Worth 75 : A Celebration

The 28^th September 2008 marks an historic milestone in the diverse and colourful history of Worth School.  It will be 75 years, to the day, since the Monastic Office was first celebrated; while 1933 also saw the arrival of the monks and the establishment of Worth Priory by a founding community of monks from Downside Abbey.

From the outset of Worth's history, there has been a monastery and a school on the campus.  The school was originally simply a prep school for Downside School.  This situation changed on the 20^th September 1959 when the Senior School was founded.

And so, the 28^th September 2008 will mark the first day of a full year of celebrations which will run until 20^th September 2009. 

Worth ‘75 will celebrate not just the past, but also the present and the future of Worth.  A key feature of Worth has been, is now, and will continue to be its diversity.  This evolving diversity has the Monastery at its absolute heart.

The aim is to celebrate that diversity and seek to strengthen the links between the various constituents of Worth.  Besides the monastic community (past and present) and the school (which encompasses past pupils, parents and teachers as well as the current school body), there is the Parish; Outreach Peru; the Lay Community of Saint Benedict; the Open Cloister; the Abbey estate.  They will be all linked through Worth '75 when we will celebrate our history, renew our spiritual and educational work, and look to the future with faith in Christ.

Worth Society has a significant part to play in the celebrations for Worth '75. I am on the Steering Group as a member of Worth Society's Committee, and Nick Butterworth and Simon McMenemy are involved in the co-ordinating meetings where all the different constituents attend.  

The Worth '75 Calendar of Events is to be published after Easter.  Worth Society will take the lead in the organisation of specific events and projects - including a concert featuring the musical and vocal talents of past students.  There is so much outstanding talent that has emanated from Worth, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to bring everyone together before a capacity audience within the Abbey Church.  

We encourage Worth Society members and all past students to participate in the events and projects led by the Society, and also to attend the many other spectacular events which will take place during this historic year for Worth.

Father Luke Jolly