St Hugh's Charterhouse facts for kids
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Parkminster |
| Order | Carthusian |
| Established | 1873 |
| Mother house | Grande Chartreuse, Isère, France |
| Dedicated to | Hugh of Lincoln |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Site | |
| Location | Parkminster, near Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex, England |
| Coordinates | 50°58′22.84″N 0°16′57.85″W / 50.9730111°N 0.2827361°W |
St Hugh's Charterhouse, Parkminster is a special monastery in West Sussex, England. It is the only Carthusian monastery built in the United Kingdom after the English Reformation. This means it's the only one of its kind from that time period. It is also a very important historical building, listed as Grade II* listed.
Contents
What is St Hugh's Charterhouse?
St Hugh's Charterhouse is a home for Carthusian monks. These monks live a very quiet life, focusing on prayer and reflection. The monastery is often called Parkminster. It is located near a village called Cowfold.
History of Parkminster
When was it built?
The monastery was started in 1873. The land, once called Picknoll, was bought to build homes for French Carthusian monks who had left their own country. Construction began in 1876 and finished in 1883.
Who designed the monastery?
A French architect named Clovis Normand designed the buildings. He had a lot of money to create the monastery. The buildings look like old French Gothic Revival churches.
How many monks live there?
The number of monks living at Parkminster has changed over the years. In 1883, there were 22 monks. By 1932, there were 43. In 2021, about 27 monks lived there.
What's inside the monastery?
The church at St Hugh's Charterhouse holds special items called relics. These include relics of Saint Hugh of Lincoln, Saint Boniface, and the Virgin Mary. The church also has a very tall spire, which is about 203 feet (62 meters) high.
The monastery has a large library filled with rare books and old writings. There is also a chapter house, which is a meeting room. It is decorated with pictures showing how some monks from the past were martyred (died for their beliefs).
The Great Cloister
One of the most amazing parts of the monastery is the Great Cloister. It is a long, covered walkway, about 550 meters (1,800 feet) long. This makes it one of the longest cloisters in the world! It connects the 34 small homes (called hermitages) where the monks live to the church and other buildings. Inside the cloister area, there are orchards and the monks' burial ground. The total length of all the cloisters combined is 1,012 meters (3,320 feet).
Using Solar Power
In 2024, the monastery added 500 solar panels. These panels help the monastery use clean energy. They are expected to prevent over 2,300 tonnes of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) from entering the air over 20 years. This is good for the environment!
See also
- List of Carthusian monasteries
- List of monasteries dissolved by Henry VIII of England
- List of monastic houses in England
- List of places of worship in Horsham District
External sources
