Prayerful Churches: Buckfast Abbey

The first was Buckfast Abbey, a working Benedictine abbey set in the depths of Devon, England.

The original abbey was established there in 1018, so it will celebrate its millennium in 2018. But that millennium has not been continuous, because it was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1539 and fell into disrepair, and was even replaced by a mansion in the 1800’s.  Exiled French Benedictines settled at the Abbey in 1882, and over the next 50 years rebuilt the abbey church in white stone, manually hoisting the stones to platforms 150 feet above ground without helmets or handrails and exposed to the elements.  Stained glass windows were added.

The result is a beautiful, bright church that left me a little awestruck by its beauty.  It simply praises God and invited me to do the same.

There were side altars in the apses which were equally bright, cheerful and inviting prayer.  One was dedicated to Our Lady and Child Jesus.

Above the main altar was a ceiling mosaic reminiscent of the ceiling mosaics in St John Lateran in Rome.  I had no idea what the Latin inscriptions meant, but it was beautiful.

In 1968 the monks added a Blessed Sacrament Chapel.  About 8m square, separated from the church by a glass wall and carpeted, it was quiet after being in the church, filled as it was with visitors. The side walls were plain coloured glass panels (see sample at right).  But facing me was an entire south-facing wall of glass, 8m wide and about 5m high, of Jesus at the last supper. I heard him say “welcome, come in, rejoice”, and I fell to my knees and worshipped Him, gave thanks for simply being there in His presence.

I had to leave, because the tour group had to be back on the bus. But if I could have stayed there and kept on praying, I would have done so.

I thank God for my visit to Buckfast Abbey.