Join us as a monk
Come and see....

Become a Benedictine monk at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth, UK 

YOU are VERY WELCOME. LOOK WITHIN

TAKE THE QUIZ - answer 15 questions to see if you could be a Benedictine monk: click here.

Visiting and staying with us in person for short stays in our Monastic Guest House, normally several times over an extended period of time, is what we usually recommend if you want to explore your vocation and so you can experience monastic life at arm's length and get to know the monastic community as well as vice versa. 

Staying in our Monastic Guest House is by invitation only and by donation. Please ask well in advance if you would like to stay a few days - please ask Dom Andrew by email at domandrewmcneill@gmail.com  

You will need to arrange and pay for all of your travel requirements (if you are coming from afar, as well as staying with us, you might get a better overview if you ask to visit other monasteries in the UK too).

St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth, UK is a living monastery of ten monks in addition to a number of other men who are interested in joining us and we very much welcome questions and visits from men considering becoming a Roman Catholic Benedictine monk. Some of us are ordained as priests, whilst others remain as brothers in the community, not ordained but living the same monastic life as those who are. 

As well as reading what follows, you might like to follow our FACEBOOK page (https://www.facebook.com/ChilworthBenedictines), which aims to be less formal and hopefully shows more about what our daily life is like, including our human side.

The call of God to the monastic life is a specific one. The word ‘monk’ derives from the Greek word ‘monos’, meaning ‘one’, ‘single’, ‘only’, and refers to a monk’s single aim or intention. For the monk, this single aim or intention is the search for God – to respond to the desire he feels in his heart from God for God and union with Him now and for eternity in the life of the Blessed Trinity, the three Divine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who invite all people to share in their communion of love.

'THE CALL' - WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU FEEL GOD CALLING YOU TO THE MONASTIC LIFE? 

Well, the only way ahead is to test whether the call really is from God or not. See 1 John 4:1

St Benedict implies that the idea is usually persistent, not an idea readily dismissed from your mind. When you share the idea with others and they try to dissuade you, it does not discourage you. Difficulties from your family and friends are there to test the strength of the idea of vocation!

Next, you need the courage to contact a monastery and ask to stay as a guest. The community will be assessing you as soon as they know 
you are seeking a possible entry but you need to assess them too. Ask yourself, 'Are these brothers going to guide me God, whom I seek?'

Do I see them living the life St Benedict wants his monks to live?

What sort of life is that?

Well, seeking God is the first criteria St Benedict establishes for someone wanting to be a monk. Not being a great preacher or teacher or singer or craftsman; these can be specialised in elsewhere, in a monastery, you seek God.

In the monastery, we are in choir together seven times a day plus Mass. You have to want to praise God from morning till night if the life is going to make you happy. This is St Benedict's second criteria, to be keen about what he calls 'the Work of God' - frequent, daily, worship of Him. Praising God, with the brethren, using all 150 psalms every week, plus singing for Mass.

The third criteria is obedience. St Benedict believes that obedience to the Abbot is just a very useful and fast way to become holy, because Jesus followed the same path. 'I came not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me'. The monk does the same, only to the Abbot.

The fourth criteria is being willing to do those humble chores around the house, to take one's turn cheerfully - cooking, cleaning, etc. It's basically being patient and loving in all circumstances. It's learning to put aside ego and self interest day by day and becoming humble.

Of course, you should also see them bearing charitably with each other's faults and failings, as St Benedict commands in Chapter 72, which is the jewel of his teaching. Worth reading often.

If you see them trying to do that, as best they can, in the monastery you visited, ask to speak to the Novice Master. One last thing, read up on St Benedict and monastic spirituality, before you visit. Look at our website 'Our Benedictine Life', read the Rule of St Benedict here and there is masses of information online.

May God guide you to Himself.

Freedom and the monk - is being a monk like being incarcerated?

Benedictine monk Fr John Seddon OSB writes: 

"Many would perhaps see my life as lived in a voluntary prison, where freedom is non existent.

I certainly feel free, so I began thinking why my experience of monastic life is so different from outside perceptions.

I suppose my faith in God and my desire to be united to Him forever is the key to understanding why I feel free.

I want God, and every aspect of monastic life; choral prayer seven times a day, daily Mass, study, meditation, living with and serving my brethren, all help me on the path to God, because they constantly help me to love God and my neighbour.

God gives us free will so that we can take action and be responsible for it.

In this way, we shape our life. We become what we do. Good acts make us good, bad make us bad.

I believe the best good acts I can make are those which will bring me to God. A monastery offers me those in spades, therefore I not only feel free here, I am free, content and happy.

The Psalmist says to God, 'They are happy who dwell in your house, forever singing your praise'."

The Monastery

The Monastery is the place where a monk lives out this search with his brethren. To find God he has to become mindful of Him. The prayer, study and work that make up an ordinary day are all organised to help him remain closely united to God at all times. Silence is also practised to help him avoid sins of the tongue by avoiding unnecessary talk.

You may feel God is calling you to live in this way. It is a challenging and disciplined life and, if lived with integrity, will lead directly to God. However, it is one way. There are other equally valid ways. So, if you feel a call, it needs to be tested. How does one begin?

Firstly, if the call is persistent, discuss your feelings with a priest or monk you can trust and feel at ease with. You may be a little afraid at first of even admitting to yourself that you feel called. So, you need to find the right person. After perhaps lengthy discussions, you will be in a position to know whether a visit to us would be appropriate for you.

A good way to test your vocation without any obligation is to come and stay with us at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth for a few days in our monastic guest house, something you might like to repeat from time to time: BOOK A ROOM IN OUR GUEST HOUSE HERE by email to Dom Andrew at domandrewmcneill@gmail.com



KEEP SCROLLING DOWN THE PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT SUITABILITY FOR A MONASTIC LIFE>>>>>>>>>>



Suitability for a monastic life

The following criteria is used when considering a man’s suitability for the monastic life. The criteria are a guideline used within the discerning and decision process. Don't worry if you don't meet all of the criteria; we welcome and sensitively consider all enquiries on an individual basis. 

We ask that you are male and baptised and confirmed in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church. 


Applicants must be over 18 years of age and we welcome enquiries from all adult age groups.


You will be in good physical and mental health with a sound basic education, some experience of regular and stable employment and be able to work cooperatively as part of a team.


You must be free of debts and family ties.


We welcome applications from outside of the United Kingdom as long as this does not detract from the Catholic Church or Order of St Benedict in your home country. A good level of English language ability is required. All applicants from abroad are expected to find their own financial sponsorship, arrange and pay for their visas and return flights  as well as meet all costs of reaching us in person. Once here, your food and accommodation costs in the monastery are met by us for as long as you stay. Please contact us if you are enquiring from abroad and would like to look into this further.  


The Initial Steps

If you think that you fulfil the requirements of becoming a monk or would like to discuss this further, please get in touch with us at the monastery to say hello, ask any questions and express your interest. Use the contact form on this website to do this. 


At around this point in time and, after discussing this with you first, we ask that you ask your Parish Priest to write a reference for you. 


Men who are members of other Christian ecclesiastical communities are also welcome to apply but they may only be considered for entry into the Community after two years’ incorporation into the Catholic Church.


You will then be in a position to make an application to visit to us. 

Visiting the Monastery

The first visit is brief, usually only for a few days. You would occupy a room in the Guest Wing. These visits would continue over a period of months. If the call seems to intensify, and we think it appropriate, a two week monastic experience would be arranged. 


During this you would live in the Novitiate and take part fully in all aspects of the daily life and work of the Community. 

Next steps...

After the initial visits, it would be determined if entry as a Postulant would be appropriate, before receiving the Benedictine habit, as a Novice. This period of discernment lasts for two years.


If you wish to continue, the Chapter, or senior members of the Community, then decides if you are ready to take Simple Vows for three years. These are renewable yearly, if appropriate, for up to nine years. However, most candidates know after three years if they want to give their life to God in Solemn Vows for life.

A summary

Brief outline of the monastic journey


Guest / Aspirant - regular visits for a weekend or a few days in order to get to know the Community.


Postulant – an undetermined period of not less than 6 months


Novice – the Postulant is clothed in the Benedictine habit in an official but private ceremony. The Novitiate lasts for 2 years.


Junior – the Novice makes Simple Profession of the vows of Obedience, Stability, and Conversion of Life in a public ceremony during the celebration of Mass. These Simple Vows are binding for 3 years.


Senior – The Junior makes Solemn Profession of vows for life in a public ceremony during the celebration of Mass, in which he receives the cowl, a sign of his consecration. 


He becomes a full member of the Community and a member of the Chapter.


For further information, please write to:


The Novice Master

St Augustine’s Abbey

Sample Oak Lane,

Chilworth,

Guildford,

Surrey GU4 8QR

United Kingdom


Please call us on +44 (0)1483 899360 if you need help or more information. 



A prayer for your vocation

Lord, help me discern my vocation. 


Lord my God, my loving Father, you have made me to know you, to love you, to serve you and thereby to find and fulfil myself. 


I know that you are in all things and that every path can lead me to you, but of them all there is one especially by which you want me to come to you. 


Since I will do what you want of me, I pray that you send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind to show me what you want of me; into my heart to give me the determination to do it and to do it with all my love, with all my mind and with all my strength. 


Amen


St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth, UK - a living Roman Catholic Benedictine monastery www.chilworthbenedictines.com


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BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE MONASTIC JOURNEY

  • Guest / Aspirant

    Regular visits for a weekend or a few days in order to get to know the community.

  • Postulants

    The time spent as a Postulant is a minimum of six months. A Postulant is clothed in the Benedictine habit in an official but private ceremony. The Novitiate lasts for 2 years.


  • Junior

    The Novice makes Simple Profession of the vows of Obedience, Stability, and Conversion of Life in a public ceremony during the celebration of Mass. Simple Vows are binding for two years.

  • Senior

    The Junior makes Solemn Profession of vows for life in a public ceremony during the celebration of Mass, in which he receives the cowl, a sign of his consecration. He becomes a full member of the Community and a member of the Monastic Chapter (i.e. the existing monastic community).

  • Further information

    Please get in touch:


    The Novice Master

    St Augustine’s Abbey

    Sample Oak Lane

    Chilworth

    Guildford 

    Surrey GU4 8QR

    United Kingdom


    Please call us on +44 (0)1483 899360 or contact us via this website if you have any questions. 


    Further information about Vocations in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Arundel and Brighton can be found here. 


  • Stay and pray with us for a few days

    A good way to test your vocation without any obligation is to come and stay with us at St Augustine's Abbey, Chilworth for a few days in our monastic guest house, something you might like to repeat from time to time: BOOK A ROOM IN OUR GUEST HOUSE by sending an email to Dom Andrew at domandrewmcneill@gmail.com