Abbey News

Victorian Society visit Downside Abbey

We were pleased to welcome the Victorian Society to Downside Abbey last week as part of their AGM, held in Bath. Around 100 members (of which we are one!) visited the basilica on a bright and sunny Sunday after Mass. The Victorian Society are a national charity dedicated to fighting for Victorian and Edwardian architecture […]

Heritage Open Day at Downside Abbey

Earlier in the month Downside Abbey took part in the national Heritage Open Day scheme. We welcomed over 100 people to our Grade 1 listed Abbey Church and minor-basilica. As part of the Open Day programme, sponsored by the National Trust, we opened up our monastic gardens and cemetery for the public. These areas are […]

St Oliver Plunkett, Bishop and Martyr

Memorial of St Oliver Plunkett Oliver Plunkett was the last priest to be judicially executed at Tyburn, London, in 1681. After his consecration at Ghent as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all Ireland he made his progress off to Ireland, via London, where he was received by Queen Catherine of Braganza, a great patron […]

Summer Mass Times

The following are the times of Holy Mass served from Downside Abbey for the Summer: St Benedict’s, Stratton on the Fosse Saturday 4.30 pm (First Mass of Sunday) Tuesday 12.00 pm Thursday 6.30 pm Abbey Church Sunday 11.00 am Wednesday 8.35 am Friday 9.30 am (Crypt Chapel) Holy Ghost, Midsomer Norton Saturday 9.30 am