Crawley Down Monastery facts for kids
The Monastery of the Holy Trinity, Crawley Down is an Anglican monastery (a special home for people who dedicate their lives to God) located in Crawley Down, West Sussex, England.
This monastery belongs to a group called the Community of the Servants of the Will of God (CSWG). This group is an Anglican order that follows the Benedictine rule, which is a set of guidelines for monastic life. Both men and women live together in this monastery, following the same rules. It is a semi-eremitical community, meaning members spend some time alone in quiet reflection.
Who Leads the Monastery?
From 1973 to 2009, the head of the monastery, known as the Father Superior, was Father Gregory CSWG. He stepped down in 2008 due to health reasons and passed away on August 12, 2009. After Father Gregory, the community chose Father Colin to be their new Superior, and he has led the monastery ever since.
Daily Life and Worship
Every day, the monastery community holds a special sung service called the Divine Office or Liturgy of the Hours. They use a type of singing called Gregorian chant, which has a unique, ancient sound. Their worship style is similar to Orthodox Christian traditions. Several evenings a week, the community also says the Jesus Prayer. This practice shows their connection to the Patriarchal Stavropegic Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Tolleshunt Knights, Essex, England.
