During the Summer months the river is so low as to make one believe it could be crossed by jumping over!
The students and staff of Allen Hall stayed at Buckfast so as to attend the Ordination of their former Rector as Bishop of Plymouth. On the morning of the 28th they were given a tour of the monastery.
Trusham Church was one of the manors held by the Abbot of Buckfast from before the Norman Conquest until 1539. It is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The church has been recently refurbished. Fr. Abbot visited the church on the eve of its re-dedication.
The recently ordainded Bishop of Plymouth, the Rt. Rev. Mark O'Toole was invited by Fr. Abbot to celebrate Mass and preach in the Abbey Church - to meet the people and the Monastic Community.
Buckfast Abbey is on the edge of the moor and just inside the Dartmoor National Park.
The Staff and Guild Members of the School of the Annunciation celebrated Mass with Fr. Abbot in the Abbey Church on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. The Staff made their Profession of Faith. The Mass was followed by a reception.
Mother Joanna Jamieson, former Abbess of Stanbook Abbey, painted a mural depicting the rebuilding of Buckfast Abbey Church. She was assisted by Sister Mary Stephen CRSS. The mural is on the South wall of Buckfast's Grange restaurant.
The Blessing took place at the 12th Century North Gate. The Community, Abbey Choir and congregation then processed to the West Doors of the Abbey Church. We were blessed with excellent weather this year!
Mass of the Lord's Supper and Procession to the Altar of Repose.
The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday: the readings from Scripture which include the Passion; the Solemn Intercessions, the Unveiling and Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion.
The ceremonies began outside the West Front of the Abbey Church. This year there was a Reception into Full Communion with the Catholic Church after the Blessing the the Baptismal Water.
A large congregation gathered with the Community for Pontifical Mass in the Abbey Church. The music for all the Holy Week and Easter Services was provided by the Abbey Choir, under the direction of Philip Arkwright, Masser of the Music and Organist at Buckfast.
Woodland paths near the River Dart. The bluebells are particularly prolifoc this year, and the air is full of the strong scent of wild garlic.
The Northgate House is being refurbished and extended to accommodate 31 twin en-suite rooms. The project should be completed after Easter 2015.
The CWL come on Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Buckfast each year. This year the Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark O'Toole, the new Diocesan Bishop (of Plymouth).
Godspell will be performed outside at Buckfast by the Unleashed Theatre Company from Monday 26th May until Saturday 31st May.
Counterpoint, under the direction of David Acres, performed a concert of Spanish Polyphony - the Glories of 13th to 17th century music. The concert, which in usual circumstances, would have been in the Abbey Church, was in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Buckfast Abbey this year presented the Unleashed Theatre Company in Godspell. This was a new 'Broadway' version. The musical was conceived and orginally directed by John-Michael Teblak, this version contains music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. It was directed by Martin Harris and the musical director was Mark Thompson. The performances ran between 26th - 31st May 2014.
Some of the Plymouth Diocesan Priests with Bishop Mark O'Toole came on retreat at Buckfast. A group of the Diocesan Clergy come every year for a weeks retreat.
The statue of Our Lady, Mater Dei, came from the Bridgettine Convent - Syon Abbey - at South Brent. It is cast iron, but painted to look like stone!
The procession was held on the eve of Corpus Christi, 21st June. The Solemnity was celebrated on Sunday 22nd June. It was part of a Day with Mary.
27th - 29th June. The Diocese of Plymouth in partnership with Buckfast Abbey hosted a festival of Catholic religious thought and expression, the second to be held at the Abbey. Over 40 speakers gave presentations.
The new Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev. Robert Atwell came on a pilgimage visit on 2nd July. He will be istalled as Bishop of Exeter on Saturday 5th July.
A week of theology, philosophy and sunshine led by Dominicans - organised by Fr. Nicholas Crowe OP. This year, with the Abbey Church more accessible after restoration and cleaning, the group joined the monastic community for Vespers in the Choir Stalls. Before each evening service the group were given a practice with the Master of the Abbey Music.
St. Anthony's, named after Saint Anthony of Egypt, monk-hermit, was originaly a farm building. It was, in part, a piggery and stables. St. Anthony is the patron of swineherds. Later the building contained the Honey Department, the Tonic Wine Department and a Book Bindery. Now it houses the various Abbey Offices.
The School of the Annunciation - Centre for the New Evangelisation at Buckfast held five Summer Schools this year. These were: Finding Faith through the Liturgy; Philosophy for Faith - An Introduction; Finding Faith through Theology; Philosophy for faith - Going Deeper; Finding Faith through Sacred Art. The School offers a Diploma in the New Evangelisation beginning September 2014.
Cardinal Pell and Bishop Mark O'Toole, Patrons of the School of the Annunciation, were guests of honour at a dinner held at the St. Cuthbert's Centre at Buckfast on the evening before the Foundation Mass.
The latest addition to St. Mary's School (the Buckfast Parish VA School) is the new hall, previously a new playground, offices and class areas had been added. The school is part of the Buckfast Abbey Trust but functions as a diocesan school and is now part of the Diocesan Academy of Schools.
On the Feast of our Lady's Birthday, Monday 8th September 2014, Cardinal Pell, member of the Holy Father's Council of Cardinals and the Prefect for the Secretariat for the Economy, was the Principal Celebrant at the Foundation Mass.
A patterned marble floor is being laid around the High Altar. This will complete the marble pavements laid through the Choir Stalls, the Lantern Crossing and the Sanctuary. The new floor will replace a temporary wooden floor laid in the late 1970s when the area around the High Altar was adjusted for concelebration. The High Altar itself was not moved, but to make the altar free standing the reredos was moved to stand against the East end of the Santuary.
The Lord-Lieutenant and Deputy Lieutenants at Buckfast. After lunch a number of DLs and the Lord-Lieutenant had a tour of parts of the Monastery and were shown the new hydro-electric turbine.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament - from after Mass until Vespers - takes place every year on the Solemnity of Christ the King.
St Nicholas Day is the Education Department's special event for Christmas. The emphasis of the day is on ‘giving' rather than ‘receiving' and the day starts with pupils bringing simple gifts such as socks, pens and toothbrushes which will distributed to children living in Zambia by our partner charity. Pupils then take part in a variety of craft workshops with a range of Abbey staff from different departments including the gardens, offices and catering. They even sign a pledge sheet promising that they will give away some of the things they have made. These sheets are handed to the Abbot at the final celebration in the Abbey Church. This year nearly 200 pupils attended.
The Bee Department welcomed monks and department course participants and friends to their new premises for tea and nibbles!
The Voluntary Choir gathered for a practice and Christmas buffet on Thursday 18th December.
Buckfast now has a Continuo Organ from Kenneth Tickell and Company for use in the Abbey Church and in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
The Shepherds at the Manger and the candle lighted Cloisters on Christmas Eve
The Cosmatesque pavement around the High Altar has been completed for Christmas 2014.
