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Buckfast Abbey, Devon

When Henry VIII decided he needed to divorce Catherine of Aragon, he also needed to change England's religion. This had to be done to escape the influence of the pope who refused to grant Henry a divorce. Henry forced his changes through with ruthlessness. But in some ways he also rode an historical trend which saw feelings turning against the Catholic Church in a more general sense. Protestantism was on the rise in Europe, and to a lesser extent in England. Centuries of Church corruption had alienated many. It was then necessary for Henry to build on contemporary suspicions about the Church by spreading various propaganda tales about the dissolute lives that monks were leading. Henry's chancellor Thomas Cromwell compiled reports on all this apparently shocking behaviour, presenting the king and Parliament with what they wanted to see. But even after this softening up process, the changes Henry brought about caused great turbulence. The comforts of continuity and tradition are central to religion's appeal, and this is what Henry was taking away from many people.

Between 1536 and 1541 all monastic communities in England were systematically broken up, and most of their buildings destroyed. Some survived by being donated to educational institutions, as happened at Christ Church Oxford. But many ancient buildings, and their extensive libraries were lost. Buckfast Abbey, founded during the reign of King Canute was one of the many hundreds of monasteries demolished. The stone abbey here had been built in 1147, and since that time an order of Cistercian monks had made a prosperous living trading in fish and wool. But then on 25th February 1539 Henry's agents arrived at the abbey and declared it dissolved. The monks were forced to leave, their abbey was looted, and then destroyed.

 

Shop at Buckfast Abbey

In 1882 six Benedictine monks arrived at Buckfastleigh and bought the land on which the ruins of the old abbey stood. Then between 1905 and 1937 the monastery was remarkably rebuilt on the old foundations.

Buckfast Abbey now gives a rare view into the kind of monastic community which once existed throughout England. As has always been the case the community is active in trade and business. There is a large shop selling produce made by monks and nuns, sourced from monasteries all over Europe. There is a conference and seminar centre, and a restaurant.

 

 

Directions: Buckfast Abbey is just off the A38 near the village of Buckfastleigh in Devon. Click here for an interactive map centred on Buckfast Abbey.

Address: Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0EE

Opening Times: Monday to Thursday, and Saturday, 9am - 6pm. Sunday 12 midday - 6pm. Friday 10am - 6pm. Entry and parking are free.

Access: Only the first floor medieval guest hall and Blessed Sacrament Chapel do not have level access. All others ares of Buckfast Abbey are fully accessible. Adapted toilet facilities are provided near the gift shop. Signs around the site incorporate Braille. The main hall has a hearing loop.

Contact:

telephone: 01364 645550

web site: http://www.buckfast.org.uk/page-home.html

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