Benedictines Celebrate 100th Anniversary at Quarr Abbey.  Quarr Abbey 1901-2007

Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving on Friday 2nd March at Quarr Abbey, on the Isle of Wight, to mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the Monks at Quarr in 1907.

A special commemoration was made of Bishop Cahill, who as then Bishop of Portsmouth gave a warm welcome to so many persecuted men and women Religious who came from France at the beginning of the 20th Century.

The Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Solesmes were exiled from France in 1901 following the introduction of anti-religious laws, the community found refuge on the Isle of Wight.  In 1907 the monks moved from their temporary home at Appuldurcombe in the south of the island to their present site at Quarr.

At the Mass of Thanksgiving religious sisters from four convents Sisters of Mercy, Newport; Presentation Sisters, Ryde; Sisters of Christ, East Cowes; and one sister from St Cecilia’s Benedictine Abbey in Ryde, were invited to join the monks in choir for the Mass.

Abbot Johnson added:

“Today, as part of our homely celebration of this centenary year marking the return of monks at Quarr, we are giving thanks for the welcome given by the diocese of Portsmouth to all religious, and remembering especially Bishop Cahill.”

Good News for Quarr Abbey Heritage Project.

Heritage Lottery Fund has approved a project planning grant of £50,000 to the Quarr Abbey Heritage Project, to pay for a conservation plan to include the abbey church and ancient ruins situated in the grounds.

The report to be drawn up during the next twelve months will evaluate the heritage at Quarr and identify and prioritise what needs consolidation or improvement.

The Prior, Fr Gregory Corcoran, said:

“This grant will pay for the production of a detailed report that will enable Father Abbot and the Chapter to judge whether it is appropriate for us to proceed with an application for a major grant.

Visit: Quarr Abbey Online

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