Our Lady of Hyning Monastery

Introduction

The monastery was founded in 1974 by four sisters from communities at Slough and Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.

History

In 1983, an extension was built to link a large outbuilding to the main house, now the Community area. Until 1973, the house and garden was the home of the Peel family, a country mansion in farmland.

Architecture and furnishings

In 1999, one wing of the house was gutted to install a lift and provide further accommodation and resources. In 2016, a completely new kitchen refurbishment was completed.

Parish life

In 2006 the community at Slough was closed and several sisters from Hyning went to form a new community at Brownshill, Gloucestershire, while several sisters from Slough came to join the remaining community. The main house serves as the guesthouse, while the sisters used the servant quarters. In 2021 the refurbishment of the guesthouse began and was finished in October 2022. The community numbers 9: 8 Solemnly professed Sisters and 1 Young Professed, with one sister living nearby in Nazareth House, Lancaster.

The community welcomes single women aged 18–45 to share in prayer, work and life to experience monastic life and support the community. The present prioress moved from La Plaine in August 2022, having been Prioress here previously in 2006–2008.