Ampleforth Abbey

4 February 2012

Our Community

The Abbey of St Laurence at Ampleforth is the largest Benedictine community in Britain. 78 men live according to the Rule of St. Benedict under an Abbot. It is a vowed life of  prayer and work (ora et labora is a Benedictine motto) which we undertake together, by God's grace, as brothers.

We are situated in an attractive valley on the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors national park.

St Benedict

An enigmatic but intimate figure, a teacher and a father

The Rule

For 1,500 years this text has inspired many with its wisdom

Vows

A monk makes three vows before God and his Saints

A day in the life of a monk

St Benedict believed in a balance in the monk's life between prayer, work and reading...

Vocations

God has always called out to the hearts of men to follow him

Oblates

Men and women who desire a spiritual friendship with our community may become oblates

Our History

We have existed as a community for 400 years, until 1793 in France and then at Ampleforth.

Our Patrons

We depend on the intercession of our patron saints