St. Mary at the Cross

Praise and prayer constitute the atmosphere in which the brothers and sisters strive to live. They endeavour to maintain a constant recollection of the presence of God and of the unseen world. An ever-deepening devotion to Christ is the hidden source of all their strength and joy.

(From the Principles of the Society of Saint Francis).

At the top of a hill, surrounded by woods and fields, Glasshampton Monastery is a place of quiet peacefulness dedicated to the daily offering of praise and prayer to God.

For more than 80 years this has been a house of prayer, and those who come find it a place where God's presence can be clearly felt.

In the early years of the twentieth century, Father William Sirr of the Society of Divine Compassion felt called by God to leave his work in the East End of London to begin a contemplative life of prayer in a more secluded setting. In the winter of 1918 he moved to Glasshampton and established the monastic life in this place.

Fr. William lived here for nearly 20 years, and renovated the building to make it habitable again. People came to stay for shorter or longer periods of time, finding in Fr. William a spiritual director of great holiness. But the life was too hard for most people - with cold winters, poor food and long hours of prayer each morning - and he was unable to form a new community.

In 1947 the Society of Saint Francis was invited to send friars (brothers) to live at Glasshampton. From that time the monastery has continued as a place where the chapel bell calls us to sing God's praise, and where we welcome guests who come to renew their own relationship with God.