The Abbey was founded in 1835 on land donated by Ambrose Lisle March Phillipps de Lisle.
The brewery produces 'Tynt Meadow,' a high-gravity English Trappist ale brewed on-site by the monks.
The monastery was elevated to the status of an Abbey in 1848.
Architect Augustus Pugin, famous for his work on the Palace of Westminster, designed the abbey's original church structure.
The monks observe the 'Great Silence' daily, typically lasting from the evening until the following morning's liturgical services.
The monastery is part of the International Trappist Association, which regulates the use of the 'Authentic Trappist Product' label.
The monks operate a farm and garden that supplies produce for the monastery's needs.
The abbey is surrounded by the ruins of a pre-Reformation monastery, reflecting the site's long religious history.
Mount St. Bernard Abbey is the only Cistercian monastery in England and the first established in the country since the Reformation. The community follows the Rule of St. Benedict, prioritizing prayer, manual labor, and hospitality. In 2018, the monks launched the Tynt Meadow brewery, making it the first Trappist brewery in the United Kingdom. The abbey church, designed by Augustus Pugin, features a distinct Gothic Revival architectural style. The grounds include a monastic shop and a small museum detailing the history of the order. Visitors are permitted to walk through designated sections of the abbey’s estate, which is situated within the Charnwood Forest area. The monks maintain a strict commitment to silence and withdrawal from public life.
The exterior view of the Gothic Revival abbey church from the main approach path offers the best perspective of its structural architecture.
Check the abbey website for the specific schedule of liturgical services, as public access to the church is often limited to these times.
Bring sturdy footwear if you plan to walk the trails in the surrounding Charnwood Forest.
Purchase a bottle of Tynt Meadow ale at the abbey shop to support the monastic community directly.
Do not attempt to enter private monastic living quarters or restricted enclosure areas.
The abbey church and shop may have limited access during specific religious retreats or feast days; check the website calendar before traveling.
Maintain silence, particularly inside the church and near the cloister; dress modestly as this is an active religious site.
