St Mary's Abbey Near Stafford: History and Order

St Mary's Abbey near Stafford, historically situated at Colwich, was established by the Benedictine Order. This article provides a concise overview of the monastic community behind the foundation, tracing their origins from seventeenth-century continental Europe to their long-standing presence in Staffordshire, as well as their spiritual tradition and eventual legacy.

The Religious Order

The abbey was established by contemplative Roman Catholic nuns belonging to the English Benedictine Congregation. Guided by the Rule of Saint Benedict, the order centres its monastic life on liturgical prayer, silence, contemplation, and manual work under the motto Ora et Labora (Pray and Work).

Origins and Arrival in Staffordshire

The community's history began in 1651 when it was founded in Paris as an English convent during the post-Reformation era, when Catholic monasticism was outlawed in England. The nuns lived in France for nearly a century and a half until the upheaval of the French Revolution forced them to flee to England in 1795.

After temporary stays in Dorset and Somerset, the community relocated to Staffordshire in 1836, acquiring a country house at Colwich, roughly six miles east of the county town of Stafford.

Elevation to Abbey Status

Upon settling at Colwich, the house was initially known as the Priory of St Paul and St Benedict. The community expanded the property to include a church, cloisters, and monastic burial grounds to accommodate their enclosed religious life.

In 1928, the priory was formally elevated to full abbey status under ecclesiastical law, adopting the official dedication of St Mary's Abbey. The community maintained a focus on perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, drawing postulants throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Modern Legacy

The Benedictine nuns remained at St Mary's Abbey in Colwich for over 180 years. As numbers declined in the early twenty-first century, the remaining community made the decision to leave the site in 2020, eventually merging with other Benedictine houses, while the historic buildings and their grounds remain a recognized part of Staffordshire's ecclesiastical heritage.