Abbey News

18 Jul 2026

Sir John Rutter at Downside Abbey

We were delighted to welcome Sir John Rutter to Downside Abbey to launch our 2025 Music Festival. Abbot Nicholas Wetz welcomed Sir John, on behalf of the monastic community. Sir John presided over a summer’s evening of sacred choral music in our basilica. We were pleased to welcome hundreds of visitors, who came to share […]

03 Jul 2026

Abbot Charles Fitzgerald-Lombard (1941 – 2026)

† Anno Domini MMXXVI die 27 mensis junii Sanctae Matris Ecclesiae Sacramentis munitus pie decessit Reverendissimus Dominus Domnus Carolus Fitzgerald-Lombard Abbas Abbatiae Sancti Gregorii Magni apud Downside Decimus Abbasque titulo Glastoniae Congregationis Angliae Ordinis Sancti Benedicti aetatis suae anno LXXXVI professionis LXII sacerdotii LIX. Pro cuius anima vestras orationes et sacrificiorum suffragia de caritate precamur […]

26 Jun 2026

Blessed Philip Powel (1594-1646)

Powel, Philip (1594 – †30 June 1646) Memoria – 26 June Philip Powel, a monk of the monastic community of St Gregory the Great, was martyred for the Faith in 1646. Powel was born in Tralon, Brecknockshire, and went to school in Abergavenny. He was sent to study law at the Temple, with the great […]

28 May 2026

Downside Abbey Festival 2026