Buckfast Abbey – home to Roman Catholics of Benedictine monks
Located near to the Buckfastleigh on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, Buckfast Abbey has become home to Roman Catholics of Benedictine monks. The Buckfast Abbey was dedicated to Saint Mary and when it was founded in 1018 it was ran by the Cistercian Order up until 1147.
By this time it was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Monasteries and during the 1882, where monks started to live there again and today’s world it has become a Benedictine Foundation.
The founder of Buckfast Abbey was either Aethelweard (Aylward), Earldorman of Devon, or King Cnut in 1018. Once it became a Cistercian Abbey it was rebuilt all into stone.
During the medieval times because of the trading of sheep wool and fishing the abbey had become rich. By 1317, there was 14 Monks in total at Buckfast even though there was a Black Death that had killed two abbots and many monks.
Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, UK
During the 19th century began the rebuilding process of Buckfast, on October 28th, 1882 after being exiled from France there were 6 Benedictine monks who went on to Buckfast.
During this time the monks lived among the ruins and rebuilt the abbey church upon the based foundations of the abbey in 1147.
During the year 1905 and 1937 the church was restored and over a time period of 6 years, there was not a time where there were more than 6 months working on a project.
As World War I begun the construction of the abbey begun to continue and some of the monks were German nationality. Those individuals were sent to an internment camp on 1 condition that they would remain restricted to the abbey’s grounds.
Inside of Buckfast Abbey, Buckfastleigh, Devon, England, UK
The final layer of the last stone that was constructed on the Abbey was in 1937. Located on the west side of the Abbey there are two gardens that have different plants raging from herbs and other plants.
These herbs are used for cooking and even medicine from other poisonous plants. There was also a bridge built that leads over the river to the abbey farm. Overall the abbey supports farm life such as vegetables, bees, pigs, cattle and even wine is created right on the abbey.
