The Father Ignatius Memorial Trust N E W S L E T T E R No. 46 Spring 2018

The Abbey Church East Window by Professor Nicholas Cope (see page 8) 2 The ecumenical Father Ignatius Memorial Trust was established in 1967 and organises an annual Pilgrimage from Llanthony to Capel-y-ffin. The Trust has in its care the statue of Our Lady at Capel-y-ffin Monastery as well as the ruins of the adjacent Abbey Church, and the nearby Wayside Calvary. The Monastery was founded in 1870 by Fr Ignatius OSB (Joseph Leycester Lyne 1837-1908), first restorer of monastic life for men in the Church of England and popular mission preacher. Fr Ignatius’ body is buried within the Abbey Church; Charity Commissioners’ further information about him can be found on the Trust Registration No.253225 website: www.fatherignatius.org.uk

Trustees Contents

Caroline Woollard (Hon Chairman) 1 Cover Photo: The East Window Hugh Allen 3 Letter from the Chairman Dr Peter Davies (Hon Secretary) Caroline Woollard Revd Canon Philip Wyn Davies ssc Revd Jeremy Dowding ssc 5 Additions to the llanthony Story Andrew Downey (Master of Ceremonies) Hugh Allen Andrew Knill (Hon Treasurer) 8 Llanthony Abbey: the East Window Stanley Knill Nicholas Cope Deborah Lyne (Emeritus) Rachael C. Rogers (Curator, 10 Geoffrey Rowell Obituary by Elizabeth Stuart Abergavenny Museum) Rev Bernard Sixtus 11 Abergavenny Museum News Revd Canon Mark Soady Rachael Rogers Venerable Martin Williams ssc 12 Pilgrimage 2018 Revd Richard Williams Details of Programme Michael Woodward (Newsletter Editor) 12 Recent Publication Consultant: Philip Chatfield Update on the Work of the Trust Welcome to the 2018 Fr Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter; we very much hope you will enjoy reading it and learning more about the work of the Trust. The work of the Trust continues. Although the Abbey Church is now sadly unsafe for public access due to irremediable instability of the higher north, east and south walls, the Trust is continuing to make repairs to the lower west wall, outside which the annual Pilgrimage ends. In addition, the railings around the Wayside Calvary are undergoing a complete refurbishment, and repairs to the plinth of the Statue of Our Lady are being planned.

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 3 From the Chairman. . . Ascension Day 2018 procession to the statue of Our Lady Dear Friends and Fellow Pilgrims, of Llanthony which stands in front of the former monastery, built by Father Welcome to the 2018 edition of Ignatius. the Father Ignatius Memorial Trust newsletter. This year, our preacher at the Eucharist will be Fr Martin Williams, I write this on Ascension Day, when Charity Commissioners’ former Archdeacon of Margam, one Christians throughout the world Registration No.253225 of the Trustees. The service will be celebrate the Ascension of our Lord celebrated by our newest Trustee, Jesus Christ, his earthly life fulfilled, Fr Mark Soady, Vicar of Abergavenny leaving his disciples to carry on and Prior of St Mary’s and the Holy- his work and build his Church. In well Community, a new monastic Abergavenny, we joined congregations community which enables young from seven churches to celebrate the people to explore their vocation. Eucharist in the garden of St Mary’s Priory Vicarage, sharing a fellowship For the last few years, after the which spread across town and village. Eucharist we have shared lunch under Of course, fellowship can be very a gazebo overlooking the Llanthony much more than gathering togeth- Valley—although we have repaired to er for church services—we in the St David’s if the weather isn’t being Father Ignatius Memorial Trust are kind; it can be brilliant sunshine six also a fellowship, one which includes miles down the valley but raining at everyone who joins us for the annual Llanthony (something to remember pilgrimage, everyone who receives when decided what to wear on the this newsletter and everyone who walk). May I take this opportunity of visits our website. encouraging you all to join us in that lunch, even if you’re not going to be In this day and age of data protection, walking. we very much hope you will want to continue that fellowship by receiving In the afternoon, the service and this newsletter and a form is enclosed procession will be led by Fr Philip for you to complete and return so that Wyn Davies, Vicar of Tregaron, and you can do so. our preacher will be the Rt Revd Cuthbert Brogan OSB, of Farnborough And we also very much hope that Abbey, which has a connection with you will be able to join us for Llanthony Abbey as well as with this year’s pilgrimage, on Saturday, France and Africa. August 18, beginning with Eucharist at St David’s, Llanthony, at 11.30am, St Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough before a shared lunch, the pilgrimage was founded by the Empress Eugénie, walk to Capel-y-Ffin and the ser- widow of Napoleon III, who had vice of Evening Prayer at the tiny St built a house for herself nearby. The Mary’s Church. This is followed by a distinctively French Gothic abbey

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 4 ...the Chairman continues church was designed as a mausoleum Major work is also being carried out for her late husband and their son on the ruins of the Abbey church the Prince Imperial, who lost his life itself, with stonemason John Barber in 1879 fighting on the British side carrying out repairs to the inside of against Zulu rebels. Staffed at first by the west wall on both sides of the Premonstratensian canons and then entrance. The ruins are now in an by Benedictines from Solesmes, in unstable state so we won’t be able to 1947 their survivors were joined go into the building. Although it is by monks from Prinknash, whose no longer feasible to make the ruins Cotswold monastery was becoming safe for public entry because of their seriously overcrowded. inherent instability, the Trust will con- At that time, the last of the Llanthony tinue to arrange repairs to the lower religious (Dom Asaph Harris) was still level western wall, outside which the at Prinknash, as were a number of annual Pilgrimage ends. inanimate relics. As Farnborough was This work, and the continuing or- a fully functioning monastery many ganisation of the pilgrimage, is made of these went to the other Prinknash possible through the support of “overspill” foundation at Pluscarden, readers of the Trust Newsletter—it is but some of the Llanthony choirstalls much appreciated, and all donations did eventually find a home at the are very gratefully received. Hampshire abbey (the rest are at I hope you enjoy this newsletter and Prinknash). look forward to perhaps seeing you After Evensong, we will process to the in August. In the meantime, please do ruins of the Abbey Church built by keep up to date with the news on our Ignatius. And it’s here that the website at www.fatherignatius.org.uk ongoing work of the Trust can be Caroline Woollard seen most clearly. Sculptor Philip Chairman Chatfield will be carrying out repairs to the plinth on which the statue of Our Lady rests, which will necessitate lifting it into mid-air. Work has also been done on the steps to the . Calvary, with the railings being repaired by metalworker Chris Powell of The Garn, Llanthony, and the inscription on the stonework is now clear. It reads ‘The Burning Bush Opposite’, commemorating the reported sightings of Our Lady of Llanthony in August and September 1880.

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 5 Some Additions to The Llanthony Story Centenary gift from the Benedictines of Pluscarden and Prinknash Hugh Allen to mark the 1913 Conversion

hen I delivered the ms of on feast days, he came regularly on WNew Llanthony Abbey to the Saturdays to hear Confessions and publishers I was aware that my give Benediction.’ account was far from complete. From the beginning of monastic However, one has to call a halt life at Capel-y-ffin in 1870 to its somewhere, and I was anxious dying days four decades later, there to have it on sale at the 2016 Ei- was a priest who provided for the steddfod (an objective I just failed community’s spiritual needs in the to achieve), as well as in time for period just after Fr Ignatius’s death. last year’s fiftieth anniversary of This was John Jeffreys de Winton the foundation of the Trust. (1875-1973), scion of a prominent Even as the book was with the local family and Vicar of Hay, where printers I received the first of a in a thirty-year incumbency he es- number of pieces of extra infor- tablished the strong Anglo-Catholic mation—confirmation that the tradition which endures to this day. Reverend W.A. Shoults (p 135n) was indeed associated with the Anglican Benedictine revival, and that his identity as ‘Fr Cyril’ can therefore be reasonably assumed. This came from the community of Benedictine nuns at Curzon Park, Chester, lineal descendant of the Feltham ‘remainers’, whose published history includes the information that Fr Shoults (for- merly Schultz; I managed to slip this detail into the Index) acted as chaplain to the community ‘from the earliest days [before the split with Ignatius?] until his death in 1886. A learned man, he intro- duced many other clergymen and The Revd J.J. de Winton and his wife, useful friends.... Although it was photographed at Hay Vicarage: not always certain that he would image courtesy of their grandson arrive to celebrate the Eucharist Bishop David Jennings

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In old age he told his grandson otherwise Francis Thomas More David Jennings (later Bishop of (New Llanthony Abbey pp. 374, 379). Warrington) how he had ridden Our good friend Richard Barton to the monastery over the moun- blogs enthusiastically on the tains, arriving in time to join the byways of Roman and brothers for Vespers and to hear Anglo-Catholic history (www. their Confessions. The next morn- btsarnia.org), with a section ing he would celebrate Mass and devoted to Llanthony and Fr renew the Reserved Sacrament Ignatius, some of it derived from before returning to his parish. the collected papers of the late Bishop Jennings was unable to say Donald Halliday, and recently how often or exactly when these included this postcard photograph. visits took place, but it’s unlikely they continued after the contro- A note pasted on the back has the versial ordination of Frs Asaph following explanation. It is signed and Gildas in the spring of 1909. ‘Fr Aelred’ (Carlyle), and would date from the period between One of those who would have his community’s reception into benefited from Fr de Winton’s the RC Church in 1913 and his ministrations was ‘Brother Frank’, departure for Canada in 1921:

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018

Frontispiece of Gordon Windle’s memoir of his uncle, the Reverend John Windle

Master stonemason John Barber of Llanigon (right) and his assistant Luke at the Wayside Calvary earlier this year. They were able to conserve the original inscription on one of the pillars which reads ‘The Burning Bush Opposite’

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‘Fr. Thomas More’—late organist of local institution as an ‘infirm adult’ Llanthony Abbey: now a lay-reader in (he was then approaching 70); this Whitechapel where he runs High Church time he was listed as a clerk. Missions to the Jews. Another report from Richard The ‘Fr’ in this case is not a Barton concerns Ann Easley (Sis- contraction of ‘Father’ but an ter Winifred), who financed the abbreviation of his first name, purchase of the monastery site much as in the case of his younger at Capel-y-ffin. A letter from her contemporary ‘Fr’[ederick] Rolfe, great-niece to an unidentified otherwise Baron Corvo. relation includes an account of More was born into an upper Ignatius’s visits to the family home working-class family in Dept- in Highgate, and the intriguing ford in 1848 (his father was a detail that Miss Easley had the coachman, and later an omnibus job of ordering Ignatius’s (and conductor) and died in Stepney in presumably the community’s) 1930. In three successive censuses religious habits from Shoolbreds, he is listed as a teacher: in 1871 the well-known Tottenham Court in an Essex village and in 1881 in Road department store. It was also Streatham, on both occasions oc- rumoured that some of the Easley The statue of Our Lady in its current family silver had been melted location outside the Abbey ruin, cupying the house tied to a local on the Monastery forecourt (also see p.4) elementary school. In 1891 he was down to provide altar vessels for proprietor of a private education- the abbey church; I wonder what al establishment in Twickenham; became of them. this did not last long, however, I’m most grateful to the people as in 1901 he was living with his who have provided these fasci- sister and brother-in-law in Ham- nating details, and am always on mersmith and acting as an insur- the lookout for more information ance agent. Some time later in about the monastery and those that decade he went to Llanthony who lived there. An expanded as a resident associate (could he edition of my book is probably too be the bearded figure in the group ambitious a project to hope for, photo on p. 369 of my book?); by but with the Editor’s agreement I 1911 he was lodging with a Mr shall be happy to make any further and Mrs Werner in Whitechapel, additions to the story available once again giving his occupation through this Newsletter. as teacher but also presumably involved in his mission to the Jews (and still wearing his Llanthony The Trust gratefully acknowledges a donation of £1000 by Professor Elizabeth Stuart in memory of her associate’s scapular). In the win- former tutor, Bishop Geoffrey Rowell. Professor ter of 1917-18 he was admitted to a Stuart’s tribute to Dr Rowell can be found on page 10.

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018

Philip at work on the statue of Saint Aelred 8

New Llanthony Abbey: the East Window Nicholas Cope

n 1996, whilst walking the area monks until around 1910. My surrounding Capel-y-ffin in the etching shows the east wall of IBlack Mountains of South Wales, the chancel with its altar, window I came across a ruined church, and architectural arches above. which inspired me to make the A study of the form and position etching reproduced here. of the window is most illumi- At the time I knew nothing about nating because, as is usual with what appeared to be just a long churches, the window’s shape can forgotten ruin and was intrigued be seen to represent the spiritual to learn that it is, or rather was, body of Christ and the eastern the church associated with the New light from the sunrise entering Llanthony Abbey, founded in 1870 the church through this window by Father Ignatius, which housed is symbolic of Christ as the light a small community of Benedictine of the world.

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The particular position of the In the early 1990s I studied cross, located at the heart of the ‘Visual Islamic and Traditional window, has many symbolic and Arts’ at the Royal College of Art, geometric connections to the London. My interest is in geom- whole of the architectural design etry and its use at sacred sites; of the chancel wall. One exam- my continuing artwork to date ple, although there are more, is an attempt to express some is that that this heart position idea of the sacred. In 2016 my marks the centre of the circum- first book was published, The Knap ference of the upper stone arch of Howar and the Origins of Geometry, above the altar. Very soon after which describes the significant my visit to the church the part geometric proportions within of the ruin shown in my etching the architecture and ‘design’ was hidden from view by the of the 5,600 year old Neolithic addition of the current steel rein- ‘dwelling’ known as the ‘Knap of forcement. I understand that this Howar’ on the remote island of was done in order to preserve the Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland. east chancel wall of the building, which is understandable, as sadly Further information on this as well as some of my recent art works can be seen it was in grave danger of falling. at: www.ncope.co.uk

The Abbey Church c. 1970 © Oswald Jones Estate Llanthony Tertia by Edgar Holloway

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 10 Obituary Geoffrey Rowell ne of the last pieces of writ- Oing Bishop Geoffrey Rowell produced was a review of Hugh Allen’s magisterial study of Father Ignatius for the Anglo-Catholic History Society Newsletter. I was introduced to the extraor- dinary story of Father Ignatius through Geoffrey. When I was an undergraduate studying Theology at Oxford, I was sent to Geoffrey to be taught nineteenth-century Church Geoffrey was appointed Bishop of history. He could not abide long Basingstoke in 1994 but over twenty essays and forced me to master the years as chaplain of Keble College art of succinctness. He then became had fashioned Geoffrey into a sen- the supervisor of my doctorate on sitive and generous pastor as well Roman Catholic reactions to the as a first rate scholar. In 2001 he Oxford Movement and it was was appointed Bishop of Gibraltar through that research that I in Europe, a role for which he was encountered the wonderfully ideally suited. colourful Father Ignatius. Geoffrey was a man who rejoiced Geoffrey, who died in June 2017 in friendship and his friendship aged 74, was one of the world’s fore- transcended all boundaries, includ- most scholars of Tractarianism and ing those which burned within and he also embodied it. To any issue divided the Church. It was typical Geoffrey would bring the questions: of Geoffrey that though he opposed what does Scripture say about this; the ordination of women to the what did the early Church theolo- priesthood, he appointed a woman gians have to say about it, and what deacon to be his chaplain. did the Tractarians think about it? Geoffrey had a catholic mind which As a young man he devel- manifested itself in a catholic heart oped a life-long interest in and full of humour and kindness. admiration for Orthodoxy, It was an honour to have been a love which turned him into a taught by him and to have known relentless and intrepid traveller. him as a friend. Many were surprised when Elizabeth Stuart

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 Two textile items in the Fr Ignatius collection at the Abergavenny Museum. All the Monastery beds had covers on this pattern, of which this is probably the only surviving example. The cope of white Welsh wool of which this is the hood came into the care of the Trust many years ago, and is said to have belonged to Fr Ignatius.

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Ignatius at Abergavenny Museum Rachael Rogers

ince the early 1990s, Abergavenny text and reference books relating to the SMuseum has held a significant subject and worked through our museum archive of material relating to Father catalogues to search for objects and im- Ignatius. Along with documents and ages that would suit the available space. photographs we also care for some She then worked with a designer and our interesting artefacts including items Welsh translator to agree the design and that belonged to Father Ignatius, layout of the information panels. a piece of the Holy Rhubarb and an illu- minated manuscript. These items are all catalogued on our Collection Manage- ment System and stored in our climate controlled stores. The collection is often consulted by interested researchers. Following popular exhibitions about Father Ignatius in 2006 and about the art of Capel-y-ffin in 2014, we wanted to have an exhibition relating to the The display covers the early life of Joseph Obituary: Will Jackson RIP Monastery in our permanent galleries. Leycester Lyne and his role in restoring Focussing on this topic gave us an op- monastic life to the Church of England. portunity to pursue our policy of mov- It looks at the Abbey Church as well as ing away from a series of cases relating the Monastery in Capel-y-ffin and its to generic historical topics, one would residents. We look at Ignatius’ role as see in many museums, to looking at a mission preacher and the Visions of those that have a much more locally 1880. We also make reference to the later distinctive story. residents of the monastery and the role of the Memorial Trust today. We were lucky enough to receive funding to revamp our cases, produce The display is within our Keep Gallery information panels and display our alongside displays on our other notable objects from both the Father Ignatius local figures, namely Lady Llanover and Memorial Trust and also the Federation Whiskey the Turnspit Dog. These were of Museums and Galleries of Wales. also researched and designed by volun- The latter due to the inclusion of the teers, as were the archaeology displays. Holy Rhubarb, as they were specifically We hope that you will come to visit us to funding projects where natural history find out more about Ignatius and some of objects were being interpreted. the other interesting topics to be found We were also fortunate in having Mary in Abergavenny Museum. Ann, one of our volunteers, offer to We are open 11am to 4pm every day write the text and select illustrative (please note we are closed on Wednes- material and objects to include. Mary days from October until May). We look Ann went through previous exhibition forward to seeing you.

Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter 2018 Pilgrimage Programme Saturday 18th August 2018

11.30am Car parking is available in the Sung Eucharist at St David’s Church, official car park at Llanthony Priory for Llanthony. Preacher: Fr Martin the Eucharist at S. David’s, and in the Williams, former Archdeacon of afternoon at Chapel Farm, Capel-y-Ffin Margam. by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Watkins. 1.30pm After the Eucharist pilgrims are invited Assemble outside St David’s Church for to a BRING & SHARE LUNCH in the Pilgrimage Walk. Stout footwear is essential and weather-proof clothing recommended. picnic area next to the car park at Llanthony (a wet weather alternative 3.30pm is available). Evensong at St Mary’s Church, At the end of the afternoon service, tea Capel-y-Ffin. Preacher: Rt Rev and cake are served at a modest charge Cuthbert Brogan o s b , Abbot on the Monastery lawn, courtesy of Mr of Farnborough Abbey. Followed & Mrs Knill and helpers. by a Procession to the ruins of Please note: Fr Ignatius’ Abbey Church with Next year’s pilgrimage will take place ‘station’ at the Wayside Calvary and on Saturday, August 17th, 2019. One of the last pieces of writing Bishop Geoffrey Row- prayers at the Statue of Our Lady of [To be confirmed] ell produced was a review of Hugh Allen’s magisterial Llanthony. study of Father Ignatius for the Anglo-Catholic History Society Newsletter. I was introduced to the extraordi- Have you got your copy yet?! nary story of Father Ignatius through Geoffrey. When New Llanthony Abbey: Father Ignatius’s Monastery at Capel-y-Ffinby Hugh Allen I was an undergraduate studying Theology at Oxford, Hugh Allen’s study of Fr Ignatius’s community and the subsequent history I was sent to Geoffrey to be taught nineteenth-century of his monastery is available from selected bookshops at £18.50 per copy, or Church history. He could not abide long essays and direct from the publisher at £20 post free (orders to Peterscourt Press, 3 St Peter’s Court, Tiverton, Devon EX16 6NZ; cheques payable to R.W.H. Allen). forced me to master the art of succinctness. He then It may also be ordered online from www.amazon.co.uk became the supervisor of my doctorate on Roman Comments from some reviewers: Catholic reactions to the Oxford Movement and it was A substantial and significant book, well researched, rooted in thorough archival sources and attractively presented; comprehensive in its scope, measured and considered in its judgements through that research that I encountered the wonder- (William Davage, New Directions) fully colourful Father Ignatius. Geoffrey, who died in Forensically researched, meticulously referenced and fluently written, a winning combination that makes June 2017 aged 74, was one of the world’s foremost it as enjoyable as it is useful (Serenhedd James, Church Times) A fascinating compendium of information about a bizarre and ambiguous monastic experiment scholars of Tractarianism and he also embodied it. (Geoffrey Rowell, Anglo-Catholic History Society Newsletter) To any issue Geoffrey would bring the questions: Indispensible for Trust members, and anyone with a close interest in the monastery, and in ‘the oldest what does Scripture say about this; what did the early Marian pilgrimage in the post-Reformation Anglican Church’ Church theologians have to say about it and what did (Martin Williams, Father Ignatius Memorial Trust Newsletter) the Tractarians think about it? As a young man he developed a life-long interest in and admiration for Orthodoxy, a love which turned him into a relentless and intrepid traveller. Many were surprised when Geoffrey was appointed Bishop of Basingstoke in 1994 but over twenty years as chaplain of Keble College had fashioned Geoffrey into