Today
The community announced in April 2002 that it would be moving. Abbess Joanna Jamieson made the announcement that the Abbey would move from its Victorian abbey, with its 79,000 sq ft (7,300 m2). of monastic buildings 'to make the best use of its human and financial resources'. The Abbey looked at possible sites all over the country until it bought Crief Farm at Wass in the North Yorkshire National Park.
Construction of the new monastery began on 18 June 2007. Progress of the building work, which will be completed in four distinct phases, is being recorded by the Friends of Stanbrook Abbey.
The community moved into the new Stanbrook Abbey in Wass on 21 May 2009. As of 2002 the community numbered 28 professed nuns and two postulants. About 120 lay people, known as oblates, are associated with the monastery.
In August 2010 the Worcestershire property was sold to Clarenco LLP and it is now operational as an events venue.
Previous abbesses include (in alphabetical order):
- Dame Clementia Cary
- Dame Barbara Constable
- Dame Frances Gawen
- Dame Catherine Gascoigne (First Abbess 1629)
- Dame Margaret Gascoigne
- Lady Cecilia A. Heywood
- Dame Joanna Jamieson
- Dame Laurentia McLachlan
- Dame Agnes More
- Dame Bridget More
Read more about this topic: Stanbrook Abbey
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