St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde facts for kids
St Cecilia's Abbey in 2017
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Order | Benedictine Order |
| Established | 1882 |
| Dedicated to | Peace of the Heart of Jesus |
| Diocese | Roman Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth |
| People | |
| Important associated figures |
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| Architecture | |
| Architect | Edward Goldie |
| Site | |
| Location | Ryde |
St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde is a special place where Benedictine nuns live. It is an abbey located on the Isle of Wight in England. Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to God and live in a community.
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Life at St Cecilia's Abbey
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St Cecilia's Abbey was started in 1882. It is part of the Benedictine Order, which follows the rules of Saint Benedict. The nuns here live a traditional life of prayer, work, and study. They focus on celebrating their religious services every day.
They sing Mass and the Divine Office using Gregorian chant. This is a very old style of church music. The nuns believe that their quiet, prayerful life helps the wider Church.
The nuns support themselves through their work. They make special breads used in church services, called altar breads. They also do artistic work like calligraphy (beautiful handwriting) and make candles. Other tasks include gardening, taking care of an orchard, and beekeeping.
A Look at the Abbey's History
The story of St Cecilia's Abbey comes from two main sources. One is from a Belgian nun named Florence de Werquignoeul in the 1600s. The other is from Dom Prosper Guéranger, who helped bring back the Benedictine order in France in the 1800s.
Florence de Werquignoeul's Influence
Florence de Werquignoeul was an important abbess (a leader of nuns) who helped to restart the Benedictine order. In 1604, she and four friends started a new monastery in Douai, France. They wanted to follow the Rule of Saint Benedict very strictly.
Later, in 1882, a monastery founded by her followers in Liège, Belgium, started a new community in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight. This new community was called Pax Cordis Jesu. It is the beginning of the St Cecilia's Abbey we know today.
For a while, the nuns ran a small school for girls. In 1922, the community grew too big for their Ventnor home. They moved to Appley Ryde. This new location became an abbey in 1926.
Dom Prosper Guéranger's Work
Dom Prosper Guéranger helped restart the Benedictine Order in France in 1833. The order had not existed there for over 40 years. He bought a priory (a small monastery) in Solesmes, France. This priory later became an abbey.
He also helped start a community of Benedictine nuns at the Abbey of Ste-Cécile de Solesmes. Both Dom Guéranger and Florence de Werquignoeul wanted to go back to the old ways of the Benedictine tradition. They believed that following the Rule of Saint Benedict was the only way to be true Benedictines.
Moving Due to French Laws
Around 1901, there were laws in France that made it difficult for religious groups to stay. Because of these "anti-clerical laws," the nuns from Ste-Cécile de Solesmes had to leave France. They found a temporary home at Northwood House in Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.
When it became clear they would be in exile for a long time, the French nuns bought Appley House near Ryde. They built cloisters (covered walkways) and a church there. The church was designed by Edward Goldie and was dedicated to St Cecilia in 1907.
The Abbey in Ryde Today
In 1922, the nuns from Ste-Cécile went back to France after 20 years. The community from Ventnor, Pax Cordis Jesu, then moved into the empty property at Appley. This became St Cecilia's Abbey, Ryde.
In 1950, St Cecilia's Abbey officially joined the Solesmes Congregation. This meant they were closely connected to the monasteries in Solesmes, France.
In 1974, Pope Paul VI encouraged churches to sing simple Gregorian melodies. To help with this, the nuns at St Cecilia's Abbey made a recording of their chant. This was the first time nuns in the UK had recorded their music. They made nine more recordings between 1980 and 1992.
The nuns also create beautiful hand-lettered pieces of art using calligraphy.
Sister Mary David (1957-2017) lived at the abbey for 22 years and was its prioress (a leader of the community).
International Connections
In 1967, St Cecilia's Abbey helped start the first Benedictine community for Indian nuns. This was in Bangalore, South India. This new community, called Shanti Nilayam (which means "House of Peace"), became an abbey in 1993. It has since started several other communities itself. These houses are part of a larger group called the Benedictine Confederation.
