Worth Abbey facts for kids
 |
|
 Location in West Sussex
|
|
| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| 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 special place where Roman Catholic monks live. They follow the Rule of St Benedict, which is a guide for how monks should live. The abbey is located near Turners Hill village in West Sussex, England.
It was started in 1933 and is part of the English Benedictine Congregation. In 2020, there were 21 monks living there.
Contents
History of Worth Abbey
Worth Abbey began as a "daughter house" of Downside Abbey in Somerset. This means it was started by monks from Downside Abbey. In September 1933, 17 monks came from Downside to a property called "Paddockhurst."
The leader of Downside Abbey, Abbot John Chapman, helped start this new community. The new owners could not use the name "Paddockhurst." So, they chose "Worth" because it was in Worth parish. The first leader, Dom Anselm Rutherford, named the new monastery "Our Lady, Help of Christians."
Becoming an Independent Abbey
In 1957, Worth became an independent priory. This meant it could make its own decisions. Dom Victor Farwell became its first leader. Then, in 1965, Worth officially became an abbey. Farwell was chosen as its first abbot, which is the head of an abbey. He led the community until 1988.
Worth Abbey also started a senior school in 1959, which is now called Worth School. In 1965, the monks also began to help lead the local church parish in Worth.
Helping Others Around the World
In 1968, Worth Abbey started a special connection with Peru. Monks from Worth built a farm and a mission in a faraway place called the Apurimac valley. They also started a monastery, a large church parish, and a health center in Lima.
Since 1990, the Worth community has not directly managed these projects in Peru. However, they still help through a charity called "Outreach Peru."
Community and Outreach
In 1971, the "Worth Abbey Lay Community" began. This idea 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. They started an experimental urban 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 main church at Worth Abbey was built between 1964 and 1974. A famous English architect named Francis Pollen designed it. The church is dedicated to "Our Lady, Help of Christians." It was officially set aside for worship in 1975.
Today, it is a Grade II listed building, which means it is an important historical building. It is very large, about 17,000 square feet, and can seat around 900 people. The church was designed for the monks to pray together. It also serves as a church for the local community.
The church has a unique design, with a stone altar in the center. This "church in the round" style was common after the Second Vatican Council. However, it was quite unusual for churches in the UK at that time. Building the church took a long time because there was not enough money. This meant some original design ideas had to be changed.
In 2011, the monks updated and improved the church. Another well-known architect, Thomas Heatherwick, led this project. The renovated church got new lights and a better sound system. New wooden features were also added. The benches and choir stalls were made from dark American walnut wood with special ash wood details.
Television Shows About the Abbey
Worth Abbey has been featured in television shows. These shows were a mix of "documentary" and "reality television."
The first series, called "The Monastery," was shown in May 2005 on BBC Two. It was very popular, so a second series, "The Monastery Revisited," came out in June 2006. A third series, "The Big Silence," was broadcast in 2010. The main monk in these shows was Abbot Christopher Jamison. He also wrote popular books based on the shows, like "Finding Sanctuary: Monastic steps for Everyday Life" and "Finding Happiness: Monastic Steps for a Fulfilling Life."
Life at Worth Abbey Today
The monks at Worth Abbey are Benedictine monks. They focus on public prayer, which they call the Opus Dei or Work of God. This is a central part of their daily lives.
Like other monasteries in the English Benedictine Congregation, they also spend time each day in private prayer. They practice Lectio Divina, which is a prayerful way of reading the Bible. The monks share their traditions with others through writing, preaching, and welcoming visitors.
Retreats and Gardens
Worth Abbey has a retreat center called the "Open Cloister." It offers programs for people who want to spend a day, a weekend, or a week in quiet reflection and prayer.
There is also a Quiet Garden on the abbey grounds. Both the Quiet Garden and the Abbey Church are open for people to visit.
Images for kids
