The Abbatial Election, July 2002

On Wednesday 3rd July 2002 Father Christopher Jamison was elected the 4th Abbot of Worth. He follows in the footsteps of Fathers Victor Farwell, Dominic Gaisford and Stephen Ortiger, and his term of office runs until 2010.

Worth is one of the 13 monasteries belonging to the English Benedictine Congregation that requires all monastic communities to hold an abbatial election every eight years. All the solemnly professed members of the community are eligible to take part in the election process and to vote. Abbot Stephen took great pains in the final 12 months to ensure that the community was well prepared to make their choice in a considered and prayerful way.

The abbot is the absolutely crucial figure in any Benedictine monastery. The Rule of St Benedict has two specific chapters that outline the significant qualities and tasks: so the abbot is seen as the ‘father’ and ‘teacher’ of a family of brothers and ‘shepherd of souls’. In concrete terms the abbot appoints all the officials of the monastery.

One of the roles of the abbot is to decide how his monastery will interact with the world around it. Worth is closely involved in the life of the locality and the churches in the South East. The Abbey runs a School, a Centre for Spirituality and facilities for welcoming guests, including a Quiet Garden.

Commenting on his appointment Father Christopher said: “I am deeply touched by the confidence that the community has shown in me. The monastic life is a great gift to the church and the world. It will be my privilege to foster this gift at Worth Abbey.”

On taking up his role as Abbot, he will become president of the Board of Governors at Worth School and will work with the Governors to ensure that Worth continues to offer high standards of care in all areas of school life. Peter Armstrong, currently Deputy Head, will become Acting Headmaster for one year with effect from 1st August and during that time Father Mark Barrett will be Deputy Headmaster.

In the course of this year the Board of Governors will follow through the process of appointing a permanent headmaster.

Father Stephen wrote to friends as follows:

“Our abbatial election took place this morning and Father Christopher Jamison, who has been Headmaster since 1994 of the school attached to our monastery, was elected Abbot in succession to me. This was not wholly unexpected and I have every confidence that Christopher will do an excellent job in his new role; he and I have already had a post-election meeting and I have assured him of my 102% support. To give the new Abbot a chance to settle in, and to give myself a breather, the plan is that I will take a break this autumn, away from Worth, probably from mid September to December; details to follow.

I am not unhappy with today’s outcome; the Psalms talk in various places about ‘singing a new song’ and it seems to me that all of us, Christopher and I and the whole monastic community, are being invited to sing a new song. None of us yet knows what it is but we look forward to learning the words and music and giving it our best shot. God writes interesting songs!

Thank you so much for your interest, messages and prayers during recent weeks and months; I hugely appreciate the support you have given me.”

One substantial gift that Abbot Stephen has left us is the completed West Side of the church. This final part of the church complex had remained unfinished since the church came into use in 1974. For a long while it had looked less than pleasing; but now there is a fine aspect and the sense of a completed project.

Dom Luke (Chapman 1966-71)

Discuss:
What thoughts have you on how the Worth monastic community interacts with the world around it... and what new songs might be written of the future to come?
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