Ampleforth prepares for glorious anniversary

AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE, the Benedictine public school in North Yorkshire, is preparing for celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of its foundation.
The main focus of the celebrations will be on October 23 when, for only the third time since the Reformation, the monks of the celebrated school will sing Vespers at Westminster Abbey.
Westminster Abbey was the home of the community in medieval times until 1535, and with the installation of Mary Tudor to the throne from 1555 until 1559. Vespers will be followed by a formal reception at the banqueting House, Whitehall Palace from 6.30 — 8.45 pm for old Amplefordians past and present.
Although the London events mark the highlight of the bicen tenary year local celebrations in Yorkshire are continuing. On Sunday 22 September a pontifical Mass of thanksgiving will be held at the Abbey Church. Reyntiens windows in the church, commissioned for the anniversary, may be on display at this time. The Old Amplefordian Art Exhibition , showing works by Catholic Herald reviewer and writer Patrick Reyntiens, among others, is open until September 23.
A cycling pilgrimage from Dieulouard to Ampleforth from the 8-21 September is in the final stages of preparation.
The work of the community in the parishes around the school continues. The church of St Wilfrid at Warwick Bridge near Carlisle is now being administered by monks from the community.
Fr Bonaventure Knollys,
prior of the monastery, Fr David O'Brien and Fr Stephen Wright take it in turn to travel the 90 miles north to supply the parish from Friday to Monday.
The history of the Benedictines in the vicinity of the parish dates back to the 11th century when a priory of monks was founded at Wetheral, serving both Wetheral and Warwick and Corby Castle.
After the Reformation and the dissolution of the monasteries there were priests serving the area from 1620 and soon afterwards monks were at Corby Castle and Warwick Hall.
At the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, the parish priest engaged the elder Pugin to design the present church and presbytery. Since the late 1890s mass has also been celebrated at Brampton.
Between 1921 and 1983 Benedictine nuns lived in the parish at Holme Eden. Recent parts u priests ave • een Fr. Francis Videl RIP, Fr Edmund Hatton now at Osmotherley and Fr Cassian Diclde now at Knaresborough.
Invitations have been sent to all friends of Ampleforth from Fr Abbot for Vespers and from the Ampleforth Society for the reception at the Banqueting House which costs £55 per ticket. Friends who have not received a ticket should telephone: 020 7727 9786.