St Mary's Abbey, Colwich facts for kids
St Mary's Abbey frontage in 2025
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 Location in Staffordshire
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| Monastery information | |
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| Full name | St Mary's Abbey, Colwich |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 1623 |
| Dedicated to | St Mary |
| Diocese | Birmingham |
| Controlled churches | St Mary's Abbey |
| Site | |
| Location | Colwich, Staffordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°47′24″N 1°59′22″W / 52.7900°N 1.9895°W |
St Mary's Abbey was a special home for Roman Catholic nuns in Colwich, Staffordshire, England. These nuns belonged to the English Benedictine Congregation. The abbey first started in 1623 in a place called Cambrai in what was then the Spanish Netherlands. It closed its doors in 2020.
During a big event called the French Revolution, the nuns had to leave France. They eventually found a new home in Colwich in 1836. They lived there for many years.
Contents
History of St Mary's Abbey
How the Abbey Began
St Mary's Abbey for English Benedictine nuns began in 1623. At that time, it was very difficult for women in England to become nuns because of persecution. So, they went to Cambrai.
By 1645, the community in Cambrai had grown quite large. There were about 50 nuns living there. They faced very tough conditions and were quite poor. In 1652, some of the nuns moved to Paris. There, they started a new community called the Priory of Our Lady of Good Hope.
Moving to England
During the French Revolution, the abbey in France was shut down. The nuns were even put in prison for a while. When they were set free in 1795, they moved back to England.
First, they lived in Dorset, then in Cannington in Somerset. Finally, in 1836, they settled at Mount Pleasant in Colwich. This building was an old house that had been rebuilt in a Gothic style.
In 1928, the community was given a higher rank. It became an Abbey and was renamed St Mary's Abbey. The nuns also had a smaller sister house, called the Priory of St. Scholastica, in Atherstone. However, the nuns from Atherstone moved back to Colwich in 1967.
The Abbey's Closure
In May 2020, the number of nuns at St Mary's Abbey became very small. There were only five nuns left, and two of them were unwell. Because of this, the leaders of the church agreed to let St Mary's Abbey join with another abbey called Stanbrook Abbey.
The nuns decided to close the monastery completely. This happened on October 31, 2020. Two of the unwell nuns went to live at Oulton Abbey. Two other nuns moved to Stanbrook Abbey. The abbess, Dame Davina Sharp, stayed at the Colwich site for another year. After the closure, the property was put up for sale. Some of its old furniture was sold at an auction.
A New Beginning
In June 2024, an exciting announcement was made. A group of Benedictine nuns from Missouri, USA, called the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, decided to take over St Mary's Abbey. This became their very first home in Europe.
Abbey Buildings
The abbey building was first built around 1750 as a house. Over time, it was made much larger. The main parts of the abbey are made of stone. Some sections are brick, and others are covered in a smooth finish called stucco. All the roofs are made of slate.
The main building looks like a Gothic castle. It has two tall towers at the front. Between the towers is a section with a pointed roof, called a gable. At the back, there are many buildings arranged around a central courtyard. Tall brick walls surround the entire property. The abbey buildings are considered important historical structures. Even the small chapel in the grounds, where people are buried, is also a protected historical building.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories
- Listed buildings in Colwich, Staffordshire
