HOME Page revised 29/06/09

Links with Cleeve Abbey: The Monastic Hours

In the years between 1995 and 2007 on the 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption or Falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary the choir of St.Andrew's sang seven of the monastic offices of the church to plainsong - some at the parish church, the others in nearby Cleeve Abbey.

Many visitors joined us over the years for all or part of the day and said how much it meant to them to see the Abbey once more being used for worship - its real purpose.

The Timetable for the Day was as follows

6.30am LAUDS in St. Andrew's Old Cleeve (Duration approx. 50mins)

7.15am Simple breakfast at Hybeck Old Cleeve.

8.30am PRIME in St. Andrew's (Duration approx. 35mins)

The Frater, Cleeve Abbey, Washford.

(In the care of English Heritage)

The following services took place at Cleeve Abbey, Abbey Road, Washford (signed on the A39).

10.15am TERCE in the frater Cleeve Abbey (Duration approx. 20 mins)

11.30am SEXT followed by THE HOLY EUCHARIST in the frater Cleeve Abbey

1.00pm Lunch in the garden (if fine), of Magnolia House opposite the Abbey

1.45pm Recreation - (this is also a chance to explore the Abbey further).

3.00pm NONE in the frater at Cleeve Abbey (Duration approx. 20 mins)

Recreation

5.00pm VESPERS in the frater Cleeve Abbey - leave Abbey about 5.50pm.

6.30pm Supper in the Church Room Old Cleeve

8.00pm COMPLINE in St. Andrew's Church finished at around 8.30pm.

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The Gatehouse Cleeve Abbey. Fr. Alan Mills, guest celebrant and servers at the 1999 Eucharist

The 2006 celebration: Revd. Judy Henning Rector, was joined

by Canon John Pinder as Guest Celebrant and preacher

Although we are not at present able to complete a full cycle of services we hope to continue to mark the Feast of the Assumption or Dormition of Our Lady by singing monastic Vespers in the Abbey at 5pm. We feel it is so important for local churches to keep their links with the Abbey so that its spiritual dimension can be maintained - it is in a sense, only through worship - their original purpose, that the buildings can come alive.

We are also privileged to hold occasional open air celebrations of the Eucharist in the Cloister Garth and to sing the office of Evensong in the Frater once or twice a year.

St. Andrew's church has a particular link with the Abbey as from the 12th century until the dissolution in 1537, the Abbots of Cleeve were also the Rectors of Old Cleeve; firstly sending monks to take the services at the parish church, and then later, from 1315 appointing clergy to the parish. As the present day choir of the parish singing services week by week in St. Andrew's  we feel a great sense of oneness and continuity with our monastic forebears as we try to continue their work in this place. 

Claire Timms (Chorister)

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