St. Philip's Priory
Encyclopedia
St. Philip's Priory situated on New London Road in Chelmsford
, Essex, UK is a Premonstratensian
priory
of canons regular
. It is dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St. Philip Benizi.
The site was formerly a private house, but was brought by Mr. Henry Shepperd in 1927 for the purpose of installing a community of Servite nuns. The priory and its chapel was solemnly blessed and opened on 15 September 1927, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
, by Bishop Doubleday (Bishop of Brentwood 1920–51). The Servites ran the priory and an adjoining school until the 1990s when the house was purchased by the diocese for use as a presbytery for the nearby parish of Our Lady Immaculate. The Premonstratensian community, which had originally been founded in 2004 in Manchester
, established their home at the priory in October 2008 at the request of Bishop Thomas McMahon
of Brentwood
.
The Premonstratensians serve the parish of Our Lady Immaculate on New London Road, together with that of Holy Name, in the Moulsham Lodge area of Chelmsford. The canons also function in other roles, such as in academia and chaplaincy work. The priory is also a centre of the Archconfraternity of the Mass of Reparation.
Before the Reformation
the Premonstratensians had a house at Beeleigh Abbey
in Maldon and owned land throughout Essex, including in the Moulsham
area where St. Philip's Priory now stands.
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, Essex, UK is a Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
of canons regular
Canons Regular
Canons Regular are members of certain bodies of Canons living in community under the Augustinian Rule , and sharing their property in common...
. It is dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and St. Philip Benizi.
The site was formerly a private house, but was brought by Mr. Henry Shepperd in 1927 for the purpose of installing a community of Servite nuns. The priory and its chapel was solemnly blessed and opened on 15 September 1927, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows
Our Lady of Sorrows , the Sorrowful Mother or Mother of Sorrows , and Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows or Our Lady of the Seven Dolours are names by which the Blessed Virgin Mary is referred to in relation to sorrows in her life...
, by Bishop Doubleday (Bishop of Brentwood 1920–51). The Servites ran the priory and an adjoining school until the 1990s when the house was purchased by the diocese for use as a presbytery for the nearby parish of Our Lady Immaculate. The Premonstratensian community, which had originally been founded in 2004 in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, established their home at the priory in October 2008 at the request of Bishop Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahon (bishop)
Thomas McMahon is the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Brentwood.-Life:Bishop McMahon grew up in Harlow and attended St. Bede’s Grammar School, Manchester, before training for the priesthood at St. Sulpice, Paris...
of Brentwood
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brentwood is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in England. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Westminster.-Overview:...
.
The Premonstratensians serve the parish of Our Lady Immaculate on New London Road, together with that of Holy Name, in the Moulsham Lodge area of Chelmsford. The canons also function in other roles, such as in academia and chaplaincy work. The priory is also a centre of the Archconfraternity of the Mass of Reparation.
Before the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
the Premonstratensians had a house at Beeleigh Abbey
Beeleigh Abbey
Beeleigh Abbey near Maldon in Essex, England, was a monastery constructed in 1180 for the White Canons, otherwise known as the Norbertines or Premonstratensians...
in Maldon and owned land throughout Essex, including in the Moulsham
Moulsham
Moulsham is a suburb of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It is located to the south of the town centre and has two distinct areas: Old Moulsham and Moulsham Lodge.-History:...
area where St. Philip's Priory now stands.