Malmesbury Abbey, Wilts, UK » Headline

Abbey Cafe

paulTILLEY — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 11:50:45 +0000

Neill writes: Before Easter two tourists came into the Abbey. They walked up to the stewards’ desk and asked ‘do you have a café?’ The steward’s answered no, and then the couple turned around and walked straight out. I want to say they ‘flounced’ out but it wasn’t that dramatic really. You’d want to ask them were they not a little interested in seeing the tomb of the first king of England, Athelstan the Glorious? Did they not want to stand on the site where saints since the 7th century have said their prayers, and feel the holiness? Did they not want to use one of our three toilets? (They’ve got stained glass.) No, for them it was all about coffee – and to be honest I am relatively coffee-fuelled too and understand their dependency.

They should come back as this Monday, 23rd April, Clare Cork, our new Café Manager, opens the Abbey Café for the first time. If each of our 50,000 tourists stops off for a cup of tea and a cup cake, we will be totally stuffed, but happy. Why are we doing this? Well, it will enhance our tourists’ visit – a king, stained glass, toilets and a sandwich – and it should be a distinctive watering hole for Malmesbury, with monks singing and Fairtrade drinks. It will help us pay to keep our 12th century building from falling down around us and it should welcome those who really need a welcome or even a chat and a prayer. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. (Matthew 25:35)

It would be great if you stopped by in the early days, and if you have two hours a week to volunteer and don’t mind smiling and washing your hands we have a job for you.

Café Opening Hours

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - 9am-4pm

Wednesday - 12-4pm

Saturday – 9am-1pm

You can follow Neill Archer’s blog at neillarcher.blogspot.co.uk

Some Images from Holy Week 2012

paulTILLEY — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:00:17 +0000

To see the full set of photos from Holy Week, please visit our Facebook Page.

Sally Archer & Band

An interview with paleontologist Dr Mike Taylor

Mozart Requiem

At the end of a long youth pilgrimage

Churches together Good Friday service

Easter eve night vigil

To see the full set of photos from Holy Week, please visit our Facebook Page.

((resonate))

paulTILLEY — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:39:37 +0000

Resonate is a new community for 18-29 year olds at Malmesbury Abbey. We will explore what it means to have a life as a Disciple and Pilgrim that resonates with Jesus. We will explore this together through creating a culture of courage and adventure to go to a place with Jesus we have never been before.

If you want to get involved on this journey email me, Lee Barnes, on resonate@malmesburyabbey.com

Play your part in something bigger: the Diocese of Bristol

paulTILLEY — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:14:47 +0000

Malmesbury Abbey is part of the Diocese of Bristol. But how do we fit into the diocese? Here is a short animated film that explains all.

Many people ask what a diocese is and how it all fits together. Some people view “the diocese” purely as the central organisation that provides support services to ministers, parishes and church schools.

But a diocese is also the sum of its parts: our 204 churches in seven deaneries, 67 church schools, chaplaincies across the sectors and the structures that help join them together. And we are all part of it.

Over 30,000 people regularly worship in our churches and 15,000 children and young people attend a church school. We have 400 licensed ministers, lay and ordained, fulfilling leadership roles in church and chaplaincies.

The five minute animated film, created in-house by Sam Cavender, explains all of this as well as giving an overview of the finances of the Diocese and its parishes. The film ends focusing on what the Diocese is about: “We want to help each other experience and be changed by the love of God and make that love known in our communities – this is being the Church.”

New Abbey Worship Songs on Spotify

paulTILLEY — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:38:41 +0000

If you don't know what Spotify is then this will explain. But basically its a place to listen to music for free! We have put together a playlist of some of the new songs that Malmesbury Abbey if doing, so if you have Spotify (download it here) click this link for the playlist and listen away.

Choral Evensong in 2011 celebrating the KJV

paulTILLEY — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 14:34:50 +0000

Throughout 2011 Malmesbury Abbey will be celebrating the 400th Anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, also known as the Authorised Version. Most noticeably our Choral Evensong services on the second Sunday of each month at 6.30pm will feature readings from the King James Version and our sung Introits and Anthems will feature outstanding music that finds its inspiration in the King James translation. Details follow:

9th January	The Baptism of Christ
Introit	From the rising of the sun – Ouseley
Canticles	From the Psalter
Anthem	This is the record of John – Gibbons
13th February	King James Version 400th Anniversary
Introit	O Taste and See – Vaughan Williams
Canticles	Collegium Regale – Howells
Anthem	I was Glad – Parry
13th March	Lent
Introit	Hide not Thou Thy Face – Farrant
Canticles	Short Service – Gibbons
Anthem	O Lord, my God, to Thee – Arcadelt
10th April	Passiontide
Introit	God so loved the World – Stainer
Canticles	Short Service – Gibbons
Anthem	The Lamentation – Bairstow
8th May	Easter, 3rd Sunday
Introit	Since by man came death – Handel
Canticles	Stanford in B flat
Anthem	Hallelujah – Handel
12th June	Pentecost
Introit	If ye love me – Tallis
Canticles	Short Service – Gibbons
Anthem	Wash me throughly – S.S.Wesley
10th July	Trinity Sunday
Introit	Their sound is gone out – Handel
Canticles	Stanford in B flat
Anthem	Greater Love -Ireland
14th August	Night Prayer in St Aldhelm’s Chapel (said)
11th September	10th Anniversary of 9/11
Introit	Thou wilt keep him – S.S.Wesley
Canticles	Stanford in B flat
Anthem	Glory to God in the highest – Handel
9th October	Harvest Festival
Introit	Thou visitest the Earth – Greene
Canticles	Collegium Regale – Howells
Anthem	Like as the Hart – Howells
13th November	Remembrance Service at 2.30pm
27th November	Advent Carol Service by Candlelight
18th December	Nine Lessons & Carols at 6.30pm

Holiday Club Celebration This Sunday

paulTILLEY — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 14:34:36 +0000

Our final session of the holiday club will be for all ages at 4pm this sunday. This will be a time of craft, drama and music, with our birdcage CAFE open throughout. Come and find out what we’ve been up to, be challenged by what you hear and have something to take away!

What: End of Holiday Club Celebration
When: Sun 31st Oct
Where: Malmesbury Abbey
Time: 4pm-5pm
Other: Free!

Ordinations & Licensing

leebarnes — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:31:07 +0000

Across the Church of England the end of June and the beginning of July is associated with the ordination of deacons and priests – this is linked to the feast day of St Paul, June 29th. This year there are four people to support or remember in your prayers who have a strong Abbey connection; three ordinations and one licensing. Rev Lee Barnes, curate at the Abbey will be ordained priest on Saturday July 3rd at Bristol Cathedral at 3.30pm. Members of the Malmesbury & Upper Avon group are very welcome to attend, although the service is long and not easy for young children. Lee will be presiding at Holy Communion in the Abbey the next morning at 10.30am. Rev James Pettit who was on the staff here for 4 years and is now curate at St Mary of Charity, Faversham will be ordained priest at St Mary’s on July 4th at 10.30am. Rev Toby Crowe from St James Alperton who has been on placement with us for the last month will be ordained priest by Rt Rev Pete Broadbent, Bishop of Willesden, on Saturday 3rd July at 10.30am. And finally the Rev Eve Pegler who has been serving as curate of the Gauzebrook Group for the last three years and was very much a part of our Holy Week Festival and our Gospel Choir leaves the diocese with her husband Jerome to become Team Vicar in the Shaftesbury Team in Dorset. She will be licensed by the Bishop of Sherborne at 7.30pm on July 21st. Please remember them all in your prayers and get along to support if you can.