Curzon Park Abbey facts for kids
 Location in Cheshire
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Curzon Park Abbey |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 24 June 1868 |
| Dedicated to | Our Lady Help of Christians |
| Diocese | Shrewsbury |
| Controlled churches | Curzon Park Abbey |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Mother Hilda Stewart |
| Site | |
| Location | Curzon Park, Chester, England |
| Coordinates | 53°10′51″N 2°54′14″W / 53.180833°N 2.903889°W |
Curzon Park Abbey is a special place where nuns live and pray. These nuns are part of the Benedictine order, which is a very old group of Christian monks and nuns. Curzon Park Abbey is one of only three such places for nuns in the English Benedictine Congregation.
Contents
The Story of Curzon Park Abbey
How It All Began
The story of Curzon Park Abbey started a long time ago. It began on 24 June 1868. At first, it was an Anglican Benedictine convent. A convent is a community where nuns live. This first home was in a place called Feltham, in Middlesex, England.
A person named Father Ignatius founded this community. It was known as Feltham Priory or Feltham Nunnery. The nuns dedicated their home to two important saints: Saint Mary and Scholastica, who was the twin sister of Saint Benedict.
Moving and Changing Faiths
The nuns did not stay in Feltham for long. After five years, they moved to different places. They lived in Twickenham, West Malling, and Milford Haven. Finally, in 1920, they settled in Talacre, North Wales.
During these years, something very important happened. In 1913, the nuns became part of the Roman Catholic Church. This was a big change for their community.
Joining the Benedictine Family
In 1921, the nuns took another important step. They were officially accepted into the English Benedictine Congregation. This meant they became part of a long and respected tradition. It also gave them a stronger Catholic identity.
Later, there were big changes in the Catholic Church. These changes were called Vatican II. They led to a simpler way of life for many religious communities, including the nuns. Today, the nuns at Curzon Park Abbey continue to adapt and find their role in modern society.
A New Home in Chester
In July 1988, the community of nuns moved again. They found a new, smaller home in Curzon Park, Chester. This is where the Abbey is located today.
The main building of the Abbey used to be a large house. It was built in the late 1800s and is made mostly of red brick. The nuns also have a small retreat house here. A retreat house is a quiet place where people can go to pray and think. In 1997, a special chapel was built on the Curzon Park Abbey site for the nuns to worship.
