- Stanbrook Abbey
Stanbrook Abbey is an
abbey inCambrai ,Flanders , then part of theSpanish Netherlands . Founded in 1625 under the auspices of theEnglish Benedictine Congregation , it was built as a contemplative house for Benedictine nuns.History
The chief foundress was 17-year-old
Helen More , professed as Sister Gertrude More, who was great-great-granddaughter of StThomas More ; her father, Cresacre More, provided the original endowment for the foundation of the monastery. She eventually became Dame Gertrude More. The English Benedictine mystical writer DomAugustine Baker trained the young nuns in a tradition of contemplative prayer which survives to the present (as of 2007). (Solemnly professed Benedictine nuns are always called "Dame", as Benedictine monks are called "Dom")In 1793, during the
French Revolution , the 22 nuns were ejected from their original house and imprisoned inCompiegne for 18 months, during which time four (4) nuns died from the harsh conditions. The survivors returned destitute to England and, with the encouragement of Dom Augustine Lawson, eventually settled in 1838 at Stanbrook,Callow End , nearMalvern ,Worcestershire , in theSevern Valley.The present abbey church was completed in 1871 to the designs of
Edward Welby Pugin inGothic Revival style.Stanbrook is celebrated for its traditions of
Gregorian chant , devotional literature and fine printing. The translations of the writings ofSt Teresa of Avila are still in print a century after their publication. The Stanbrook Abbey Press is the oldest private press in England, and acquired an international reputation for fine printing under DamesHildelith Cumming andFelicitas Corrigan .Today
The community announced in April 2002 that it would be moving. Abbess Joanna Jamieson made the announcement that the Abbey would move from its landmark Victorian abbey, with its convert|79000|sqft|m2|abbr=on. of monastic buildings 'to make the best use of its human and financial resources'. The Abbey looked at possible sites all over the country until it bought Crief Farm at Wass in the North Yorkshire National Park (see [http://www.indcatholicnews.com/stanbrook.html] ).
Construction of the new monastery began on 18th June 2007. Progress of the building work, which will be completed in four distinct phases, is being recorded by the [http://www.stanbrookabbeyfriends.org Friends of Stanbrook Abbey] .
As of 2002 the community numbered 28 professed nuns and two postulants. About 120 lay people, known as oblates, are associated with the monastery.
Previous abbesses include:
*Dame Frances Gawen, first abbess
*Dame Catherine Gascoigne, abbess, 1629-1676
*Lady Cecilia A. Heywood
*Laurentia McLachlan
*Felicitas Corrigan
*Hildelith Cumming Trivia
Stanbrook Abbey was the model for Brede Abbey in
Rumer Godden 's 1969 novel, "In This House of Brede".See also
*
List of abbeys and priories External links
* [http://www.stanbrookabbey.org.uk/ Stanbrook Abbey official website]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14244a.htm/ "Catholic Encyclopedia" entry, 1912]
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