Buckfast Abbey

Buckfast Abbey: A Benedictine Foundation in Devon

Buckfast Abbey stands as an active Benedictine monastery situated in Buckfast, near Buckfastleigh, in Devon, England. Its history is marked by periods of flourishing and decline, beginning with its initial foundation as a Benedictine monastery in 1018. This early foundation was followed by a Savignac, and subsequently a Cistercian, abbey established in 1134 on the site of the current monastic buildings. The abbey faced dissolution in 1539, which led to its significant demolition.

History and Reconstruction

The site of Buckfast Abbey first became home to a monastery in 1018. The initial Benedictine foundation is believed to have been established by either Aethelweard, the Earldorman of Devon, or King Cnut. This early monastery was described as small and not particularly prosperous, with its exact location being uncertain, potentially near what is now Holy Trinity church.

In 1134, a new abbey was established in its current location through a grant from King Stephen to the Abbot of Savigny. This second abbey housed Savignac monks until 1147, when the Savignac congregation merged with the Cistercian order, transforming Buckfast into a Cistercian monastery. During its medieval history, Buckfast Abbey grew wealthy through fishing and wool trading, becoming one of the wealthiest abbeys in the south-west of England by the 14th century. Despite setbacks such as the Black Death, it experienced periods of resurgence, with significant rebuilding occurring in the mid-15th century. However, by the 16th century, the abbey was in decline, with only ten monks in residence at the time of its dissolution in 1539.

After the dissolution, the abbey structures were largely demolished, and the site was used as a stone quarry. In the early 19th century, a mansion house and wool mill were constructed on the grounds. The site eventually came into the possession of Dr. James Gale, who sought to return it to its original religious purpose. In 1882, French Benedictine monks purchased the property and began refounding the monastery. Most of the 19th-century house was remodelled and incorporated into new claustral ranges. The current abbey church, constructed mostly on the footprint of the former Cistercian abbey, was built between 1906 and 1938, designed by architect Frederick Arthur Walters in Norman Transitional and Early English styles. Buckfast was formally reinstated as an abbey in 1902, and it officially joined the English Benedictine Congregation in 1960.

The Abbey Today

Buckfast Abbey continues to function as an active Benedictine monastery, housing 13 monks as of 2020. The abbey grounds include a conference and seminar centre, a restaurant known as The Grange, and gardens. The monastery is self-supporting, with a farm, a shop selling monastic products, a bookshop, and a gift shop. Notable products associated with the abbey include Buckfast Tonic Wine and the Buckfast bee, developed by Brother Adam, a renowned apiarist. The abbey also engages in musical activities, with an Abbey Choir and Abbey Choristers, and features a significant Fratelli Ruffati pipe organ installed in 2017. The abbey receives many visitors and offers various tours and lodging facilities.