Prinknash Abbey
Encyclopedia
Prinknash Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine
monastery
situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham
.
For nearly nine hundred years the land known as Prinknash has been associated with Benedictine monks. In 1096 the Giffard family, who had come to England with William the Conqueror, made a gift of the land to Serlo
, Abbot
of St. Peter's
, Gloucester
. A large part of the present building was constructed during the abbacy of William Parker, last Abbot of Gloucester, around the year 1520.
It remained in the abbey's hands until the suppression of the monasteries
in 1539 when it was rented from the Crown by Sir Anthony Kingston who was to provide forty deer, annually, for King Henry VIII
, who used the House as a hunting lodge.
Prinknash Park continued to be used as a home for the gentry and nobility of Gloucestershire
during the next few centuries and each generation left its mark upon the property.
On 1 August 1928 a Deed
of Covenant was made out by the twentieth Earl of Rothes
, the grandson of Mr. Thomas Dyer Edwards, a Catholic convert, whose wish was that Prinknash should be given to the Benedictine monks of Caldey Island
. These monks had converted to the Catholic Faith
in 1913 and were led by Ælred Carlyle, a convert also, later to become a famous Abbot. Caldey Island was eventually sold to the Cistercian monks and on 26 October 1928 six Benedictine monks arrived from Caldey Island to convert the house at Prinknash into a monastery. The rest soon followed and after some years of poverty they managed to purchase all the land around the house to make Prinknash as it is today. The bones of Richard Whiting
, the last Abbot of Glastonbury are kept at Prinknash.
The community continued to grow, beginning with twenty-five monks. There are now twelve at Prinknash itself, but more are spread over three monasteries, a foundation being made at Farnborough in May 1947, and in Pluscarden
in Scotland later that year. In 1939 a Foundation stone for a new Abbey was laid at Prinknash by Cardinal Hinsley
, but the second World War intervened, and previous building plans were eventually drawn up by F. G. Broadbent. The monks moved into the new Abbey in 1972 and the old Abbey was converted into a retreat and conference centre, known as "St. Peter's Grange", after being re-roofed and furnished. On the Feast of SS Peter and Paul (30 June) 2008 the Community moved from the 1972 building to that known as St Peter’s Grange.
The Community celebrates Missa Cantata on certain high Feasts and Holy Days, and on others Low Mass is said earlier in the morning, at a quarter past eight.
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...
situated in the Vale of Gloucester in the Diocese of Clifton, near the village of Cranham
Cranham, Gloucestershire
Cranham is a village in the English county of Gloucestershire. Forming part of the district of Stroud it is to be found a mile or so east of the A46 road between Stroud and Cheltenham...
.
For nearly nine hundred years the land known as Prinknash has been associated with Benedictine monks. In 1096 the Giffard family, who had come to England with William the Conqueror, made a gift of the land to Serlo
Serlo
Serlo or Sarlo is a Norman masculine given name, and may refer to:*Serlo inaugural Dean of Exeter*Serlo de Burci, Norman who became a landowner in south-west England after the Norman conquest...
, Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of St. Peter's
Gloucester Cathedral
Gloucester Cathedral, or the Cathedral Church of St Peter and the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, in Gloucester, England, stands in the north of the city near the river. It originated in 678 or 679 with the foundation of an abbey dedicated to Saint Peter .-Foundations:The foundations of the present...
, Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. A large part of the present building was constructed during the abbacy of William Parker, last Abbot of Gloucester, around the year 1520.
It remained in the abbey's hands until the suppression of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in 1539 when it was rented from the Crown by Sir Anthony Kingston who was to provide forty deer, annually, for King Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, who used the House as a hunting lodge.
Prinknash Park continued to be used as a home for the gentry and nobility of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
during the next few centuries and each generation left its mark upon the property.
On 1 August 1928 a Deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
of Covenant was made out by the twentieth Earl of Rothes
Earl of Rothes
Earl of Rothes is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1458 for George Leslie, 1st Lord Leslie. He had already been created Lord Leslie in 1445, also in the Peerage of Scotland. His grandson, the third Earl, having only succeeded his elder brother in March 1513, was killed at the...
, the grandson of Mr. Thomas Dyer Edwards, a Catholic convert, whose wish was that Prinknash should be given to the Benedictine monks of Caldey Island
Caldey Island
Caldey Island lies south of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, Wales.The island is home to a small village, but is best known for its monastery. Caldey Island is separated from the mainland by the Caldey Sound which is 1 km to 2 km wide between Caldey Island and the coast of Pembrokeshire...
. These monks had converted to the Catholic Faith
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1913 and were led by Ælred Carlyle, a convert also, later to become a famous Abbot. Caldey Island was eventually sold to the Cistercian monks and on 26 October 1928 six Benedictine monks arrived from Caldey Island to convert the house at Prinknash into a monastery. The rest soon followed and after some years of poverty they managed to purchase all the land around the house to make Prinknash as it is today. The bones of Richard Whiting
Richard Whiting (the Blessed Richard Whiting)
Blessed Richard Whiting was an English clergyman and the last Abbot of Glastonbury. He presided over Glastonbury Abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII of England, and was executed for unclear reasons in 1539...
, the last Abbot of Glastonbury are kept at Prinknash.
The community continued to grow, beginning with twenty-five monks. There are now twelve at Prinknash itself, but more are spread over three monasteries, a foundation being made at Farnborough in May 1947, and in Pluscarden
Pluscarden Abbey
Pluscarden Abbey is a Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery located in the glen of the Black Burn about 10 kilometres south-west of Elgin, in Moray, Scotland...
in Scotland later that year. In 1939 a Foundation stone for a new Abbey was laid at Prinknash by Cardinal Hinsley
Arthur Hinsley
Arthur Hinsley was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1935 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1937.-Biography:...
, but the second World War intervened, and previous building plans were eventually drawn up by F. G. Broadbent. The monks moved into the new Abbey in 1972 and the old Abbey was converted into a retreat and conference centre, known as "St. Peter's Grange", after being re-roofed and furnished. On the Feast of SS Peter and Paul (30 June) 2008 the Community moved from the 1972 building to that known as St Peter’s Grange.
The Traditional Roman Rite of Mass
Since 2002 Prinknash has seen the regular celebration of Mass in the Traditional Roman Rite. Presently a Low Mass is celebrated each Saturday at eleven o'clock and on the first Sunday of the month at three o'clock (except on certain occasions, as notified by website or telephone).The Community celebrates Missa Cantata on certain high Feasts and Holy Days, and on others Low Mass is said earlier in the morning, at a quarter past eight.