HOME Page revised 01/10/06
The Frater, Cleeve Abbey, Washford. (In the care of English Heritage)
The Monastic Hours
On the 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption or Falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary the choir of St. Andrew's sing seven of the monastic offices of the church to plainsong - some at the parish church, the others in nearby Cleeve Abbey.
All are welcome to join us for all or part of the day and many visitors to the Abbey say how much it means to them to see the Abbey once more being used once more for its real purpose.
The periods between the hours will be quiet times with no organised activity so there is ample time to explore the Abbey and enjoy the countryside.
Timetable for the Day
6.30am LAUDS in St. Andrew's Old Cleeve (Duration approx. 50mins)
7.15am Simple breakfast at Hybeck Old Cleeve.
8.30am PRIME in St. Andrew's (Duration approx. 35mins)
The following services take place at Cleeve Abbey, Abbey Road, Washford (signed on the A39).
10.15am TERCE in the frater Cleeve Abbey (Duration approx. 20 mins)
11.30am SEXT followed by THE HOLY EUCHARIST in the frater Cleeve Abbey
1.00pm Lunch in the garden (if fine), of Magnolia House opposite the Abbey
Please bring your own simple meal and a drink. Tea and coffee will be available at the end of lunch and mid afternoon. Silence is kept from the beginning of lunch until the end of the readings. There is also a small tea room at the Abbey.
1.45pm Recreation - (this is also a chance to explore the Abbey further).
3.00pm NONE in the frater at Cleeve Abbey (Duration approx. 20 mins)
Recreation
5.00pm VESPERS in the frater Cleeve Abbey - leave Abbey about 5.50pm.
6.30pm Supper in the Church Room Old Cleeve - numbers in advance please, there is a charge towards expenses.
(Tel: 01984 640577)
8.00pm COMPLINE in St. Andrew's Church finishes at around 8.30pm.
The 2006 celebration: Revd. Judy Henning Rector, was joined by Canon John Pinder as Guest Celebrant and preacher.
The Gatehouse Cleeve Abbey.
Fr. Alan Mills, guest celebrant and servers at the 1999 Eucharist.
We held our first monastic day at the Abbey in 1995, choosing the Feast of The Assumption as the Abbey is dedicated to Our Lady. We feel it is so important for local churches to keep their links with the Abbey so that its spiritual dimension can be maintained - it is in a sense, only through worship - their original purpose, that the buildings can come alive.
St. Andrew's church has a particular link with the Abbey as from the 12th century until the dissolution in 1537, the Abbots of Cleeve were also the Rectors of Old Cleeve; firstly sending monks to take the services at the parish church, and then later, from 1315 appointing clergy to the parish.
As the present day choir of the parish singing services week by week in St. Andrew's we feel a great sense of oneness and continuity with our monastic forebears as we try to continue their work in this place. We are only a small choir and not all our members can be present for all the offices through the day - sometimes we feel our singing is not as polished as we would like. However, this is not a concert, but a real act of worship and it is this sense of sincerity that makes most impression on the visitors. We are not actors in some monastic theme park but real people worshipping God.
Claire Timms (Chorister)