"All the monastery utensils and all its belongings he is to regard as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar." (R.B ch.31)

The Benedictine life is a whole where prayer, work and everything else that builds up a Christian community is given to God and is filled with the sense of the presence of God. Work in the monastery is a fulfilment of a monk's own humanity in the service of God and of people.

"Idleness is the enemy of the soul" is St.Benedict's starting point. This is not as negative as it sounds because it soon becomes clear that he wants to promote a balanced life. His second principle follows naturally; a monastic community must earn its living, even if that means working under pressure at times. St.Benedict expected monasteries to have monks with special skills. In later ages, when monks became priests, a tradition of educational and scholarly activity developed.

Serving People

For over 350 years, the monks of the English Benedictine Congregation have been strongly committed to pastoral work, scholarship and education. Worth has a parish with its centre at the Abbey and Sunday mass centres in four villages. The Abbey Church is frequently used by the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton for confirmations and other gatherings. One of the monks acts as Episcopal Vicar for Religious and links with the Diocese are highly valued. Although Worth's Foundation in Peru has been closed, contact with and support for the people of Peru is maintained through the Friends of Peru. Monks and lay teachers work together in the school attached to the Monastery. The school has a reputation for high academic standards and is equally committed to voluntary social work in the neighbourhood.

The Worth campus in 1990

Building Community

In the monastery there are many types of work, though, of course, not every monk will be engaged in each of them. There are household chores and manual work such as working in the monastery forest or garden. Some monks have special skills which make a great contribution to the life of the community, for example, nursing, printing, writing music and computing. Others are involved in administration, which can involve anything from maintenance and building to accountancy and management. They hold a stewardship over these resources on behalf of the monastic community and of the world at large.

At Worth, one or two monks work with the Worth Abbey Lay Community, a group of people who come to experience Christian community and the spirit of prayer. Besides the hospitality of the Lay Community Centre, the monastery also welcomes guests looking for a space in which to meet God. The Guestmaster is responsible for this very important work. Other monastic posts include those of Prior (the Abbot's deputy), Novicemaster, Choirmaster, Infirmarian and Librarian.

Lay Community walkers on Maundy Thursday

Benedict sees us as giving praise to God through our work. Just as we praise God in our worship, so also we praise Him in our work, especially by the reverence we show to the implements and property of the monastery. "All the monastery utensils and all its belongings he is to regard as if they were the sacred vessels of the altar." (R.B. ch.31). Work, however mundane, brings us close to God if we are co-workers with Christ in his creative and redemptive mission. This gives meaning and love to all that we do.