St Gregory, St Augustine and the Mission to England

Fr Brendan Thomas • May 26, 2019

Monastic History in Glass and Stone (3)

How the Chapel of St Benedict, in its stained glass and carving tells us something of the whole history of Benedictine Monasticism, the importance of the English Church, and the place of Belmont in this story.

In 597 St Augustine (of Canterbury) arrived in England on his famous mission to convert the Anglo-Saxons at the request of St Gregory the Great (c.540-604).

It would be nice to think that Augustine, who had been prior of Gregory’s own monastery on the Caelian Hill in Rome, had brought with him a copy of the Rule of St Benedict, but this we do not know for sure. In fact neither Augustine nor Gregory can properly be described as ‘Benedictine’ as the monastic practice of that period was to follow, not a single rule, but to select from different rules - a so-called regular mixta . Neither can we say that the Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul that Augustine founded at Canterbury was the first monastery to be founded on these shores, as monasticism was a conspicuous feature of the British church in Celtic times. However both Gregory and Augustine (beautifully

portrayed in the stained glass) would be honoured as Apostles of the English and as part of their mission would establish monastic life amongst the Anglo-Saxons. The monk Paulinus (d. 644), belonged to a second group sent from Rome. He became the first Archbishop of York. Pictured with shell in hand, we might remember that he baptized the powerful Hilda of Whitby (614-680) amongst others.


In fact the Anglo-Saxons were about to make a decisive contribution to the Benedictine story. The Rule's first recorded presence in England was in Northumbria. It is probable that St Wilfred of York (c.633-709) brought the rule back from Gaul in 653 and introduced it in his monasteries at Ripon and Hexam in the north, and Salsey in the south. He had journeyed with St Benet Biscop (628-89), a Northumbrian nobleman who was later to found the twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow, and they were both to champion the Roman against the Celtic observance at the Synod of Whitby in 664.

Benet Biscop, perhaps more than Wilfred, can be called the true founder of Benedictine monasticism in England. He not only changed his name from Witizia in honour of Benedict, but recommended the Rule’s special authority. From the middle of the 7th century the Rule provided the basic framework for the overwhelming majority of new foundations.


Biscop, portrayed staff in hand with the cockleshell of a pilgrim, is a central figure in the windows. St Benedict’s strictures on stability never seem to have stopped monks travelling, but Benet Biscop’s journeys were for a purpose. He frequently travelled to Rome and brought back books, icons, paintings and relics that show a love of learning and a concern for beauty in the worship of God. These books and relics that holds would foster the remarkable learning and holiness of Bede.

Biscop brought masons from Gaul to build something rare in those days – stone churches. To adorn them he brought the first glaziers to England and fragments of that stained glass can still be seen today at Jarrow. He even brought back on one journey John, the Arch-Cantor, from the monastery of St Martin at the Vatican so that his monks could learn to sing the chant as it was sung at St Peter’s in Rome. John instructed them on how to keep the festivals of the Church’s year.

By Abbot Brendan Thomas May 17, 2025
Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey John Peter Jabale was born on 16th October 1933 in Alexandria, Egypt of mainly European heritage. His father was Lebanese/French, and his mother British/Greek/French. He attended the Lycée Français in Alexandria until 1948, when he was sent to England, having expressed a desire to join the Navy. He enrolled at Belmont Abbey School and, upon leaving school, joined the Abbey, taking the religious name Mark. He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 July 1958. He was then sent to the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he obtained a Licentiate in French Literature, writing his thesis on Joseph de Maistre, the French counter-revolutionary. He later completed a Diploma in Education at St Mary’s, Strawberry Hill, where he also played rugby for the University. From 1964, he taught sport and served as a housemaster at the school. In 1969, he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School in Derbyshire, though he held that post for only half a term before being recalled to Belmont to serve as Headmaster there, a role he held—apart from a sabbatical—until 1983. From 1964 he was teaching sport and then was a housemaster in the School. In 1969 he was appointed Headmaster of Alderwasley School, Derbyshire, but filled that post for only half a term. He was called back to Belmont to be Headmaster where he served, apart from a sabbatical, until 1983. Fr Mark was a rowing coach of considerable repute. During his sabbatical in 1979, he assisted Dan Topolski in coaching the Oxford crew for the Boat Race. His greatest coaching triumph came when he led a lightweight coxless four to a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia — the only gold medal won by Great Britain that year. The following year, he was invited to coach for the Olympics, but he declined in order to remain committed to Belmont. He was a steward of Henley Royal Regatta and was responsible for setting up and programming its first computerised systems. He was ahead of may in seeing the potential of new technology. In 1983, he was sent to Peru to purchase land and build a new monastery, which included raising funds in the UK. The new monastery was blessed, and the first Mass was celebrated there by the Archbishop of Piura, Oscar Cantuarias Pastor, in June 1986 together with Abbot Jerome, Fr Paul, Fr Luke, Fr David as well as Fr Mark. Dom Mark returned to Belmont as Prior and was elected the 10th Abbot of Belmont in 1993. He later wrote: “My first and most painful task proved to be the overseeing of the closure of the school.” Together with the bursar, John Hubert, he negotiated with the local NHS for the 4 houses to be leased to them. In 2000, he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Menevia by Pope John Paul II and was ordained bishop in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, on 7 December 2000. He succeeded Bishop Daniel Mullins as the 10th Bishop of Menevia on 12 June 2001. During his episcopate, he held several important offices: Chairman of the Department for Christian Life and Worship, Trustee and Visitator of the three foreign seminaries — the Venerable English College (Rome), the Beda College (Rome), and the Royal English College (Valladolid). He was also Bishop-in-Charge of on-going formation for diocesan priests. Upon reaching the age of 75, Bishop Jabale submitted his resignation to the Holy Father on 16 October 2008 and was succeeded by Bishop Tom Burns. He then moved to Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and was inducted as Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in March 2009, a post he held until 2014. At the age of 81, he retired to Hendon in London, where he celebrated daily Mass at a local convent, assisted in various parishes, and continued to help with confirmations in the diocese. In October 2019, he moved to Archbishop’s House, Westminster, for nine months. Finally, he returned to Belmont in 2020 as a much-cherished member of the community. He described himself as “very happy.” He remained there until his death in Hereford County Hospital on 9 May 2025, aged 91. He had been a monk of Belmont for 73 years, a priest for 67 years and a bishop for 24 years. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
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Bishop Mark Jabalé OSB Bishop Mark died peacefully on 9th May. Reception of Body and Mass of Remembrance Friday 30th May, 11am, St Joseph’s Co-Cathedral, Swansea Requiem Mass & Burial Thursday 5th June, 12 noon, Belmont Abbey Bishop Mark served this community well for many years, not least Abbot and before that Headmaster of the School. He was then asked to serve the wider church as Bishop of Menevia. May he know eternal happiness with God whom he served. Please pray for the eternal happiness of Rt. Rev. Dom Mark Jabalé 10th Bishop of Menevia 10th Abbot of Belmont who died 9th May 2025 in the 92nd year of his age, the 73rd year of his monastic life and the 67th year of his priesthood. May he rest in peace
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