On this site of the first Cistercian Abbey in Britain, we are developing a modern monastic community and a 24-7 House of Prayer, for all nations and generations, open to everyone.
Waverley Abbey has a remarkable history as a site of Christian prayer and worship for over 1,300 years. The land was dedicated in 688AD as a place of prayer and witness. In 1128AD it’s where the first Cistercian monastery in Britain was built, whose ruins can still be seen today. And in recent memory, the work of Selwyn Hughes and CWR has a legacy we’re continuing today.
In 2026, we are at a critical moment in world history; a moment of profound spiritual, economic and social upheaval in the UK and across the world. Our response is to establish, in partnership with 24-7 Prayer, a radical new centre of prayer, learning, commerce and connection.
