The Present Community

 

Still in the 1972 Abbey Building

 

The Refectory

 

Father Abbot Francis Baird (64) is in overall charge of everything.  Apart from a lot of letter-writing and preparing sermons and homilies, he makes much of our incense and supervises the gradual moving of our things over to the Grange, where we hope to move in a few months’ time.  Saint Benedict sees the Abbot as above all the spiritual father of the monks, looking after their welfare and directing them towards God.

 

Father Prior Stephen Horton (59) paints watercolours, does counselling in a local Catholic school, sees people in the parlour, and occasionally cooks dinner, as do several of the brethren. He also looks after our Oblates (see next entry).

 

Abbot emeritus Aldhelm Cameron-Brown (78) is the Master of Oblates, that is, our lay associates, of whom we have about 200 worldwide, though about 20 who live not too far away from the Abbey, come to our monthly meetings - see our Oblates’ page.

 

Abbot emeritus Mark Hargreaves (52) worked in our headquarters in Rome for 4 years, then came home to be choirmaster and do most of the secretarial work.  He also looks after our review, PAX, and the Prinknash Kalendar of Everlasting Remembrance.

 

Father Subprior Alphege Stebbens (81) is our guestmaster, though, at the moment, we do not have any guests, because of our impending move.  He also makes the coffee for breakfast in the morning (a very important job!) and does lots of work in the Grange and elsewhere, to get things ready for our move.

 

Brother Antony Thomas (84) is our most senior member both in age and by monastic profession - which he made in 1948.  He works in the walled garden, which has just recently begun to be restored by Matthew Haynes and friends.  Watch the website for an eventual page on the walled garden.

 

Brother Giles Tarbuck (75) looks after the laundry, and makes rosaries.  He is a keen bird-watcher and does a lot of maintenance work on the estate.  Like many of us, he is also a good cook, when our lay cook, Michael Parsons, is away (Fri, Sat).

 

Father Aelred Baker (75) is one of the scholars of the community.  He works with Sister Catherine OP on the Focus Courses, located at Lower Lodge, on the Prinknash estate.  He is in charge of our archives.

 

Brother Bernard George (59) looks after the cleaning of part of the house and occasionally writes book reviews for PAX.  People who come to Mass here know Bernard as the cheery monk who holds the collection plate at the church door on Sundays.

 

Brother William Harwood (79) works in the incense department and looks after the incoming and outgoing post each day - of which there is sometimes a great deal.

 

Father Damian Sturdy (60) is well-known to those who come to Mass here.  People with pastoral difficulties or who want to become Roman Catholics usually talk to him.  Alternately with Fr Mark, he celebrates the Tridentine Mass for the laity on Saturdays and on the 1st Sunday of the month at 3pm.  Damian is the Master of Ceremonies in charge of the church services, and is also the Sacristan, in charge of vestments and church plate.  He compiles the weekly duty list (who will do dinner or supper, who will serve and read in the refectory, etc).

 

Father Martin McLaughlin (43).  Martin is the Bursar, in overall charge of the monastic economy and industries.  This keeps him more than well occupied.  He is also a scripture scholar and gives many talks.  Along with Father Aldhelm, he is a chaplain to the Teams of Our Lady for married couples. 

 

There are no novices at present.