150th Anniversary of Monastic Life at Belmont

Visit of the Bishops and Clergy of Cardiff and Menevia
4th May 2010

On the feast of the 40 Marytrs of England and Wales the Community were delighted to welcome the clergy of the dioceses of Cardiff and Menevia and its bishops. Archbishop Peter Smith had just a few days previously had been appointed the new Archbishop of Southwark, but was still able to be present and presided at the Mass. Bishop Tom Burns of Menevia also joined the celebration along with Bishop Mark Jabalé, its retired Bishop who had been Abbot of Belmont.

Belmont has a significant role in the history of the Catholic Church in Wales and Herefordshire, as it served as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Newport and Menevia, as it was then, for over 50 years. From the time of its foundation until 1920 when it was transferred to Cardiff, Belmont was a Cathedral Priory, in the model of the mediaeval cathedrals of England such as Canterbury, Winchester, Durham and Worcester. It was thus home of a Benedictine monastic chapter where the senior monks of the community were the canons of the Cathedral.

The first bishop of Newport and Menevia, Thomas Joseph Brown (who served from 1850-1880) lies in the Abbey Church under an elegant tomb designed by Peter Paul Pugin. There is also a memorial to Cuthbert Hedley, its second bishop (1880-1895).

Below are some photographs of the occasion. Abbot Paul's homily is posted separately.