St Cecilia's Abbey

Introduction

St Cecilia's Abbey in Ryde, within the Diocese of Portsmouth, was built by the exiled nuns of Ste-Cécile and solemnly dedicated in 1907.

History

In 1927, the priory was erected to the status of an abbey, and Mère Ambrosia Cousin was elected the first Abbess. In 1930, under Mère Ambrosia, the community's boarding school was ended as the community moved towards a purely contemplative life. In 1950, the abbey was aggregated to the Solesmes Congregation. A sister plays Widor's Toccata on the organ of St Cecilia's Abbey.

Music and liturgy

The community uses Gregorian chant and the Latin language for all liturgical worship. The community deliberately keeps the rest of the liturgy in Latin, except for the Mass readings and Patristic readings in the Divine Office, which are in English.

The community follows the pattern of daily communal prayer laid down by St Benedict, made up of psalms, Scripture readings and prayers. The pattern of the day is established by the Liturgy of the Hours, with times of prayer spread throughout the day.

Visitors are encouraged to attend Mass and share in the Divine Office, which at St Cecilia's is sung in Latin in Gregorian Chant. The community's choir mistress says that anyone can learn to sing the Chant.

Parish life

The community's chief source of income is making and selling altar breads for Mass. The community reads British Catholic weeklies and some French and American Catholic monthly magazines. The community's reading in the refectory at supper is in French.

The Garth, adjacent to the monastery, offers self-catering accommodation to those seeking prayer, silence and reflection with God. Retreatants at the Garth attend daily Mass and share in the hours of the Divine Office, and can pray in the Church or at the Garth, which has a library for lectio divina. After a preliminary visit, young women who desire to seek God in Benedictine monastic life may apply to spend some time inside the enclosure.

Visiting

The monastery has a small but varied shop stocking the monastery's products and other items. The shop sells home-made products including hand-made scented soaps, wax melts, candles, wooden items with pyrography designs, plaques painted in egg tempera, home knits and soft toys. The shop stocks Crucifixes, Rosaries and other devotional items, including some bought directly from the Holy Land. The shop stocks good Catholic books, including books written by members of the community, and has a second hand book section that serves as a book exchange.

Greetings cards from the Printery are available in the shop, and more can be ordered including memorial cards. The Abbey Scribes are happy to take Calligraphy commissions. Altar Breads, Cards, CDs and Books written by the nuns can be ordered by email or by post.

Office booklets with English translations are provided for visitors. Visitors are welcome to browse in the small gift shop.