Expression of faith on the site of an ancient abbey

Lesnes Abbey is situated in the parish of St Benet, Abbey Wood. The abbey was founded in 1178 by Richard de Lucy, who, in 1170, had been complicit with Henry II in the murder of St Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He built the abbey within the boundaries of his Manor in reparation and, having assumed the religious habit, ended his days there and was buried in the Chapter House.

The abbey was a foundation of the Augustinian Canons within the Diocese of Rochester. It was closed in 1524 by Cardinal Wolsey to raise revenue to found a college in Oxford, but at Wolsey's fall in 1530 the site became the property of the King.

Visit Bexley Council's site: Lesnes Abbey

History of Lesnes Abbey (pdf)
 

Archbishop Kevin presents gifts to the First Communion children in
St Benet's Church Hall before the procession

The start of the procession

Threatening clouds! Although the weather was bad, there was a break for the procession and Benediction to take place. The sun even came out during part of Archbishop Kevin's homily.

Archbishop Kevin with the First Communion children

Helpers clear the temporary altar, erected within the site of the abbey church, after Benediction

Father David Camilleri, parish priest of St Benet's, Abbey Wood with Father Michael Scanlon, parish priest of St Peter's, Woolwich

Archbishop Kevin with Deacon Con Boyle, who was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Edwin Regan of Wrexham the previous day at St John's Seminary, Wonersh. Deacon Con will exercise his pastoral diaconate at St Peter's, Woolwich, until his ordination to the priesthood in 2008. Please see final photo below.

Archbishop Kevin with Father David Camilleri at the end of the day

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Deacon Con Boyle (right) after his ordination to the diaconate by Bishop Edwin Regan at the Lady Shrine in the Ambulacrum of St John's Seminary, Wonersh