White Canons return home to abbey

The canons were taken on a tour of the abbey by owner Christopher Foyle

A religious order have returned to their former home at Beeleigh Abbey for the first time in over five centuries.

Four Norbertine canons based at St Philip's Priory in Chelmsford, were invited to the 12th century Abbey, by its present owner Christopher Foyle.

The abbey was home to the order, who are also known as 'White Canons', for 350 years before the Act of Dissolution saw them evicted by Henry VIII in 1536.

The site, near Maldon, was one of 34 Norbertine monasteries in England.

It is believed to be the only one remaining in a good condition and still being occupied.

During the visit they prayed for their ancestors and sang a chant, 'Salve Regina' in memory of their ancestors, on the site where the altar of the chapel would have stood.

"It's wonderful to be so close to one of our former houses and to come back and see it so beautifully looked after and cared for and lived in," said friar, Father Hugh.

The 12th century Abbey was built in 1180 and served as the home for the White Canons until 6, June 1536, when the dissolution seized the building and its contents, demolishing much of it.

During the visit, the significance of this date was revealed to be even greater than first thought, when it was realised the date of the dissolution coincided with that of the feast of the order's founder, St Norbert of Xanten.

"It is marvellous to be able to feel a connection with the Brothers and Fathers who lived here and prayed here for so long," said Brother Stephen, one of the novice canons at St Philip's Priory.

"It's nice that we're here so we can remember them, we pray for them and I'm sure they're looking down on us too - it's a place that we can really feel them, it's extraordinary."

The canons sang the chant 'Salve Regina' on the site of the chapel

Following the dissolution, the remains of the Abbey, which included its chapter house, parlour, calefactory and dormitory, passed into secular ownership.

Over the centuries it has had extensions added to it and been used for a variety of purposes.

Since Christopher Foyle took ownership of the grounds in 2000, it has undergone extensive renovation to repair some of the damage caused by 800 years of wear and tear.

The work received the Building Conservation gong at the 2008 Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyor's Awards.