GOD GIVE YOU PEACE
Join Chilworth's Roman Catholic Benedictine monks for Sunday 10am Mass, daily 9am Mass + daily Divine Office
Welcome to St Augustine's Abbey, ChilworthMEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO PRAY HERE Daily Mass 9am, Divine Office seven times daily, Sunday Mass 10am (coffee afterwards)A living Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery near Guildford in southern England, United Kingdom, about an hour from London. Described by the BBC as a 'Prayer Powerhouse', we are an active community of contemplative monks lovingly living the Rule of St Benedict. We very much welcome and encourage new visitors, guests, pilgrims from The Pilgrims' Way as well as men thinking of becoming a monk; members of the public are welcome for daily Holy Mass & daily Divine Office. We don't run a parish.*Christo omnino nihil praeponant - let them prefer nothing to the love of Christ
AQUÍ SE HABLA ESPAÑOL
LATEST NEWS
Our very latest news, events, activities and comment
Visit and get involved with your local Benedictine monastery or convent
You can help preserve Benedictine monasticism into the future.
Roman Catholic Holy Mass: Sunday Mass is 10am, daily Mass is at 9am.
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We are over the moon with our shop customer comments - thank you!
These nuggets of wisdom from St Benedict are well worth a read......
Music at St Augustine's Abbey: Chilworth's Benedictine monks often sing and pray in Gregorian Chant as monks have done for centuries
HOLA: UK & Latin America:
help sponsor monks
from near and far
HOLA: sponsor new monks:
please donate
here
Benedictine monks at St Augustine’s Abbey, Chilworth are continuing their outreach for monastic discernment across the UK, Europe and Spanish speaking Latin America, offering men the opportunity to experience the Roman Catholic Benedictine rhythm of monastic life in the Surrey Hills near Guildford in southern England.
In the past year, three men from the UK have joined the Community as monks - a prayerful and encouraging sign of renewal, hope and growing interest in Benedictine life. The Abbey gives thanks for this, recognising that every vocation is a grace, patiently matured in God’s time. And, in addition, one longstanding potential monk is returning to us from Latin America.
Becoming a monk is neither quick nor easy. It is a path of discernment, formation, testing and conversion of life that takes many years - before solemn profession is reached. The journey unfolds gradually under the wisdom of the Rule of St Benedict and the guidance of the Abbot. It requires perseverance, prayer, study and above all a deep surrender to God’s will.
The invitation to explore monastic life at Chilworth remains beautifully simple in its first step: to stay initially in the Abbey’s monastic guesthouse or noviciate, sharing the daily rhythm of prayer, work, silence and community without obligation. Men come to do this from all over the world, sometimes visiting several monasteries, countries and communities along the way including within the UK, across Europe, throughout the Americas and elsewhere as part of their wider vocational discernment. Chilworth welcomes this fully, understanding that authentic discernment is not exclusive, but a process of listening for God’s voice wherever it may lead.
Alongside vocational outreach, the Abbey continues a flourishing pastoral mission. Spanish-language Mass is now a growing part of its liturgical life, warmly attended by Latin American natives living locally in Surrey and the South of England. Candidates who come to discern monastic life also use their time to improve their English, supporting their personal and spiritual development.
A six month residential discernment stay at Chilworth for a potential monk carries an approximate cost of £5,000 per monk, covering essential needs including travel, accommodation, food and formation support. Time spent discerning within the monastery is unpaid, offered freely in the spirit of Benedictine hospitality and vocational accompaniment.
Fr Abbot concludes simply:
“We pray to the Lord for divine assistance.”
Your generosity supports this mission of welcoming and accompaniment - sponsoring monks near and far, strengthening pastoral outreach, nurturing authentic vocation discernment and helping secure the long term monastic future for our monastery and others - always according to God’s will.
All donations to help St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth pay for a potential visit, Gift Aided if possible, can be made here
If you would like to contact Fr Abbot about the initiative or arrange your own fundraising event to support our new monks, please get in touch here
Support the monks and buy our monk-made, handmade beeswax lip balms, skin creams and furniture polish
made here at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth
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For your diaryMembers of the public and pilgrims are always welcome to daily Mass, Divine Office and our events
"And let them first pray together, that so they may associate in Peace"
It is through prayer that St Benedict shows us how a community can be brought together and also grow together. Prayer is instrumental in our day to day lives as monks, and through prayer we develop and live happily as a community.
Our Benedictine life
Delve a bit deeper into understanding monasticism......
The habit as a powerful way of communicating the values of a monk....
Why we face East when celebrating Mass
Explore your vocation; stay with us for a few days and experience monastic life at arm's length....
Experience Monastic Life: Embrace St Benedict's Rule
