Launde Abbey’s Chapel is the heart of our shared life together: a space for prayer, stillness and reflection.
The Abbey community prays in the Chapel daily, together with those guests who choose to join us. We celebrate holy communion every morning at 8:00 am, and every day except Sunday we also have a short midday service and Evening Prayer at 5:00 pm. Together with occasional and seasonal services, we meet for prayer over a thousand times every year. And when it’s not being used for community worship, the Chapel is open all day and night for private prayer and silence.
The Chapel is almost all that remains of the medieval monastic buildings, other than some stonework in the cellars. It’s one wing of the ancient church, which would have spread across into our Quiet Garden areas. And it’s been in constant use as a chapel since the twelfth century. It’s a prayed-in place, and many of our guests comment on its special character and atmosphere.
In the centuries since it was built it has been shaped by every generation who’ve lived at Launde: there’s both medieval and Victorian glass; there are sculptures and monuments from a variety of ages; there’s a stunning monument to Gregory Cromwell, son of the infamous Thomas Cromwell who first dissolved Launde’s monastic community and turned it into a private house. And current generations have made their mark too, including the recent (but ancient-looking!) icons on the east wall.
Every day while worshipping in the Chapel we remember those who have asked for the community’s prayers. If you’d like us to pray for you, let us know.
