Monasteries, convents and abbeys

In the early Middle Ages, abbeys were cultural centres, places of prayer and work, teaching and study, preaching and writing. Today, abbeys are often places where people can explore their identity and their roots, review and reprioritise their life, rediscover God or experience faith within a religious community. Ancient abbeys are opening up to the outside world, men and women, young and old, Christians and non-Christians; today many abbey doors are open to all. A good number are awe-inspiring, venerable institutions founded well over 1,000 years ago. The visitor programmes they offer vary greatly, depending on the abbey and the order, but they include temporary stays, quiet days, spiritual exercises, fasting courses, retreats, meditation, communal abbey work, participation in prayers, rituals and singing, wellness and seminars. So, is life at an abbey just as it was centuries ago, or are abbeys - maybe surprisingly - keeping pace with the times? Increasingly people are discovering abbeys as inspirational places of culture and spirituality. Life behind their solid walls might seem to be remote and out of reach, but a warm welcome awaits anyone wishing to learn more about the day-to-day life of an abbey community.