Ampleforth: Fr Aidan Gilman RIP

Ampleforth: Fr Aidan Gilman

Ampleforth: Fr Aidan Gilman, Monk of Ampleforth Abbey, died peacefully at 1.27 on Saturday morning, 15th December 2018. He was 91 years old and has lived 72 years in monastic life, and 61 years a priest. May he rest in peace.

Fr Aidan's body will be received into the Abbey Church at 6pm on Wednesday 19 December, followed by Vespers for the Dead at 8.15pm.
On Thursday 20 December, at 7.30am there will be Lauds for the Dead in St Laurence's Chapel at Bolton House. At 8.45am there be the Little Hour in St Laurence's Chapel at Bolton House and at 11.30 am Solemn Sung Funeral Mass in the Abbey Church followed by burial in Monks' Wood

Fr Aidan requested that funeral attendees wear bright colours, rather than black.

Fr Aidan's nephew Philip Francis, told ICN: "He was well loved, and had many friends and across the world: in Ampleforth, where he taught Biology in the school and was Housemaster of St Thomas's, Barn House and Ince Benet, an alternative monastery he helped found near Liverpool, Stanbrook Abbey near Worcester, where he was chaplain to 50 nuns, who are now close by Ampleforth, and where he welcomed many visitors, the St Bede's Pastoral Centre in York, the Shrine of Mount Grace, Osmotherley, and in a monastery in Eke in Nigeria, which he also helped to found. He spent much of his life as a hermit, on the North York Moors and at Plantation House, in the Ampleforth valley, and corresponded widely.

"He had a great knowledge of plant life and was a great gardener. He spent the last years of his life in the Monastery Infirmary. He was and is a good and holy man.

"Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let eternal light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen."

ICN will be publishing a longer obituary soon.