Learn about or Benedictine Order and Community

6 March 2020

Learn about our Benedictine Order and Community

St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth is the home of a community of Benedictine monks belonging to the Order of Saint Benedict (Subiaco Cassinese Congregation).

The Congregation is made up of seven provinces : Italy, Flanders, Great Britain and USA, France, Spain, Africa and Madagascar, Vietnam and of two Pro-Provinces : Germany and the Philippines and one monastery under the responsibility of the Abbot President : New Norcia (Australia).

In 2020, the total number of the monks is 1,250 in 64 monasteries, which are either Abbeys or Priories.

They are found in the following 24 countries : Italy, Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Ivory Coast, Togo, Burkina Faso, Congo, Benin, Ghana, South Africa, Madagascar, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, USA, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Haiti, and Bangladesh.

In 2020, the nuns or Benedictine Sisters number 975 in 45 female monasteries aggregated to the Congregation. They are located in France, Flanders, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Israel, Africa, Madagascar, Vietnam, Australia and North and Central America.

Some of our houses take part in the development programme of the local Catholic church as in schools in the Philippines and Puerto Rico. Some others, a minority, are in charge of a parish close to the monastery.
Abbot Paulinus' chosen charity appeal 2026
6 September 2026
Supporting young men from poorer parts of South America to discern a Benedictine vocation through accompaniment, travel and pastoral care
Please note Sunday Mass is at 11am on Sunday 27 September 2026
6 September 2026
No Sunday 10am Mass on 27 September 2026. Thank you.
Growing in Faith: new life takes root in Chilworth Abbey’s monastery garden
4 September 2026
Thanks to some incredible generosity and hard work, the monastery garden is growing beautifully with more planned.
Organ music during September  2026 at Holy Mass.
31 August 2026
Roman Catholic Holy Mass: Sunday Mass is 10am, daily Mass is at 9am.
Discover the meaning of the Roman Catholic Mass - public talk series
26 August 2026
Join Benedictine monk Fr John Seddon OSB for his talk on Saturday 26 September 2026, 1030-1220 at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth.
Public talk: THE LAUREL AND THE LANTERN - A Reflective Journey Through Britain’s Poets Laureate
24 August 2026
Friday 18 September 2026, 7.30pm-9pm, Assisi Room, St Augustine’s Abbey, Chilworth. Advance booking essential
Public Talk to Explore the Remarkable Story of R.R. Beard, Inventor of Cinema Lighting
21 August 2026
Join Evan Venn on Saturday 17 October 2026, 1030-1200 at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth. Book now.
Discover the meaning of the Roman Catholic Mass - public talk series
20 August 2026
Join Fr John on Saturday 31 October 2026, 1030-1220 at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth.
BUY 2 GET 1 FREE plus p+p: monk-made organic beeswax skin creams & lip balms
18 August 2026
UK orders only: stock up now on our monk-made organic beeswax skin creams & lip balms
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