Abbot Victor resigned in 1988 and died soon after. Abbot Dominic Gaisford was elected the second Abbot of Worth the same year. Abbot Dominic had a great breadth of experience; he had been Headmaster, then Co-ordinator of the Lay Community, Novicemaster and finally the Superior of the Peru mission. Soon after his election, there was a complete review of the Abbey's commitments, of the role of the monks and the role of partnership with the laity. There was change which the monks accepted as the sign of vigorous life. Abbot Dominic passed away in 1994. His replacement was voted in by the community in the same year, their new leader was to be Abbot Stephen. Since his selection he has lead the community into growth and change spiritually and physically.

The School has some monks sharing responsibilities with a large, fully involved lay staff (some of them non-Catholics). Many of the lay staff live houses in the grounds so that, as far as possible, monks, lay staff and boys form one community. The school is noted for its friendly atmosphere, excellent academic results, and a highly developed Voluntary Service (working with elderly and handicapped in the neighbourhood).

The range of life at Worth School

The Parish came into existence as an important new work in 1965. It covers the five villages of West Hoathly, Sharpthorne, Balcombe, Turner's Hill and Crawley Down including a large housing estate on the edge of East Grinstead. Four priests from the Abbey regularly serve the Catholic community in these places. In doing so, ecumenical links have grown, including the use for Mass of two Anglican churches and a United Reformed chapel.

The Worth Conferences began in 1964, at the time when the Second Vatican Council was holding its sessions, as an educational programme for adults on issues that interested Christians. Cardinal Suenens, Archbishop Ramsay of Canterbury, Bishop Robinson of Woolwich, Dom Basil Hume (later Cardinal), George Woodcock of the TUC, Enoch Powell, Professors Richard Southern and Henry Chadwick were among many others who gave talks and participated in question times and discussions. The series continued each year for fourteen years and met an important need at the time.

The Friends of Peru were founded by the Abbey in 1968. They were to be, in the first place, a body of supporters for monks from Worth who served the poor in Peru from 1969 to 1990. Their presence was in response to an appeal from the Third World. Besides supporting the monks during those years, the Friends financed a fine Health Centre in a poor suburb of Lima and other projects. The work of the Friend of Peru continues to be directed from the Abbey.

Mass being said by a Worth monk in Peru

The Lay Community was begun in 1972 to give an opportunity for people to experience life in a Christian community and, as far as possible, to share in the prayer and activities of the monastic community. Young people are welcome to come to the Lay Community as temporary visitors or as residents for one year. Great numbers of people have been associated with the Lay Community, many of whom continue their commitment in smaller groups meeting in their own neighbourhoods away from Worth. The high points of the year for the Lay Community Centre are the Easter gathering, the Annual General Meeting over the August Bank holiday, and a Christmas carol weekend to raise money for charity.

During much of July and August, several week-long projects are organised for the elderly, the disable, prisoners' children, ex-offenders and others. During the rest of the year, the Lay Community residents host weekends for student groups. Two Day Centres are held each week, one for the elderly and the other for physically disabled adults.

The Benedictine Sisters of Our Lady of Grace and Compassion are a new institute which in 1977 looked to Worth for help in the formation of junior sisters, many of them from overseas. They have a house in the grounds. The sisters run homes for old people in England, India, Sri Lanka and Kenya. Normally they spend a year at Worth before being posted to their assignments.

The Community of St.Peter's, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, was launched by a group of monks from Worth in 1983 as an ecumenical house of prayer. Since 1990, it has continued as a lay community with the same purpose of providing a place for prayer, reflection and pastoral care in South London.