Ampleforth Abbey

About this place

Ampleforth Abbey is a Benedictine monastery set in the hills of North Yorkshire, with roots going back to 1802 when English monks expelled from France during the Revolution settled in this valley.

The community had been based at Dieulouard in France before the upheaval forced their return to England.

The abbey church, built in the Gothic Revival style, dominates the site and remains an active place of worship.

Visitors may attend services sung by the monastic community, which continues the Benedictine tradition of daily choral prayer.

The site also houses Ampleforth College, one of England's best-known Catholic independent schools, which grew directly from the monks' early educational work.

History

The monastic community at Ampleforth descended from English Benedictine monks based at Dieulouard in France, who were expelled during the French Revolution and settled at Ampleforth in 1802. The monastery building was completed in 1897, and the community was formally erected as an abbey around 1900. The site also houses Ampleforth College, one of England's best-known Catholic independent schools, which grew directly from the monks' early educational work.

Architecture

The abbey church is built in the Gothic Revival style, a substantial stone structure that remains the centrepiece of the complex on the North Yorkshire hillside.

Worth knowing

Cardinal Basil Hume, who served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1976 until his death in 1999, was a monk and former Abbot of Ampleforth before his appointment to Westminster.

Gardens & grounds

The grounds include an orchard and working cider mill, which are open to visitors as part of the wider site.

Facilities