Mucknell Abbey facts for kids

Mucknell Abbey is a special Anglican Benedictine monastery located in Worcestershire, England. It is home to both monks and nuns. The community's official name is The Society of the Salutation of Mary the Virgin.

A New Home: The Abbey's History

The monks and nuns of Mucknell Abbey used to live at a place called Burford Priory. This old building was very large and difficult to take care of. It was also not very practical for the older members of the community.

So, in 2008, they decided to sell Burford Priory. They bought an old farm called Mucknell Farm to build their new home. While the new abbey was being built, the community lived in a rented house nearby. Mucknell Abbey was finished and ready for them to move in by late 2010.

The Abbey Buildings

The new monastery was built on the site of the old Mucknell Farm. The original farm buildings were just empty shells. The old farmhouse was too damaged to fix, so it was taken down. In its place, a new community building was built. This building holds the monks' and nuns' living spaces, a common room for relaxing, the laundry, and workrooms.

The other three sides of the farm courtyard were turned into useful spaces. One part became a Guest Wing for visitors. Another section was made into the Refectory, which is the dining hall. The last part holds the Library, the Chapter Room (where meetings are held), and the main offices.

The Oratory

A new Oratory, which is a small chapel for prayer, was built right in the middle of the courtyard. You can get to it from the courtyard or from inside the monastery. The first stone for the Oratory was placed by the Bishop of Worcester, Dr John Inge, on May 13, 2010. The Oratory was officially opened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, on March 25, 2011.

Living Green: Sustainability at the Abbey

Being kind to the environment is a very important part of life at Mucknell Abbey. The new abbey was built with many features to help them live in an eco-friendly way.

The buildings have excellent insulation to keep them warm and save energy. Their heating system uses a biomass boiler, which burns natural materials like wood. Solar panels on the roof help create electricity. They also have solar water heating panels that warm their water using the sun's energy, especially in summer.

The abbey also collects rainwater in a huge 5000-litre tank. This collected water is used to flush toilets and water the kitchen garden. There's another very large tank, holding 45000 litres, just for fire-fighting. All the wastewater from the abbey is cleaned on-site using a special bio-digester. This means the abbey doesn't need to be connected to the public sewer system.

The community grows many of their own vegetables in their kitchen garden. They also have an orchard that will provide fruit once it grows. Both the garden and orchard are managed using methods that are good for the environment.

The Abbey Community

The community at Mucknell Abbey includes monks and nuns who have made special promises. There are also novices, who are people learning about monastic life. Another group is called 'alongsiders'.

Alongsiders live with the community for different reasons. Some might be thinking about becoming a monk or nun themselves. Others simply want to experience what monastic life is like for a while. Alongsiders usually stay for one to twelve months. While they are there, they follow the community's daily schedule and help with the work.

A Day at the Abbey: The Timetable

Like other religious groups, the main purpose of the community at Mucknell Abbey is prayer. They call this the "work of God." During the day, the community gathers six times to sing prayers, known as the Offices, and for Holy Communion.

Work periods happen in the morning and afternoon. In the morning, they work between the prayers called Terce and Holy Communion. In the afternoon, they work between None and Vespers. After the evening prayer of Compline, the community observes "Greater Silence" through the night until the next morning's Terce.

There is also time set aside for quiet solitude each day. This happens in the morning between prayers and in the afternoon between Vespers and supper. On Thursdays, the community usually meets for a group activity called Lectio Divina, which is a way of praying with the Bible. After this, they have "corporate tea," which is a chance for the community to talk and share conversations, as quiet is often kept during other times.