St. Nicholas House: A New Vision for the Children of Brookline, NH
Christmas caroling outside St. Nicholas House in December 2020.
Rev. Brian Barry wasn’t looking to start a new chapter of life and ministry, but in late 2019, the assistant rector of Christ the Redeemer, Danvers received a new and unexpected invitation to dream. He describes the experience as, “we went from exercising contentment to having permission to imagine something else.”
The imagination became reality as Rev. Brian, along with his wife Jackie, and their 4 boys was led back to the region of southern New Hampshire where he spent his teenage years. They purchased a home in the heart of Brookline, NH, and began praying for the Lord to reveal to them the real needs of the community around them. That prayer was quickly answered by a plea from the local elementary school: substitutes needed. Rev. Brian began work almost immediately, and after about 6 weeks of faithfully bringing a nurturing presence into the school, he was asked to apply for a position in the special education department.
This commitment to the flourishing of children and family is at the heart of what the Barrys have discerned to be their purpose in Brookline: “inviting children into a joy-filled, healing environment where every child may know what it means to be deeply treasured and freely loved by this house of hospitality and prayer.” Just recently, they settled on a name for this mission: St. Nicholas House. And, in the spirit of the fourth century Nicholas of Myra, the environment is offered as a free gift to the children of the community in the desire that every child may know what it means to be deeply treasured and freely loved.
The Barrys envision their home as a haven where children are invited to step into a joy-filled atmosphere where they are loved unconditionally, whether they come to visit the animals, tend the gardens, create something in the workshop, bake, study, train in karate, enjoy a barn party, play in the woods, or simply enjoy a moment of peace. This focus on creating and creation is viewed as essential and even therapeutic, perhaps now more than ever as children come out of a year marked by social isolation and high screen-use.
Rev. Brian and Jackie Barry hang icons in a room they often use for daily and weekly prayer gatherings
When asked about leading a new congregation in Brookline, Rev. Brian said they are more concerned with building the mission than filling pews, that is, to see ministry offered by a small mission congregation who embrace the call to love and serve children in Jesus’ Name. That said, they do seek to be a house of prayer, in which the love of God is fanned into flame in their own lives through daily, weekly, and yearly rhythms of community prayer, guided prayer retreats, children’s catechesis, and spiritual direction.
Deacon Josh Eipper of CTR is also joining the Barrys, living in St. Nicholas House and applying his skills as a handyman and degree in agricultural engineering as the ministry is established. Rev. Brian praised Deacon Josh, saying, “He embodies the way of life we are seeking to follow here. He is a man of prayer with a lifestyle of service. He has a genuine appreciation for young children... We believe that his presence among us will be of great help in jumpstarting our mission here.”
In the meantime, Rev. Brian’s work at the school continues. They make progress on improving their farmhouse and barn to make it a welcoming space when the pandemic lifts, and are gearing up for the springtime work of planting gardens and preparing spaces for animals.
To stay updated on this work in Brookline, you can follow the Barrys’ work and the mission of St. Nicholas House via their facebook page.