Glebe House: 50 years of changing lives, and our future as a community hub
In 2025, Glebe House celebrated 50 years of service to communities, friendships, connections and fun. As we mark that milestone, we’re also looking to the future and asking an important question: how can Glebe House continue to serve local people and communities of interest in the years ahead?
We’re inviting you before 15th May 2026 to complete a short survey to help us better understand the needs, wishes and priorities of local residents and communities of interest, and to explore the role Glebe House does — and could — play in your lives.
Why your views matter
Glebe House has been part of the community since 1975. We are now re-imagining it as a vibrant community hub for local people and communities of interest further afield. Your feedback will help shape our future plans and make more people aware of what The Glebe offers.
What The Glebe offers
Glebe House has always been a special place. Set in the beautiful Strangford and Lecale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it offers space for people to come together, learn, relax and connect. From classes such as Chi-Me, yoga and singing, to hostel-style accommodation, community growing, volunteer projects and plenty of room to enjoy the outdoors, it’s a place with a rich mix of activity and possibility.
Our story
Our story began in 1975, when Harmony Community Trust was founded to buy Glebe House and create a safe, shared space welcoming people of all traditions. At first, the focus was on bringing together Catholic and Protestant children from less privileged backgrounds for summer holidays and follow-up weekends. Since then, Glebe House has continued to evolve, responding to changing needs while staying rooted in community, wellbeing and connection.
Over the years, our work has expanded to include adult learning, local history, cultural traditions, arts and crafts, health and wellbeing, and more recently environmental sustainability and support for rural isolation. In 2023, we opened the Seedbed community garden, which has quickly become a lively and welcoming social space.
Now we are re-imagining Glebe House as a community hub with even more to offer. We are a volunteer-led organisation, and we know there is still huge potential in this wonderful place. That’s why we’re asking people to take part in our community survey — so we can better understand local needs, hear your ideas, and shape our future plans.
Looking ahead
We are a volunteer-led organisation, and our aim is to make Glebe House a hive of service in our community and we know there is still huge potential in this wonderful place. That’s why we’re asking people to take part in our community survey — so we can better understand local needs, hear your ideas, and shape our future plans.
This is the LINK to complete the survey
We’d love your help in shaping the next chapter, whether by completing this survey, attending one of our engagement events (watch out on our news page), or getting involved as a volunteer.
If you would like to receive updates, please sign up for our e-newsletter on the form or here.
We are also planning engagement events to discuss the survey responses and develop our ideas further. If you’d like to stay in touch, you can sign up for our e-newsletter on the survey form.
Prefer a paper copy or have any other questions🙋?
Contact Alison Matthews, Green Community Hub Project Coordinator at Glebe House.
Email: alison@glebehouseni.org
Mobile: 07879 558498
Return to: Glebe House, Bishops Court Rd, Downpatrick BT30 7NZ
Facebook: Harmony Community Trust at Glebe House
This is the LINK to complete the survey
We’d love your help in shaping the next chapter, whether by completing this survey, attending one of our engagement events (watch out on our news page), or getting involved as a volunteer.Recruitment and Volunteering
Your opinion is welcome!
People giving views at Community Engagement Day Feb 2026