for year ended 30 June 2025
Identifies a Birmingham Friary and says it aims to offer sanctuary to people seeking asylum, in partnership with organisations supporting refugees. - Society of St Francis, Hospitality page
Describes the Birmingham friary as located about 1.5 miles north-west of Birmingham city centre and as home to Brothers and several destitute asylum seekers; it also states that one Brother offers spiritual direction. - Birmingham City Council, Community Safety CCTV locations list
Lists nearby locations within the North Edgbaston ward.
Remaining uncertainties
- The latest trustees’ report says the asylum-seeker sanctuary ministry was temporarily suspended during 2024–25 following a change of Brothers and was expected to resume in 2025–26. The current hospitality page still describes the friary as housing destitute asylum seekers, but the available evidence does not independently confirm the scale or continuity of that accommodation as of 4 August 2026.
- The charity refers to partnership with other organisations supporting refugees, but does not name those partners or show that they extend the charity’s direct operational footprint into other Birmingham wards.
- A June 2024 mission week at St Matthew’s Church, Perry Beeches, evidences a time-limited activity rather than a continuing operational presence and has not been treated as a current operational area.
- The evidence supports a single Birmingham-based friary and associated asylum-seeker/spiritual-direction work; it does not support a conclusion that the organisation currently delivers services citywide within Birmingham.
Additional evidence needed
- A current Birmingham friary update confirming whether accommodation and asylum-seeker support have resumed and the nature of current services.
- Direct evidence from the charity identifying the ward in which the Birmingham friary operates.
- Current information from the friary or named refugee-sector partners on referral arrangements and whether any regular outreach or services operate beyond the friary site.
Areas of work
- Education/training
- Environment/conservation/heritage
- Human Rights/religious Or Racial Harmony/equality Or Diversity
- Overseas Aid/famine Relief
- Religious Activities
- The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
Who they help
- Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
- The General Public/mankind
How they help
- Other Charitable Activities
- Provides Human Resources
- Provides Services
Discoveries involving this organisation
The Atlas has not published any Discoveries involving this organisation yet.
Observations
A way of life functions as the organisation's core method
The available evidence suggests that SSF's charitable activity is rooted in a vowed communal discipline rather than a single programme. Prayer, simplicity, renunciation and proximity to marginalised people appear to shape both how it operates and what it offers.
Why it matters
This helps explain why its work spans relief, education, faith, environment and social inclusion: these are likely connected expressions of one rule of life, not separate service lines.
Show evidence
“The brothers live in community under vows and a Rule of Life, dedicated to following the path of Saint Francis.”
Source:Organisation“The objects include following Christ through renunciation and sacrifice, loving service, and ministry to uncared-for, sick, suffering and needy people.”
Source:Charity Commission
Spiritual formation may be an important route to wider civic influence
SSF appears to extend its influence beyond its members by creating routes for others to participate: companions, prospective religious members, magazine readers, pilgrims and event participants. This may make it a network-builder as well as a direct actor.
Why it matters
Its local or social contribution may be underestimated if assessed only through direct beneficiaries; its lasting role may include equipping dispersed people to carry Franciscan commitments into everyday communities.
Show evidence
“The Companions of the Society of Saint Francis are men and women who wish to accompany the sisters and brothers in Christian commitment.”
Source:Organisation“The organisation regularly hosts online and in-person events for those exploring a Franciscan vocation.”
Source:Organisation
Care for people and care for creation are presented as mutually connected
The organisation appears to frame homelessness, poverty, peace, justice and environmental concern within one moral vision of relationship with God, people and the Earth. This may enable connections between organisations that usually treat these as separate fields.
Why it matters
This integrated framing is distinctive because it could support collaboration across faith, homelessness, food poverty, peace and environmental networks.
Show evidence
“The Society offers assistance to people who are struggling, shelter to asylum-seekers and others facing homelessness, and volunteering at food banks.”
Source:Organisation“The Feast of St Francis is described as remembering relationship with God, one another and the Earth itself.”
Source:Organisation“The charity reports activities in poverty relief, environment/conservation/heritage, human rights/religious harmony and religious activities.”
Source:Charity Commission
- The scale, locations and continuity of direct support for asylum-seekers, homeless people and food-bank users are not known.
- It is unclear which external charities, public bodies or community organisations SSF works with in practice.
- There is no evidence of how its environmental, peace or educational work translates into measurable activity or outcomes.
Remaining uncertainties
- Recent annual reports or accounts showing expenditure, sites, staffing, volunteer activity and beneficiary reach.
- Information on named delivery partners, referral routes and local communities served.
- Examples of recent projects linking Franciscan spirituality with homelessness, poverty, environmental action or peacebuilding.
Additional evidence needed
Charity Commission profile
Activities
An Anglican Religious Community for men under a Franciscan rule of life.
Charity objects
TO BUILD UP A BODY OF MEN WHO, ACCEPTING CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND MASTER, WILL SEEK TO FOLLOW HIM IN THE WAY OF RENUNCIATION AND SACRIFICE AS AN ACT OF WITNESS AND FOR THE LOVING SERVICE OF HIS BRETHREN IN THE WORLD. TO MINISTER TO THE UNCARED-FOR, SICK AND SUFFERING AND THE NEEDY. TO SHOW OTHERS BY EXAMPLE AND INSTRUCTION, THE BEAUTY AND POWER OF CHRIST. TO RELIEVE THOSE WHO COME TO THEM FOR HELP OR COUNSEL.