Founded in 1866, Edgware Abbey stands as a testament to faith and service. Mother Monnica Skinner and Father Henry Nihill established this haven. They sought to embody God’s love through caring for the sick and needy. This mission continues today at Henry Nihill House. This care home, nestled within the Abbey’s grounds, provides nursing care. Edgware Abbey welcomes visitors seeking peace and renewal. Benedictine hospitality offers rest and reflection. St Raphael’s Retreat provides short-term accommodation. It’s a perfect space for quiet contemplation. Guests can join the community’s Divine Office and Eucharist. The nuns at Edgware Abbey live by three Benedictine vows: obedience, stability, and conversatio morum. Obedience involves listening intently to God’s voice. This voice manifests in scripture and the guidance of superiors. Stability binds a nun to her community for life. She serves under a Rule and an Abbess. Conversatio morum represents fidelity to the monastic way of life. This vow encompasses a total self-offering to God, including poverty and chastity. The Abbey’s interior reflects its history. Polychrome decorative brickwork and encaustic floor tiles adorn the space. Over-painting in some areas, likely done in recent decades, attempted to brighten the rooms. This possibly masked soiled brickwork. The paint, likely alkyd or acrylic emulsion, was applied around shelving and fixtures. This over-painting, however, compromises the original austere aesthetic. This aesthetic evokes the building’s history. Edgware Abbey remains a place of prayer, service, and peaceful reflection. It continues its founders’ mission of caring for others.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service