When we arrive at the beginning of October here at Stanbrook, Wass, we are aware Summer is definitely over; now we are into the beautiful season of Autumn. The trees are turning and the leaves are shouting their last hurrah, as they put on their final great show of colour, wearing their cloak of gold. […]
The Funeral of Dame Hilda Wood 27.02.1934-03.09.2025 Readings: Wisdom 3: 1-6, 9 Psalm 26/27 ‘The Lord is my light and my help’ 2 Cor 4: 14-5:1 John 6: 51-58 22 September 2025 Venus, shining low in the eastern sky, ushered in a perfect September day for today’s gathering to honour and pray for Dame Hilda […]
“Always be ready to give the reason for your hope” says Saint Peter. What is the reason? It is the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ. It is there that we see the triumph of his lowliness, the victory he won for us as one of us, stripped powerless, abused, derided, to teach us that […]
In the early hours of 3 September 2025, our dear sister, Dame Hilda Wood, died peacefully at Apley Grange Nursing Home, Harrogate. She was in her 92nd year and the 69th of her monastic life. May she rest in peace. Details of the funeral to follow. A full obituary will appear in a future edition […]
All year we have been reflecting on the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ which Pope Francis proposed for this Jubilee Year, 2025. The feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord lends itself most gloriously to this theme as the Lord shows us his radiant face and form, even his clothes dazzling bright, as the hope of […]
ST BENEDICT: PATRON OF ALL EUROPE Context and history On 24 October 1964 Pope Paul VI declared St Benedict, ‘Patron of All Europe’ via the Apostolic Letter, Pacis Nuntius (‘Herald of Peace’). On that same day the Pope had re-consecrated St Benedict’s monastery of Monte Cassino which had been destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944 […]
We both reflected upon our day at Mount Grace Priory on our way home and without a doubt we both focussed in on how special it was to share midday prayer together in such a beautiful, peaceful and prayerful place. However, a ‘place’ is just that – it is a point of meeting; a location […]
On Thursday 3 July we were pleased to welcome Brs Meinrad and Gildas, both junior monks in their first vows, from Belmont Abbey, who were visiting at Ampleforth Abbey for a few days and came across to Stanbrook with Fr Gabriel (Everitt) to spend part of the day with us and particularly to meet up […]
July 2025: St Benedict and the Jubilee Year of Hope When we first moved to Yorkshire the forest behind the monastery was very dense. It was easy to get lost when you walked in the woodland rides unless you left yourself guides for the return journey, or, safest of all, that you made sure when […]
For 50 days the Paschal Candle has stood in church near the ambo – a strong reminder of the presence of the Risen Christ in our midst. After Vespers on Pentecost Sunday the candle will be transferred to the entrance of the church and will continue to remind us that ‘we are an Easter people’ […]
10 MAY 2025, 12th Annual STUDY DAY for community, oblates and friends: Fr AUGUSTINE BAKER, an ENDURING LEGACY? DR ROWAN WILLIAMS On a glorious May Day about 40 participants gathered in the Conference Room for the second Jubilee Study Day on our Cambrai heritage (the first was on Dame Gertrude More with Dr Jacob Riyeff […]
The psalm we sing on Fridays at Compline ends “Be strong, let your heart take courage, all who hope in the LORD.” (Psalm 31(30): 25 Abbey Psalter) I enjoy feeling built up by the strength this psalm imparts. In the English Standard Version (ESV) the same verse reads: “Be strong, and let your heart take […]