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.
Members of the public are welcome, as always.
Be mesmerised by this ancient and beautiful form of prayer, sung for centuries and still sung today
Answer 15 questions to find out.
Stay in our Monastic Guesthouse for a few days to find out - by donation
Supporting young men from poorer parts of South America to discern a Benedictine vocation through accompaniment, travel and pastoral care
Thursday 16 April 2026, 7.30pm-9pm at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth. Advance booking essential.
Latin remains a sacred language of chant and contemplation - a gift that many find deepens prayer.
Your views can help us - please take our brief survey. Thank you.
Visit and get involved with your local Benedictine monastery or convent
Continuing with UK Indigenous Spirituality: Mesolithic man, mistletoe and magic on Saturday 28 March 2026, 10am-12 noon, with Sheila Longman.
