Alton Abbey
Encyclopedia
Alton Abbey is an Anglican Benedictine
Monastery
(founded in 1895) in the village of Beech
, near Alton
, Hampshire
, England
. The community was founded by The Rev Charles Plomer Hopkins in 1884 as the Society of Saint Paul in Rangoon, Burma ) and Culcutta (India
) to work with destitute or distressed merchant seafarers and their chaplain
s. The first house was opened in 1894 in Barry Dock, South Wales
(now closed) to continue this work.
, using Tintern Abbey
as a model. The first monks did much of the construction using local flint
, including a flint and brick Gatehouse (1901). The Abbey church, designed by John Cyril Hawes (flint and brick, built 1901-07), is dedicated to "Our Lady and Saint John".
Having observed the Rule of St Benedict from 1893 the community formally adopted it on 28 January 1981.
In 1989 another charity undertook the society's work with seafarers. The community now runs retreats and courses for the public in guest rooms.
The Abbey was formerly within the large parish of Bentworth
until its decline in the mid-19th century.
bread), in the gardens, in the retreat house, writing (painting) icons, or making incense
. Those who wish to join the community spend time as an aspirant, postulant
and novice while they consider their commitment. With the agreement of the other monks, they make Benedictine Vows of Stability, Conversion of Life, and Obedience for a period of three years. After that three year period is complete, they may make life-long vows with the agreement of the community.
and ordained, over 18 years of age), who join the community, but live outside the monastery. They commit to follow life rules similar to those followed by the monks, based on the Rule of St Benedict
and adapted for their specific life circumstances.
A thinly disguised version of Alton Abbey appears in "Sinister Street"(pub.1913) by Sir Compton Mackenzie.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
(founded in 1895) in the village of Beech
Beech, Hampshire
Beech is a village and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies 2 miles west of Alton, just west of the A339 road.The nearest railway station is 2 miles east of the village, at Alton.-History:...
, near Alton
Alton, Hampshire
Alton is a historic market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of the English county of Hampshire. It had a population of 16,584 at the 1991 census and is administered by East Hampshire district council. It is located on the source of the River Wey and is the highest town in...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The community was founded by The Rev Charles Plomer Hopkins in 1884 as the Society of Saint Paul in Rangoon, Burma ) and Culcutta (India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
) to work with destitute or distressed merchant seafarers and their chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
s. The first house was opened in 1894 in Barry Dock, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
(now closed) to continue this work.
History
A quieter house was needed and the site in Beech was acquired in 1895. This was initially used to care for retired or ill seamen in temporary wood and metal buildings. The current buildings were designed by Sir Charles NicholsonSir Charles Nicholson, 2nd Baronet
Sir Charles Archibald Nicholson, 2nd Baronet , became well-known as an ecclesiastical architect. He was the son of Sir Charles Nicholson, 1st Baronet, and brother of the stained glass artist Archibald Keightley Nicholson and of Sir Sydney Hugo Nicholson, organist at Westminster Abbey and founder of...
, using Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey was founded by Walter de Clare, Lord of Chepstow, on 9 May 1131. It is situated in the village of Tintern, on the Welsh bank of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, which forms the border between Monmouthshire in Wales and Gloucestershire in England. It was only the second Cistercian...
as a model. The first monks did much of the construction using local flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
, including a flint and brick Gatehouse (1901). The Abbey church, designed by John Cyril Hawes (flint and brick, built 1901-07), is dedicated to "Our Lady and Saint John".
Having observed the Rule of St Benedict from 1893 the community formally adopted it on 28 January 1981.
In 1989 another charity undertook the society's work with seafarers. The community now runs retreats and courses for the public in guest rooms.
The Abbey was formerly within the large parish of Bentworth
Bentworth
Bentworth is a village and large civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It lies approximately west of the town of Alton and about 8 miles south of Basingstoke, just off the A339 road. The parish covers an area of , of which about are woodland...
until its decline in the mid-19th century.
Monks
The community of monks (men) live in the enclosure and work in the bakery (communionEucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
bread), in the gardens, in the retreat house, writing (painting) icons, or making incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
. Those who wish to join the community spend time as an aspirant, postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
and novice while they consider their commitment. With the agreement of the other monks, they make Benedictine Vows of Stability, Conversion of Life, and Obedience for a period of three years. After that three year period is complete, they may make life-long vows with the agreement of the community.
Oblates
Oblates are men (layLaity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
and ordained, over 18 years of age), who join the community, but live outside the monastery. They commit to follow life rules similar to those followed by the monks, based on the Rule of St Benedict
Rule of St Benedict
The Rule of Saint Benedict is a book of precepts written by St. Benedict of Nursia for monks living communally under the authority of an abbot. Since about the 7th century it has also been adopted by communities of women...
and adapted for their specific life circumstances.
Companions
Companions are women and men who make a commitment to regular worship with the monks, either at the Abbey or in their life outside.Prayer and Church services
Except for those times when the whole monastery closes for retreat, there are six services open to the public each day: Morning Prayer (Matins & Lauds), Conventual Mass, Mid-day Office, Evening Prayer(Vespers) and Compline. In September 2010 Dom William Hughes was elected 3rd Abbot of Alton.A thinly disguised version of Alton Abbey appears in "Sinister Street"(pub.1913) by Sir Compton Mackenzie.