Abbots – Buckfast Abbey

Abbots

‘The Abbot must have the utmost solicitude and exercise all prudence and diligence’ (The Rule of St Benedict)

Saxon Benedictines
Cistercian
Benedictine

Saxon Benedictine Abbots

Alwin (Aelwinus) first mentioned as having attended Shire-mote in Exeter in about 1040. Known from the Doomsday Book to have been Abbot in 1066.

1066

Eustace first mentioned in a Totnes Deed. He was Abbot when Buckfast was affiliated to the Abbey of Citeaux (Cistercian).which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

11th Century

Cistercian Abbots

Buckfast still followed the Rule of St. Benedict, as the Cistercians also live by that Rule.

William - acted as Papal Legate

1190

Nicholas - elected in 1205 first mentioned in a Totnes Deed. He was Abbot when Buckfast was affiliated to the Abbey of Citeaux (Cistercian).which was created for the bliss of souls like mine.

1205

Michael - mentioned in the Chartulary of Buckfast Abbey (C.B.A.) in 1223

1223

Peter (I) - mentioned in the C.B.A. 1242

1242

William (II) - mentioned in the C.B.A. 1249

1249

Howell - mentioned in the Leger Book (L.B.) of Buckfast (Brit. Mus.) - no dates

No dates

Henry - mentioned in C.B.A. 1264 and 1269

1265

Simon - mentioned in C.B.A. and Petre Archives (P.A.) between 1273 and 1280

1273

Robert - mentioned in L.B. and Exeter Episcopal Registers (Ep. Reg.) between 1280 and 1283

1280

Peter de Colepitte - mentioned in the P.A. between 1291 and 1313

1291

Robert II - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1316

1316

William Atte Slade - mentioned in the Banco Rolls 1327

1327

Stephen I - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1328

1328

John of Churchstowe - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1332

1332

William Gifford - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1333

1333

Stephen of Cornwall - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1348

1348

Philip (Beaumont) - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1349

1349

Robert Symons - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. and P.A. between 1355 and 1390

1355

William Paderstow - mentioned in the Ep. Reg and P.A. 1395

1395

William Slade - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. and by Leland - "Com. de Scriptoribus Britanniae" and Boase - "Annals of Exeter College, Oxford" between 1401 and 1415

1401

William Beaghe - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. and P.A. between 1415 and 1432

1415

Thomas Roger - mentioned in Ep. Reg. and P.A. He was Prior Adminstrator c. 1422 - 1432, and blessed as Abbot in 1432

1432

John Ffytchett - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1440

1440

John Matthu (Matthew) - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1449

1449

John King - mentioned in the Statuta Cap. Gen. Ord. Cist. from 1464 to 1498

1464

John Rede (I) - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1498

1498

John Bleworthy - mentioned in 1505 - Cal. of Early Chancery Proceedings, also in Powderham MSS

1505

Alfred Gyll - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1512

1512

John Rede (II) - mentioned in the Ep. Reg. 1525

There is no record of death or resignation from his office

1525

Gabriel Dunne (or Doone) - imposed on the Community in 1535 by Thomas Cromwell (State papers).He surrendered the Abbey to the King on 25th February, 1539

1539

Benedictine Abbots

Boniface Natter - elected Abbot 19th November 1902. Died 4th August, 1906

1902

Anscar Vonier - elected Abbot 14th September 1906. Died 26th December, 1938

1906

Bruno Fehrenbacher - elected Abbot 10th January 1939. Resigned 1956. Titular Abbot of Tavistock until his death on 18th July, 1965

1939

Placid Hooper - elected Abbot 5th January 1957. Ruling Abbot until 1976.Titular Abbot of Tavistock until his death on 11th December, 1995

1957

Leo Smith - elected Abbot 30th January 1976. Ruling Abbot until 1992. Titular Abbot of Colchester until his death on 10th July, 1998

1976

David Charlesworth - elected Abbot 3rd January, 1992. Ruling Abbot until 1999. Titular Abbot of Malmesbury

1992

David Charlesworth - re-elected 27th January 2009. Ruling Abbot until 2017.

Abbot Administrator 2017-2019.
Titular Abbot of Tewkesbury.

2009

David Charlesworth - re-elected Abbot April 9th 2021

2021

Other Buckfast Superiors:

Thomas Duperou Superior, 1882 till 1884 (became Abbot of Sacred Heart, USA).

Leander Lemoine Superior 1884 till 1885.

Benedict Gariador Prior, August 1885, till February 1899.

Leander Lemoine Superior, March 1899.

Ignatius Jean Superior, April 1899, till March 1900 (not a Monk of Buckfast).

Leander Lemoine Superior, March 1900, till July 1902 (was also Abbot Visitor).

Savinian Louismet Superior, July 1902, till November 1902.

Sebastian Wolff Prior Administrator, January 2000 until December 2003.

Richard Yeo Abbot Administrator, February 2007 until January 2009.

Francis Straw Prior Administrator, 2019 until April 2021.

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