Worth Abbey facts for kids
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 Location in West Sussex
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| Monastery information | |
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| Full name | Abbey of Our Lady, Help of Christians |
| Other names | Worth Abbey |
| Order | Benedictine |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Established | 1933 |
| Mother house | Downside Abbey, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset |
| Dedicated to | Our Lady, Help of Christians |
| Diocese | Arundel and Brighton |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Rt. Rev. John Chapman |
| Abbot | Rt. Rev. Mark Barrett, O.S.B., Ph.D. |
| Bishop | Rt. Rev. Richard Moth, D.D. |
| Architecture | |
| Functional Status | Abbey |
| Architect | Francis Pollen |
| Site | |
| Location | Paddockhurst Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4SB |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 51°5′33.16″N 0°7′5.94″W / 51.0925444°N 0.1183167°W |
| Grid reference | TQ318342 |
| Website | Worth Abbey |
Worth Abbey is a home for Roman Catholic monks in West Sussex, England. It is also known as the Abbey of Our Lady, Help of Christians. These monks follow special rules called the Rule of St Benedict. The abbey was started in 1933 and is part of a larger group called the English Benedictine Congregation. In 2020, about 21 monks lived there.
Contents
The History of Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey started as a 'daughter house' of Downside Abbey in Somerset. This means it was created by monks from Downside. In September 1933, 17 monks from Downside Abbey moved to a place called Paddockhurst. This property was near Turners Hill village. The leader of Downside Abbey, Abbot John Chapman, helped them start this new community.
The rules for buying the property said the new owners could not use the name "Paddockhurst". Since the new priory was in the Worth parish, they chose the name "Worth". The first leader of Worth, Dom Anselm Rutherford, chose "Our Lady, Help of Christians" as the special patron for the new monastery.
Becoming an Independent Abbey
In 1957, the Worth community became an independent priory. Its first leader was Dom Victor Farwell. Then, in 1965, Worth was officially named an abbey. Farwell was chosen as its first abbot. He led the community until 1988. He helped guide Worth Abbey through important changes during the Second Vatican Council.
In 1959, the monks started a senior school, which is now known as Worth School. By 1965, the monks also began to help lead the local Worth parish. In 1968, Worth Abbey started a special connection with Peru. Monks from Worth built a farm and a mission in the remote Apurimac valley. In Lima, they started a monastery, a large parish, and a health centre. Since 1990, the Worth community no longer directly manages these projects in Peru. However, they still help through a charity called "Outreach Peru".
Community Life and Outreach
In 1971, the "Worth Abbey Lay Community" began. This group allowed young people who were not monks to take part in monastic life. By 2003, it became an independent group called the "Lay Community of St Benedict". Between 1983 and 1990, Worth Abbey also worked with the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. Together, they created a special city monastic community in East Dulwich.
Leaders of Worth Abbey
Here is a list of the abbots who have led Worth Abbey:
- Rt. Rev. Victor Farwell, O.S.B. (1965-1988)
- Rt. Rev. Dominic Gaisford, O.S.B. (1988-1994)
- Rt. Rev. Stephen Ortiger, O.S.B. (1994-2002)
- Rt. Rev. Christopher Jamison, O.S.B. (2002-2010)
- Rt. Rev. Kevin Taggart, O.S.B. (2010-2013)
- Rt. Rev. Luke Jolly, O.S.B. (2013-2021)
- Rt. Rev. Mark Barrett, O.S.B. (2021–present)
The Abbey Church Building
The abbey church is a key part of the Worth Abbey buildings. It was built between 1964 and 1974. The famous English architect Francis Pollen designed it and other nearby buildings. The church was dedicated to "Our Lady, Help of Christians". It was officially opened for worship in 1975. Today, it is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is historically important. It is 17,000 square feet and can seat about 900 people.
The church needed a special design. It was built for the monks to pray together daily. It also served as a parish church for the local community. The original design had a "church in the round" shape with a stone altar in the middle. This was common after Vatican II, but unique for churches in the UK. A lack of money caused delays in building. It also meant that some original design ideas could not be built.
In 2011, the monks renovated the church. This year-long project was led by another famous English architect, Thomas Heatherwick. The updated church got new lighting and a sound system. These changes made worship easier. New woodwork was also added. The pews and special seating for the monks were made from dark American walnut wood. They also had unique ash wood details.
Worth Abbey on Television
Worth Abbey has been featured in television shows. These shows mixed "documentary" style with "reality television". The first series, called "The Monastery", was shown in May 2005 on BBC Two. It had three parts. Because it was so popular, a second series, "The Monastery Revisited", aired in June 2006. A third series, "The Big Silence", was shown in 2010.
The main monk in these shows was Abbot Christopher Jamison. He wrote popular books based on the shows. These books included "Finding Sanctuary: Monastic steps for Everyday Life" and "Finding Happiness: Monastic Steps for a Fulfilling Life".
Life at Worth Abbey Today
Like all Benedictine monks, the monks at Worth Abbey focus on public prayer. This is called the Opus Dei or Work of God. It is central to their daily lives. Like other monasteries in the English Benedictine Congregation, they also spend time each day in private prayer. They also practice Lectio Divina, which is a prayerful way of reading the Bible.
The monks share their traditions with others. They do this through writing, preaching, and offering hospitality. Their retreat centre, called the "Open Cloister", offers different retreat programs. These can be for a day, a weekend, or a week. There is also a Quiet Garden on the Abbey grounds. Both the Quiet Garden and the Abbey Church are open for people to visit.
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