Station 5 : The Fern Leafed Beech and Abbey

Listening Looking Up Creative Writing “Punching” tree Role Play

The punching tree. Try to push the bark to make it move.

One of the windows of the Abbey Foreword by the Vicar, the Reverend Malcolm Railton Ellis MARGAM ABBEY lies in peaceful surroundings just off the M4 motorway, although most of our summer visitors approach it from the beautiful which adjoins the Abbey Church. The entrance to the park is on the A48 between Pyle and . Since 1542, the Abbey has served as a Parish Church and, in addition to a flourishing regular congregation, has a society of FRIENDS OF THE ABBEY whose membership extends throughout the United Kingdom and as far as New York in the U.S.A. A large body of volunteers every year is involved in the task of catering for thousands of visitors, by serving refreshments, assisting in the Abbey Shop, and by acting as guides in the Abbey and Museum. Their labours have made it possible to carry out much-needed restoration to the ancient fabric of the church, and their continued support will ensure that the constant work of maintenance will go on. The Story of Margam Abbey first appeared in 1979. It was a small booklet financed by local industries and business people in support of the restoration of the Abbey roof at a cost of £63,000. I am most grateful to the author, Mr. A. Leslie Evans-a local historian and former headmaster-for his permission to use the text (with a very few minor additions) in this new Guidebook. The section on Masons' Marks is the work of Mr. D. John Adams-environmental studies teacher at Margam Country Park-who has made a special study of this subject. I have great pleasure in commending this book as a token of welcome to all who visit Margam. May you find here not just a place of beauty containing echoes of the past, but also a holy place, sanctified by centuries of prayer and worship, yet a symbol of the living Church in a modern world. Then may you go away again filled with the blessing of peace.

STATION 5: MARGAM ABBEY

Did you know that

the wore

white robes?

TEACHER INFORMATION: The church is called St. Mary the Virgin. It was originally built in a cross shape. The remaining part is the lower part of the cross. A visit inside is possible but telephone prior to visit. (For more information on Margam Abbey, see Margam Park by John Adams – West council booklet.)

Photos 79 and 81.

QUESTIONS AND ACTIVITIES: Look at the building. - What is it? Look at the shapes. - What can you see? Discuss the children’s ideas. Tell them the Abbey is a church and is still used today. Like all Cistercian houses, the Abbey was dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. Margam was the biggest and richest monastery in . Walk and sit or lay under the fern leaf beech. Teacher now to tell the children about the life of the monks – Farming, livestock, writing, food and gardens, poor and guest house, the Cistercian day. Tell the children that they are now going to pretend to become monks. Use the “ Cistercian Day “ photocopy . Read up to 8am and re-enact 9am by walking in pairs into the ruins of the chapter house. Ask the children for suggestions for rules, confessions, discipline and tasks for the day given out. Tell them about the time between 10am and 7pm.

Ideas for prayers. Make up a class prayer as monks and say it at this time. E.g. Bless us as we plant our seeds, Help us to follow the rules of the monastery, Give us inspiration for our writing, Make our crops grow strong so we can feed the poor and hungry, We ask this of you, Lord, Amen. Walk quietly in pairs out of the Chapter house and perform your allocated duties for the day. Walk around the Chapter House looking at the rest of the ruins and the altar.

OTHER ACTIVITIES : Drawing/Sketching of ruins, taking note of shapes e.g. arches, rectangles, circles. Materials used in the building. How are they different from those used today? Look through the low “window.” What can you see? What would it have looked like before the “house/castle” was built?

ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES : Walk through the arches. Look and listen. What can you hear and see? Listen to the children’s responses quietly. Reinforce the quiet/reflective time.

Please follow your map to Station 6

The Cistercian Dav

The monks' day was organised around a series of services, the arrangements of which had been fixed by St. Bernard in the 6th century. A typical day would have been as follows; times are approximate and would vary according to the season. Monks are woken by the Sacristan or his deputy and leave their dormitory by the night stairs for

2 a.m. Matins and Lauds (separated by a period of reading) Return to dormitory if dawn had not broken.

5.45 a.m. The monks are woken again and leave by the day stairs for

6. a.m. Prime (A short service) Breakfast -bread with a little ale or wine.

8 a.m. Terce (Another short service).

9 a.m. Chapter -the monks meet in the chapter house for prayer, reading from the scriptures and a daily reading of the rule of the monastery, followed by the confession of faults. Monks guilty of breaking the rules were disciplined. Business affairs were discussed and tasks for the day given out.

10 a.m. High mass -communion service and the main service of the day. On Sundays and Festivals this would be preceded by a procession.

11 a.m. Dinner in Frater (dining room) pottage bread, fruit, fish and cheese also ale or wine. Only those in the Infirmary were allowed meat. During the meal passages from the scriptures were read from the pulpit, there being strict rules of silence.

12noon Sext, followed by Work in the fields, gardens, cellars, chesters or scriptorium

3 p.m. None. Work as above

6 p.m. Vespers -Evensong Supper -bread, fruit, some kind of pottage, Collation -reading in the cloister walk

7 p.m. Compline the last service of the day

After a hard day's activities the monks would at last return to the dormitory.