Clare Priory

My dear Friends

I have just had a visit to Clare Priory, which is in Suffolk. This 750 year old monastic foundation is in the heart of the Suffolk countryside, near the villages of Cavendish and Long Melford, which boast very fine churches.

Clare Priory is a little comunity of four priests and 2 lay women living and praying together. They welcome guests of all denominations and you are free to 'do your own thing' without any set programme. I went to rest and to pray, and was given a lovely room in the guest house overlooking the garden.

The grounds are not extensive but are very pleasant, and there is a little rose garden which is particularly beautiful. I spent quite a lot of time sitting outside as the weather was mainly very sunny.

Prayers, if you want to participate in them, are three times a day before meals (which are delicious!) with Mass every day as well. This takes place in the Oratory in the main building which is finely decorated inside. In the grounds stands the Parish Church, a dark and contemplative place which is open all day.

The Priory is adjacent to the river and there are some lovely walks, although the family of swans seems to have disappeared for the moment. apparently there is an extensive family of ducklings which I unfortunately did not see, although I did the last time I visited. Apart from being by the river I wandered into the village of Clare close by and had a drink or two in the Bell Inn-the guiness was delicious!

Ivisited the majestic Parish Anglican Church, huge and quite bare inside. It spans both side of the road in the very centre of the village and is well worth a visit.

Last night a young woman from Northern Ireland arrived at the Priory and we had a long walk in the surrounding countryside;altogether a lovely peaceful time!

Shalom from
Sister Gila