Advent

The start of the Christian Year invites us to think about time, and what jams things up and prevents our going with the flow of God's grace. We ought to think how we get out of shape spiritually, and what stops us climbing the mountain of the Lord. Read More >>

Silent Prayer at Downside

Make a retreat at Downside from the 17th - 19th of December and discover more about our rich tradition of contemplative prayer. Read More >>

Christ the King

Who do you say Christ is? If we see Jesus in terms of our own power games and ideas of status and security then we've misunderstood the nature of his kingship. Read More >>

The Prior's Northern Mission!

Dom David crossed the border and addressed the Chaplaincies at St Andrews and Edinburgh Univerisities. He focussed on what it means to be alive to God, how faith in God influences the shape of our lives, and how the monastic life seeks to bring about real human flourishing in our day. Read More >>

Christmas goods & Art exhibition

At the Downside Abbey Pastoral Centre & Bookshop on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December, 10.00am – 4.00pm. For more information please click here.

Journey to Jerusalem

Nic Klein begins his pilgrimage to Jerusalem from Downside. Read More >>

Tutorials for Tutors

Dom Richard and Dom James spent two weeks with the Manquehue Apostoloic Movement in Chile. They spent more time getting to grips with the Manquehue Movement’s innovative approach to building real and lasting communities using the Rule of St Benedict and based on Christ-centred friendship and lectio divina. Read More >>

Bermondsey Comes to Downside

The Downside-Fisher Youth Club from Bermondey in South East London had a successful summer camp at Downside… Read More >>

Friendship in Christ

Having returned from their formative visit to Chile, the Juniorate has learnt much about what it is that makes the Manquehue Apostolic Movement, a lay Benedictine organisation based in Chile, so successful. Read More >>

St Benedict for Today: Monastic Experience Retreats at Downside

Visit Downside from the 10th - 12th of September and consider the place of St Benedict in the Church's mission to the world today. Read More >>

Martyrdom Conference in Honour
of St. John Roberts

Downside Abbey will be hosting a conference on Martyrdom in honour of two Downside martyrs, St. John Roberts and St. Ambrose Barlow on Friday 8 October. Read More >>

Downside Pilgrimage to Cofton Park

The Abbot led a pilgrimage of monks, Downside parishioners, staff and school children to see the Holy Father at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on the occasion of the Beatification of the Oratorian priest and cardinal John Henry Newman. Read More >>

Papal Visit: further information

Launch of the publication, Magnificat. Read More >>

Finding Monastic Happiness with Abbot Christopher Jamison

This year the former Abbot of Worth, Christopher Jamison, led the community’s weeklong retreat. Read More >>

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI state visit

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI makes his State Visit to the United Kingdom from the 16th to the 19th of September. Read More >>

Journey in Faith

Downside Abbey launches its popular catechetical programme, Journey in Faith, this Autumn starting on the 11th September 2010 at the Abbey’s Pastoral Centre. Read More >>

Bishop Emeritus of Clifton, Mervyn Alexander RIP (1925 – obit. 2010)

Bishop Mervyn Alexander, Emeritus Bishop of Clifton, died on 14 August after a long illness. He was eighty five years old. Read More >>

Juniors' Meeting 2010

Junior Benedictine monks and nuns recently had a meeting at Douai Abbey to explore the theme: 'RB73: St Benedict's Further Reading?' Read More >>

Stratton-on-the-Fosse: Land of Jam and Honey!

The recent warm dry spell has sent some members of our wider working community into overdrive: our honey bees! And the strawberry patch is ripe for the picking... Read More >>

St Patrick’s Community Mission Team

Once again the St Patrick’s Community Mission Team has been over from Ireland to lead a week long mission at the Holy Ghost Church in Midsomer Norton. Read More >>

Juniorate Formation Visit to Chile

Br Bartholomew and Br Joshua are continuing their monastic formation with an unusual experience with the Manquehue Apostolic Movement in Chile accompanied with the Prior, Dom David. They are visiting the Manquehue schools and also sharing the Benedictine life in the Oblate communities and seeing how Benedictine life reaches out to people of all ages. More will follow on their return.

JOURNEY IN FAITH

An informal series of talks and discussions for anybody looking to explore questions of Catholic faith will commence on Saturday 1st May at 9.30am in the Pastoral Centre. Read More >>

ST GEORGE'S DAY - 23rd APRIL

St George stands as an example of the courage (and courtesy) we need in order to fight for life in its Easter fullness. His example of Christian love shows us the mind of Christ, who loved not his life even unto death. This is the mind which stands in contrast to competition and spitefulness, vanity and jealousy. It is the mind for which, especially at a time of General Election, we need to pray. Read More >>

UP WITH LOW SUNDAY!

Mass on Low Sunday, 11th April, was celebrated with a beautiful contribution to the music by St Peter’s Consort, a choir led by Daniel Justin, who went from our school to be Organist at Wakefield Cathedral. Read More >>

'Let Him Easter In Us'

Happy Easter from the Downside Community! We welcomed hundreds of friends of the monastic community to Downside in order to celebrate the Sacred Triduum with us. A number of talks and sermons from the Triduum are now available online. Read More >>

Somerset Churches Together

Church leaders from Somerset met at Downside to talk and pray with one another. Read More >>

NEWLY PROFESSED

Congratulations to Brother Bartholomew Preston and Brother Joshua Morales Rizo who made their Profession on 12th March. Read More >>

CLOISTER GARTH

At last the sun is shining as never before in the Cloister Garth. Read More >>

RETURN TO CHILE

Farewell to our friends from Manquehue. They returned to Chile on 28th February. Read More >>

HOME GROWN AND HAND MADE

Traditional craftsmanship stands at the centre of the meetings in the new Pastoral Centre. Read More >>

UNITY IN WELLS CATHEDRAL

The monks sang Vespers in Wells Cathedral during Christian Unity Week. Read More >>

WHAT ON EARTH IS THE CHURCH FOR?
HEAVEN KNOWS!

A five week course on The Church. To find out more click here.

AT YOUR SERVICE

The new Pastoral Centre and Bookshop opens… Read More >>

Monastic Experience in Advent

Seven men visited the monastery this Advent to share in our life of prayer… Read More >>

A Catalonian Connection

We were delighted to welcome Brother Sergi D’Assis and Sra Pilar from the famous monastery and choir school of Montserrat… Read More >>

More Chileans come to Downside!

Magdalena Barriga and Catalina Quiroga have come to join their fellow Manquehue members working in the school to promote spiritual friendship in Christ through lectio divina… Read More >>

‘See, amid the winter’s snow…’

Christmas at Downside was very white indeed… Read More >>