31 Aug August 2026 Digest

Welcome back to Mucknell Abbey, for another look at what we’ve been up to this month. As I write, we’re enjoying some much needed rain; after a very hot and dry couple of months the grounds and garden will both benefit enormously from a good soaking. As you may have seen in the news, one consequence of that heat and dryness was a number of fires around the West Midlands; we’ve been affected by smoke drifting over on a few occasions, particularly from the fire in Pershore, and continue to keep all those who have lost homes and possessions in our prayers, along with the Emergency Services who do so much to care for their communities.

Musical Chairs

Don’t worry, we haven’t suddenly started hosting children’s parties! Instead, eagle eyed visitors will notice that a few of us have changed places in chapel – this sometimes happens as a general move-round to even up voices or numbers on each side, but on this occasion has a little more significance. After 20 years as Prior, Br. Philip has stepped down from this role, and Sr. Alison has taken his place as our new Prioress. The most noticeable part of the Prior or Prioress’ role is that they deputise as superior of the Community when the Abbot or Abbess is absent from the monastery – this includes signalling the beginning and end of the Office, saying grace before and after meals, as well as other less visible jobs such as filling in the log book at the end of each day. They also provide general support to the Abbot/Abbess, often helping to carry out administrative tasks. Sr. Alison got a rather speedy introduction to her new role as Abbot Thomas was away on holiday less than a week after she was formally appointed; the monastery was still standing when he got back, so we can count that as a success. Do please keep her in your prayers as she settles into this new role, and give thanks too for Br. Philip’s many years of faithful service.

Garden and Grounds

We are very fortunate here to have a borehole in our orchard, which would have been the main source of water for the farm that occupied the site before us. It now supplies water to the kitchen garden irrigation system, which is an enormous blessing, and means that most of our fruit and veg is doing fairly well. We’ve started to enjoy apples and pears from the orchard, and the courgettes (which sometimes become marrows) are still doing well, as are carrots, tomatoes, beans and sweet pepper. The sweetcorn are pollinating themselves, so hopefully we’ll have some tasty treats there soon too. We’ve been continuing to stock up the freezers as well.

The wider estate is pretty parched, although some recent showers have restored some green, and Noah the mower is out doing his thing once again. A consequence of being on heavy clay soil here is that the ground shifts quite a lot seasonally, including some alarmingly large cracks in the paths round the estate. The swales and pond have also been very dry, which at least has given Br. Adrian a chance to clear some of the reeds that, while providing a valuable habitat, will completely take over and clog up the swales if left to their own devices.

Eclipse Watching

Along with much of the rest of the country, we did our best to watch the solar eclipse on the 12th, even moving the time of supper a bit later so we could enjoy the show. We had quite a lot of cloud cover, but fortunately were still able to get a reasonable look at the sun when the eclipse was at its height (using the proper viewing glasses, of course). There was a noticeable dimming and cooling, as you’ll see from the photos below. The cloud cover, for all it was irritating, did make for some pretty impressive pictures:

Afternoon Tea

Having put on various events here over the summer, it was lovely to be invited over to Rob and Mike’s for afternoon tea a couple of weeks ago. Rob was previously Archdeacon of Worcester, and so lived fairly close to Mucknell; August’s afternoon tea at the Archdeacon’s house was a regular part of our summer, and we’re delighted that the tradition has continued now Rob has retired. He and Mike also invite the Franciscans from Glasshampton Monastery, along with a few others, and so it was a good opportunity to catch up, as well as enjoying some lovely tea and cake. We also sang Vespers together in the garden.

Rocky’s Roamings

Rocky has had a fairly quiet month by all accounts, not showing himself around the place very much. Br. Stuart, in whose room Rocky mostly resides, was away for a few days, which meant Rocky had to put up with substitute care (i.e., me). He didn’t seem too disgruntled by this, and was waiting outside Stuart’s window to be let in for breakfast each morning. This also gave me an opportunity to get a reasonably respectable photo of him. He doesn’t look entirely thrilled by this, but still. Such is life.

And finally…

One of the great delights of summer here, for me at least, is watching the swallows swooping so artistically round the buildings, garden and grounds. There seems to be such an exuberance to their movements, and the way they interact with and weave around each other in the air. I’m sure much of it is purely practical, as they aim to catch as many insects as they can, but I can’t help but feel – and perhaps hope – that they’re enjoying themselves, exulting in what it is to be a swallow. They remind me that I too can find joy in what it is to be myself in this world, as the unique person that God has created me to me – as well as finding joy in the being of every living thing around me. I hope and pray that as summer begins to give way to autumn, we may all find this joy, we may all see the creator present in creation, and present in ourselves too. Amen.