Abbey News

14 Oct 2020

ONLINE BOOKSHOP OPEN

While our visitor centre and shop remain closed due to Covid-19, we wanted to remind everyone that our online shop is very much open. At present, a selection of books and gifts can be purchased through our website here. Titles include The Webbs of Odstock, 200 Monks, The English College at Lisbon and Monks in […]

28 Sep 2020

NEWS FROM DOM JOHN

Dom John is currently studying in Italy and has sent an interesting update on his studies. Padua is located in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. It is a delightful city, home to one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1222. As a result, the place feels very young: going out for […]

03 Sep 2020

FROM THE ARCHIVES: THE OLDEST IMAGE

An item which always causes debate in the abbey archives is the first known image of the Downside community. Was it taken in 1854, 1855 or 1857?! Many copies of the image exist here at Downside, but each one is labelled with a different date. However, the image which hangs in the monastery bears the […]

28 Aug 2020

NEWS FROM DOWNSIDE

The separation of Downside Abbey and Downside School in September 2019 has enabled the Monastic Community to concentrate on discerning their future. They have now unanimously decided to make a new start and to seek a new place to live. To lead them in the renewal of their monastic vocation and in their search for […]