St Augustine's Abbey, Ramsgate facts for kids
| Divine Retreat Centre, UK | |
St Augustine's Church, St Edward's Presbytery, and the gate of The Grange: opposite the abbey site
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 Location in Kent
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 1856 |
| Disestablished | 2010 |
| Dedicated to | Augustine of Canterbury |
| Diocese | Southwark |
| People | |
| Important associated figures | Edward Pugin Peter Paul Pugin |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Active |
| Functional Status | Retreat Centre |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Architect | Edward Pugin Peter Paul Pugin |
| Site | |
| Coordinates | 51°19′43″N 1°24′37″E / 51.328644°N 1.410229°E |
St Augustine's Abbey, also known as Ramsgate Abbey, was once a Benedictine monastery in Ramsgate, England. It was built in 1860 by Augustus Pugin. This building is very important, so it is listed as a Grade II historic building. It was the first Benedictine monastery built in England after the Reformation, a time when many monasteries were closed.
In 2010, the monks who lived there moved to a new place called St Augustine's Abbey in Chilworth, Surrey. Today, the original abbey site is owned by the Vincentian Congregation from Kerala, India. Across the road from the abbey is the church of St Augustine. This church belongs to the Archdiocese of Southwark and is a special place, a shrine dedicated to St Augustine of Canterbury.
Contents
History of St Augustine's Abbey
Building the Abbey and Church
Augustus Pugin, a famous architect, built his home, The Grange, in Ramsgate. He also built St Augustine's Church right next door. Before he passed away in 1852, he gave the church to the Catholic Diocese of Southwark. His home, The Grange, stayed with private owners.
In 1856, Bishop Thomas Grant of Southwark invited a group of Benedictines to come to Kent. These monks were part of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation. Their job was to start a new monastic community and take care of St Augustine's Church.
The abbey building was constructed across the road from the church. This new building was designed by Augustus Pugin's sons, Edward Pugin and Peter Paul Pugin.
Growth of the Monastery
The monastery became independent in 1876. This meant it could make its own decisions. In 1881, it was given the title of a priory. Later, in 1896, Pope Leo XIII made it an official abbey.
The monks also started a school in 1865. This school taught students for many years, until it closed in 1995.
In 1936, a group of Benedictine nuns arrived in nearby Minster-in-Thanet. They built a priory, a type of monastery for nuns, on the site of an old 7th-century abbey. They named it St Mildred's Abbey.
Leaders of St Augustine's Abbey
The head of an abbey is called an Abbot. Here are some of the abbots who led St Augustine's Abbey:
- James Alcock: 1872 - 1893
- Thomas Bergh: 1893 - 1909
- Erkenwald Egan: 1909 - 1934
- Frederick Lewis Taylor: 1934 - 1954
- Anselm Thatcher: 1954 - 1957
- David Parry: 1957 - 1972
- Gilbert Jones: 1972 - 1988
- Bernard Waldron: 1988 - 1996
- Laurence O'Keeffe: 1996 - 2008
- Paulinus Greenwood: 2008 - present. He continued as abbot at the new St Augustine's Abbey in Chilworth.
Monks Move to a New Home
On October 15, 2009, the monks decided to move. They wanted a smaller property that would be easier to take care of. On December 23, 2010, they agreed to move to a former Franciscan friary in Chilworth, Surrey.
When they moved in 2011, they kept the name. They called their new home St Augustine's Abbey. This helped keep the history of the abbey in Ramsgate alive in their new location.
St Augustine's Church Becomes a Shrine
After the monks moved, St Augustine's Church was given back to the Archdiocese of Southwark. On March 1, 2012, Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark made the church a special shrine. It became a place to honor St Augustine of Canterbury.
On May 20, 2012, the church was officially opened as a shrine. During a special service, a relic (a sacred item) of St Augustine was placed in the church. This relic was given by the Oxford Oratory.
The monks sold the abbey building to the Vincentian Congregation in 2014. It is now called the Divine Retreat Centre UK. This center hosts Catholic retreats, which are special times for prayer and reflection.
Gallery
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View of the abbey
See also
- The Grange, Ramsgate
- St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth
- St Mildred's Abbey, Minster
- Subiaco Cassinese Congregation
