Who was Irene Prestwich?
​​She invited the peace organisation, Moral Re-Armament, now called Initiatives of Change (IofC) to use her house during the war as a conference centre to make change and decided she wanted her house to continue being used to make change even after her passing. ​​​
Some years after her death her home was sold and the money was put into a trust to help continue her wish to strive for a world remade, where people feel cared for, challenged and supported to answer their deepest calling. This trust is now called the Irene Prestwich Trust CIO and investments made from these funds are solely used for grant making and governing the charity.
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​At the age of 87 Irene wrote a memoir, telling the story of why she chose to follow God's calling to be a re-maker of the world. You can download the pamphlet for free by clicking here.
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Irene Prestwich (1884 – 1974) was a woman of wealth, living in a large country house in Cheshire, known as Tirley Garth, surrounded by a host of servants, situated in acres of beautiful grounds. ​​​​
Tirley Garth was built. Irene lives here with her family and continues to rent it after her parents pass.
Irene invites Moral Re-Armament (MRA) to move their headquarters to Tirley Garth.
Irene sets up a trust to preserve Tirley Garth and donates it to MRA (later called Initiatives of Change). Irene passes in 1974.
The 'Tirley Garth Trust' becomes the 'Irene Prestwich Trust Incorporating Tirley Garth Trust' in 2006, which then becomes the 'Irene Prestwich Trust CIO' in 2019, the Trust as we know it today.