Religious Communities
Here at THACCC we have our own religious community branch. Our dedicated religious community is listed below:
The Franciscan Companions of the Simple Path
"We walk lightly, love deeply, and seek Christ in all things."
The Franciscan Companions of the Simple Path (FCSP) is an independent Franciscan community rooted in the timeless spirituality of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi, yet shaped by the urgent call of the present moment. Born from a deep longing to live the Gospel in simplicity, humility, and radical compassion, the Companions are a dispersed yet intentional fellowship of women and men—single, married, vowed, and lay—committed to following Christ through the Franciscan way.
✧ Our Origin
FCSP emerged in the early 21st century as a response to the hunger for a more accessible, inclusive, and Spirit-led expression of Franciscan life. While drawing inspiration from the First, Second, and Third Orders of the Franciscan tradition, the Companions are not affiliated with any canonical religious institution. We are a public witness to a new kind of Franciscan life—one that honors tradition but is not bound by it, that is deeply contemplative yet fully engaged with the world.
We walk in the footsteps of Francis and Clare, who abandoned everything to embrace a life of holy poverty, radical trust in God, and love for all of creation. Like them, we seek not to escape the world, but to love it fiercely, simply, and freely.
✧ Our Charism
The heart of the Companions' charism is the Simple Path—a way of living rooted in:
Simplicity: Choosing what is enough. Letting go of what does not serve love, peace, or justice.
Compassion: Seeing Christ in the poor, the stranger, the wounded, and the earth.
Presence: Living in the now. Practicing contemplation in action, silence in the noise.
Nonviolence: Walking the path of peace, reconciliation, and humble resistance to injustice.
Community: Building intentional relationships across distances. Holding one another in prayer, accountability, and mutual encouragement.
We are guided by the spirit of the Gospel, not by rigid rules. Each Companion crafts a Rule of Life in dialogue with the community and the Holy Spirit, anchoring their daily walk in prayer, service, and simplicity.
✧ Who We Are
We are artists, activists, parents, monks, teachers, students, wanderers, and workers. Some of us live in cities, some in the countryside. Some of us live alone, others in small households or intentional communities. We meet in homes, on Zoom, in gardens, and in silent retreats. We are bound not by location or hierarchy, but by shared longing.
Membership is open to anyone drawn to the path of Christ through the lens of Franciscan spirituality. We welcome seekers from all walks of life, regardless of denomination, background, gender identity, or orientation. We believe that God's grace knows no borders.
✧ Our Life Together
As Companions, we commit to:
Daily personal prayer and meditation
Regular acts of service or solidarity with the marginalized
Practicing environmental and economic sustainability
Engaging in communal prayer, dialogue, and formation
Living non-violently in all aspects of life
We gather regularly (online and in-person when possible) for shared liturgy, study, mutual support, and Franciscan formation. Our gatherings are simple and heart-centered, grounded in Scripture, nature, and the lives of Francis and Clare.
✧ A Pilgrimage, Not a Program
The Simple Path is not about achieving holiness through perfection, but walking humbly with God and with one another. It is a pilgrimage of the heart—a slow, grounded movement toward love.
We are not trying to build an empire or institution. We are a scattered community of spiritual pilgrims, holding one another in light, walking gently with creation, and striving to be signs of peace in a fractured world.
"Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
— Saint Francis of Assisi
For those who feel called to a deeper simplicity, a more honest faith, and a courageous love for the poor and the planet—The Franciscan Companions of the Simple Path welcome you.
(For more information please get in touch via our contact page)
The Order of Saint Melangell
The Order of Saint Melangell is a Christian religious order that draws its inspiration from the life and legacy of Saint Melangell, a seventh-century Welsh saint and hermit. The order is a relatively modern institution, but it seeks to honor the ancient spiritual heritage and traditions associated with Saint Melangell and the Celtic Christian monasticism she embodied.
The Life of Saint Melangell
Saint Melangell is believed to have been an Irish princess who, after choosing a life of religious devotion, sought solitude in the remote valleys of Powys in Wales. There, she lived as a hermit and gained a reputation for her piety, prayer, and care for the local wildlife. According to legend, she is particularly known for her miraculous protection of a group of hares, which had been pursued by a hunting dog. The dog was unable to harm the hares, and the story became emblematic of Melangell’s deep connection with God’s creation and her role as a protector of the natural world.
Her life and legacy are particularly honoured in the Welsh countryside, and the church dedicated to her in Pennant Melangell, Powys, remains a place of pilgrimage for those seeking spiritual solace and inspiration.
The Order's Mission and Focus
The Order of Saint Melangell is an order devoted to contemplative prayer, a simple and ascetic lifestyle, and a deep reverence for nature, which mirrors the values that Saint Melangell upheld in her own life. Like other monastic orders, the order is committed to a life of silence, solitude, prayer, and community. However, it also places a special emphasis on the protection of the environment and the promotion of a spiritually grounded relationship with creation.
Members of the order are often engaged in acts of charity, social justice, and environmental advocacy. Their spiritual practices may include daily prayers, meditations, and the cultivation of personal and communal gardens, with an emphasis on sustainability and care for the earth.
The Rule of Saint Melangell
While the Order of Saint Melangell is not as widely known as some of the more prominent monastic orders in Christianity, it adheres to a distinctive rule that integrates aspects of Celtic spirituality, monastic discipline, and a profound respect for the natural world. The rule encourages simplicity, humility, and a sense of divine presence in all aspects of life.
A key aspect of the order's rule is the balance between individual contemplation and community engagement. Members of the order are called to live in harmony with one another and with creation, viewing all life as sacred. This reflects the Celtic Christian emphasis on the interconnectedness of all beings and the sanctity of the natural world.
The Order’s Role Today
Though the Order of Saint Melangell remains relatively small, it has found a place within the broader context of Christian contemplative movements and orders focused on environmentalism and spiritual ecology. It offers a unique expression of Christianity that integrates a respect for tradition with a forward-thinking approach to the environmental challenges facing the modern world.
In addition to its spiritual practices, the order often holds retreats, study groups, and events focused on ecological spirituality, where participants can learn about the rich tradition of Celtic Christianity, the life of Saint Melangell, and ways to live a life of greater simplicity, prayer, and environmental stewardship.
Conclusion
The Order of Saint Melangell represents a living tradition of faith that ties together deep reverence for God’s creation and a commitment to prayer and service. It is an example of how ancient Christian traditions can continue to inspire and shape modern spirituality, drawing from the example of a woman who lived simply, prayed fervently, and lived in deep harmony with the natural world. The order’s mission reflects the ongoing relevance of these timeless values, particularly as humanity faces modern environmental and spiritual crises.