Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Consecration of Worth Abbey Church

Source: Worth Abbey

The 50th Anniversary of the Consecration of Worth Abbey Church takes place this Saturday, 12th July.

This significant milestone marks five decades of faith, hope, and unity, during which the Abbey Church has served as a spiritual home for countless individuals. These years have also been a period of remarkable achievement and growth in Worth's mission.

This celebration is an opportunity to reflect on our journey and look forward to the future with renewed inspiration. We have planned a day of prayer and celebration, and we hope you will join us for this special occasion.

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

10.30am Arrival and welcome
11am 50th Anniversary Mass
12pm Refreshments in the Narthex
1pm Midday Prayer
1.15pm Lunchtime: Bring a picnic or purchase refreshments
2.30pm An Address by Rt Rev. Jeremias Schröder OSB, Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation
3.15pm Vespers
4-4:45pm Afternoon Tea

The Abbot Primate's talk, titled: 'St Benedict's Message for Europe in 2025,' comes as the Church marks 60 years since Pope St Paul VI declared St Benedict Patron of Europe. Drawing on his background as a historian, Abbot Jeremias will explore how Benedictine values remain vital in today's religious and secular landscape.

Important Parking Information

Due to very limited parking at the Abbey, we kindly ask all guests to park at Handcross Park School. A complimentary coach service will run from 9:30 to 10:45am to transport guests to the Abbey. A return shuttle service will operate from 12.30 to 5.30pm, bringing guests back to Handcross Park School. Drivers are welcome to drop off passengers at the Abbey before proceeding to park at Handcross Park School.

The distance between Worth Abbey and Handcross Park School is approximately 4.5 miles and will take 10- 12 minutes to drive, so please allow extra time in your travel plans to accommodate the transfer. Here is a link to the Handcross School location on their website, It is very important that visitors access Handcross School from the London Road entrance, opposite Handcross Primary School.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your understanding. These arrangements are in place to ensure that everyone can attend our celebrations safely and comfortably.

A limited number of parking spaces for Blue Badge holders will be available within the Abbey grounds, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For those unable to attend in person, the Mass will be livestreamed via the Worth Abbey website.

Kindly RSVP to help us plan our event more effectively , please RSVP using this form.

We look forward to celebrating this occasion with you. Your presence will make this event even more special as we come together to honour the past and embrace the future

Read more about Abbot Schroder's election as Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation last year in this Vatican News article.

For those unable to attend in person, the Mass will be livestreamed via the links below.

Mass: www.youtube.com/live/4QhTfCBNi0U?si=rMzRpA7PMf_FFGSe

Midday Prayer: www.youtube.com/live/fhUyCoYnrtY?si=xT0LpNt5POlwsymm

Presentation by Abbot Jeremias: www.youtube.com/live/4WSa5cz7hrs?si=Z4K4Z5Dwq9KUxPmG

Vespers: www.youtube.com/live/ovSNF8iWq4k?si=CYsrYpMtLJBgMoEs

For the full schedule of the day's events see: https://worthabbey.net/celebrating-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-abbey-churchs-consecration/