Communities
A monastic Benedictine community of nuns and monks in a quiet English village near Bedford town. The original community brought together many individuals gifted in the arts. Today Turvey prints, embroidery/weaving and iconography are well known and contribute an extra dimension to the beauty of the place. Interfaith dialogue was an integral part of the community from the start, and this is even more important today.
A large community in the Theravada tradition, based near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The community consists of monks, nuns and lay members, and has a full retreat and visitors’ schedule. The retreat schedule is typically booked up many months in advance.
Part of the wider Emmaus movement founded by Abbe Pierre, Emmaus Carlton community was founded in 2001 in large part due to the energies of Dom Gregory van der Kleij OSB, late of Turvey Abbey, which is close by. Providing hope and work for homeless people, the community is a hopeful place to visit. And I can personally recommend the truly awesomely wonderful cakes in their restaurant.
A Franciscan community that hit British TV screens in 2006 with a documentary series The Convent. This community has a very special place in my heart as it was there that I took what I told myself was a quiet holiday in the late 1980s. After years of drifting and no religious practice, this very down-to-earth place helped me back on a spiritual road, even if it is extremely rocky at times.
The definitive guide to intentional residential communities of all kinds in the United Kingdom.