We Found Monks That Hid in the UK for 1,500 Years - Caldey Island

Описание: Caldey Island, just off the coast of Tenby, has been a site of Christian monastic activity for over 1,500 years, making it one of the oldest centers of religious life in Wales.

Early Celtic Monks – St. Samson (5th–6th Century)

The earliest recorded monastic presence on Caldey is linked to St. Samson of Dol, a prominent Celtic monk who traveled from Brittany to Wales.

The island served as a remote retreat for prayer, study, and ascetic life, typical of Celtic monastic practice.

Monks established small stone or wooden cells and simple altars, maintaining a life of devotion away from the mainland.

Medieval Priory – Post-Norman Influence

By the 12th century, a formal priory was established, likely under Norman patronage.

The priory came under the control of various religious orders, including the Benedictines, who maintained the island as a center of worship and hospitality for pilgrims.

Dissolution – Henry VIII (16th Century)

In the 1530s, during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries, Caldey Priory, like many others across Britain, was seized by the crown.

Monastic life on the island ceased, buildings fell into ruin, and the religious community disappeared for several centuries.

Revival – Benedictine Restoration (20th Century)

In the early 20th century, Benedictine monks from Italy arrived and restored the priory, rebuilding parts of the monastic complex.

They brought traditional Benedictine practices back to the island, emphasizing prayer, work, and hospitality.

In the 1920s, the community was taken over by Cistercian monks (Trappists), who continue to live there today.

They focus on contemplative life, prayer, and producing goods such as perfumes and chocolates to support the monastery.

The Cistercians have maintained the island’s spiritual and architectural heritage, making Caldey one of the few continuously monastic sites in the United Kingdom.