From the tranquillity of Buckfast Abbey to the bustling energy of London’s Docklands, Fr Gregory (a member of the community), along with Hamish and Ben from our Media Department, embarked on a mission to share our story with a unique international gathering. Attending the ‘Word on Fire Evangelisation & Culture Conference’, they set up their stall and carefully arranged their display ahead of engaging with visitors from far and wide. Armed with books, banners, and boundless enthusiasm, they introduced attendees to the Abbey’s deep spiritual heritage, inviting them to experience its monastic life, retreats, and stunning architecture.
Read on to hear, first hand, of their exciting weekend adventure ….
“It’s a rare thing for any of us to step from the serene order of Buckfast Abbey into the controlled chaos of a conference centre the size of a small kingdom – yet there we stood. The towering glass and steel of London’s Docklands replaced our familiar stone cloisters. The chants of the Divine Office were temporarily swapped for the mechanical hum of the Docklands Light Railway. Fr Gregory, Ben Davies, and I attended the Word on Fire Evangelisation & Culture Conference with one purpose: to share Buckfast Abbey with the world.
Packing as lightly as we dared, we filled Fr Gregory’s well-travelled rolling suitcase with leaflets, books, banners, and of course, a monastic habit. By the time we were done, it resembled more of a medieval siege engine (in weight) than it did a travel companion. Upon arrival, we set up with haste, bracing for the rising tide of lanyards assembling beyond the doors.
We had little idea what to expect on that first day. Each of us readied ourselves for conversations, unsure of the crowd but certain of our message. By the end of the second day, we swayed with exhaustion, aching feet, dry throats, and rumbling stomachs, but carried within us a strange, unshakable energy. The sheer enthusiasm of those we met left its mark.
They had come from everywhere: Southern California; Melbourne, and countless places between – all eager to hear about Buckfast. We spoke of its monastic life, its retreats, its hospitality, its remarkable church and grounds. Again and again, we asked, ‘‘Have you ever been to Buckfast Abbey?’’ and watched as faces lit up, some with fond memories, others with a longing for a place they had never seen. The idea of Buckfast alone was enough to stir something in people, and it was a privilege to witness.
Before we knew it, it was time to pack up. As we boarded the DLR back to Paddington, our success was measured in weight – Fr Gregory’s suitcase no longer a threat to public safety. Promoting Buckfast Abbey at a conference is, perhaps, not what I imagined myself ever doing. But if you love a place, you will go where you must to see it known.”
Hamish Gregory
