85 Abbey Road, Middleton, Manchester, M24 6HQ

This Christian holiday house, Manchester base in Middleton is Claire Davies’ own family home — lived in by her daughter when she is in England, and opened up to guests the rest of the year as a place of rest and prayer. Claire describes it as somewhere “strategically placed, by God” to bring His Kingdom into the wider town rather than simply the immediate street — a modest, comfortable house with a bigger purpose than most holiday lets.

Inside, guests will find a recently fitted kitchen, a living room with a keyboard for anyone who wants to play or lead worship informally, and a spacious garden to sit out in. Wifi, a washer and dishwasher are all provided, along with linen, so there is little to bring beyond an open heart. Well-behaved, house-trained dogs are welcome downstairs. It is a simple, unfussy house rather than a luxury retreat — exactly as Claire intends it, offered at a reduced rate for HolyHols guests compared with her usual holiday-let pricing.

The house sits in an ordinary, ungentrified part of Middleton, close to areas of social housing rather than a picture-postcard setting, and Claire is upfront that this is not the place for guests wanting upscale or five-star surroundings. It is instead offered as a simple, low-cost base in a real town-centre community — in keeping, she feels, with a calling to bring God’s presence into everyday, ordinary places rather than only beauty spots. As Claire puts it herself, the house is “kept simple” and not aimed at “those seeking upper-class accommodation” — guests come for the purpose of the stay rather than the polish of the surroundings, and are asked to bring that same spirit of openness with them.

Claire’s hope is for guests with a living, active relationship with God — whether clergy or not — to come and simply be present in Middleton: to relax, rest from busy schedules, and, if they feel led, to pray, worship or bring God’s presence into an area she describes as needing prayer. Guests looking for fellowship during their stay are warmly pointed towards the Upper Room Christian Fellowship, a long-established, biblically grounded congregation based on Middleton Gardens, offering worship, healing and teaching to the local community.

Middleton itself has a real Christian heritage of its own. Its parish church, St Leonard’s, is Grade I listed with parts dating back to 1412, and its Flodden Window — considered the oldest war memorial in the United Kingdom — commemorates sixteen local archers who fought at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The town was also the birthplace of Arts and Crafts architect Edgar Wood, who designed Middleton’s Long Street Methodist Church and Temple Street Baptist Church, and of radical reformer Samuel Bamford, baptised at St Leonard’s in 1788. Manchester city centre — with its own thriving prayer and worship movement, including the Prayer Storm conference — is a short, inexpensive bus ride away.

This is not a listing for anyone seeking upmarket, five-star surroundings — it is for clergy, church workers and ordinary Christian families who want somewhere real, affordable and prayerful to rest, and who are willing to bring the Holy Spirit with them into a part of Greater Manchester that Claire believes God is calling people to. For that kind of guest, this Christian holiday house, Manchester offering is exactly what it claims to be: simple, sincere, and genuinely open to however God leads.

Perfect for:

• Clergy and church workers needing an affordable, low-key break
• Individuals or couples wanting quiet space for prayer, reflection or worship
• Christians drawn to intercession for Manchester and the wider North West
• Guests happy with simple, comfortable surroundings rather than luxury
• 30 minuets to Manchester City Centre, Etihad Stadium, Co-op Live Arena & Cathedral