Corona Virus

Dom Brendan Thomas • March 18, 2020

Following the instruction from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales there will be no public acts of worship in the Abbey Church from the evening of Friday 20th March until further notice, because of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

We will certainly miss seeing each other and praying together. The Belmont Community will, however, continue to celebrate Mass and pray the Divine Office at the usual times.  Even as we have to close our doors we will carry on praying for the fearful and the anxious, the sick and the dying, for our doctors, nurses and volunteers. 

Please continue to join with us spiritually in our prayer in your own homes as we sanctify the day with the Liturgy of the Hours. And share in the Sacrifice of Christ at Mass please join us in spiritual communion in the Body of Christ.We can carry on praying even if confined to our homes or our monastic cells. 

Our Abbey Church will remain open for prayer during the day, and we hope you find solace and strength there. 

Our last public act of worship will be the first Vespers of the feast of St Benedict who inspires us to follow Christ in the monastic life. May he pray for us all, and St Michael and all Angels, the Abbey's patrons, intercede for us that we may be delivered from all evil. 

We pray for you at this dark and threatening moment that you may keep safe and well. Pray for us too that we may stay united in the love of Christ. 

Abbot Paul and the Belmont Community

The Abbey Church will normally remain open for prayer:
Monday to Saturday 9.00am to 5.30pm.
Sundays from 11.00am to 5.30pm.

Ut Unum Sint - A Prayer for Unity with Benedictines

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • October 28, 2025
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Two Men Went to Pray

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • October 26, 2025
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.

Dom Stephen Holdsworth RIP

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • October 26, 2025
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.

A Grand Opening

September 21, 2025
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.

Assumption and VJ Day

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • August 15, 2025
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.

Corpus Christi

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • June 22, 2025
The Murmuration of the Spirit

What happened at the Conclave?

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • June 19, 2025
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.

1700 Years Since the Council of Nicea

June 19, 2025
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.

Safeguarding at Belmont

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • June 19, 2025
The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency Report, published in June 2025

Pentecost

By Abbot Brendan Thomas • June 8, 2025
The Murmuration of the Spirit