O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new

St Benedict would almost certainly have known these words of St Augustine, and they continue to raise the heart to God today.

Rooted in the ancient monastic tradition and transplanted to this stunning location, the Stanbrook Community invites you to join us in creating a new setting for our journey together into God’s eternal beauty. In these pages we wish to share something of the wonder of creation in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and to make available some of the riches our Christian monastic heritage.

Benedictine life

Monastic life is a combination of many different elements and as Benedictines we try to keep these in balance and harmony so that we live in a way that reflects our commitment to Prefer Nothing Whatever to Christ.
We pray that in exploring this new website you will discover more about our way of life and different ways in which you can be supported in your faith and connected with us.

Please be patient as we grow in confidence and proficiency to add new content to the site.

Our shop

We sell a wide range of books and cards for all occasions. Some of the crafts practised by sisters in the community are also on sale, weaving, calligraphy, poetry and photography.
If you can’t find what you are looking for please do ask, we may be able to help!

Rule of St Benedict for the day

Above all things let him have humility, and if he have nothing else to give, let him give a good word in answer; for it is written: A good word is above the best gift.2 Let him have under his care all those things which the abbot has assigned to him, but presume not to deal with what he has forbidden to him. Let him give the brethren their appointed allowance of food without any arrogance or delay, that they may not be scandalized, mindful of what the Scripture saith that he deserves who shall scandalize one of these little ones.3 If the community be a large one, let helpers be given him, so that by their assistance he too may fulfil with a quiet mind the charge that has been committed to him. Let those things which have been asked for and those things which have to be given, be asked for and given at the proper time; so that no one may be troubled or vexed in the house of God.