Pluscarden Abbey

We are a community of Catholic Benedictine monks living in the only medieval British monastery still being used for its original purpose.

Situated in north-east Scotland, six miles south-west of Elgin in Moray, the monastery enjoys the peace and stillness of a secluded glen, but is easily reached by road from the town. The atmosphere of quiet reflection and of work dedicated to the glory of God is the same now as it was in the thirteenth century, when a community of monks first came to this part of Moray.

If you visit the Abbey today, you can enjoy not only the beauty of its architecture and its setting but also something of the restful atmosphere of devotion that has so deeply permeated this little corner of Scotland. The Mass and full Divine Office are sung by the monks each day in the Abbey church, using Gregorian Chant.

Guests are received in the two guest houses: men and women of all faiths are welcome to make a retreat here and to share in the prayer and work of the community, or simply rest and renew their focus on what is most important.

Latest news
Pluscarden Benedictines No. 207 - Autumn 2024

The quarterly magazine which generally includes a letter from Fr Abbot, a diary of recent activity at the Abbey, book reviews and articles by monks, oblates or visitors.

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Meanwhile (12 October 2024)

As our new guest house nears completion, work has now started in earnest on the Lodge at the bottom of our drive. Our local builders Colin Thomson and Son are doing this work.

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Retreat, Apples, Building.

The Pluscarden community retreat, scheduled for the first week in October, was nearly cancelled this year when our booked preacher had to cancel due to sickness. Happily Fr. Bill Russell WF was in the area, and agreed to stand in as our preacher at a very late stage.

Homily for Sunday 26B, 29 September 2024: Mark 9:38-48 (& James 5:1-6) 8 o’clock at Pluscarden, and 11.00 St. Margaret’s Forres

In today’s Gospel we heard three or four somewhat disparate sayings of Jesus. These are part of a series of five or six which St. Mark has grouped together here. They are united by linking “catch words”. Also there’s a general theme of belonging to Jesus, or not; and the ultimate consequences of that.

I should like to focus now on the last of our sayings today: the really shocking one about millstones around necks, and hands and feet being chopped off, and eyes gouged out.

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25 September 2024: the 50th anniversary of the Abbatial Blessing of Abbot Alfred

Wednesday 25th September this year marked the 50th anniversary of Pluscarden’s attainment of Abbatial status. In mediaeval times Pluscarden was always a Priory, ruled by a Prior. He had the right to use a crozier, but not a Mitre. But on this day in 1974 Dom Alfred Spencer, up to then Prior of Pluscarden, was blessed as Abbot by Bishop Michael Foylan of Aberdeen: and so Pluscarden became an Abbey.

Homily for Sunday 25B, 22 September 2024, Mark 9:30-37; James 3:16-4:3

St. Margaret’s Forres Supply

There are two attitudes, or mind-sets, or approaches to life. They areradically different, and opposed to one another. One is worldly, the other Christian. The worldly attitude puts self first, and seeks to gain what it can for whatever seems good for Me. The Christian attitude puts self aside, or even puts self to death (cf. Rm 8:13, Col 3:5 etc.). Instead it looks to Jesus, to God; seeking always and above all to follow Jesus, to belong to him, to be united with him.

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Haydn's Creation

The concert performance of Haydn's Creation duly took place in Pluscarden's Transepts on Saturday 7th of September. Space being extremely limited, every available seat was snapped up well before the day.

Homily for Sunday 33B, 8 September 2024: Isaiah 35:4-7; Mark 7:31-37

Today’s first reading was from the 35th Chapter of Isaiah. Isaiah Chapter 35 is quite brief, but it’s one of the loveliest passages in the Bible. Samuel Sebastian Wesley set nearly the whole Chapter to music in his great Anthem “The Wilderness”: of course according to the sonorous cadences of the Bible authorised by King James in the early 17th century. We have the same text most memorably set by Handel in his Messiah.

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New Abbot President

The General Chapter of our Congregation was held at Montserrat in Catalonia, Spain from Friday 30 August to Saturday 7 September.

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Vespers in Elgin Cathedral: Saturday 31 August 2024

Elgin Cathedral was founded by King Alexander II 800 years ago, in the year 1224.
Historic Scotland, who own and maintain the site, have done their best to mark this significant anniversary. But among all the events and promotions, there seems to have been no Christian religious service included anywhere.

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An Urquhart Stone come to Pluscarden

As part of its quite radical reorganisation, in view of declining numbers, the Church of Scotland recently closed its long standing parish at Urquhart. Urquhart is a small village some 5 miles or so East of Elgin. There, some time between 1130 and 1150, King David founded a Benedictine Priory, established as a daughter house of Dunfermline Abbey.

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St Joseph's Guest House Building Progress 24 August 2024

By the time you read this report on our new building, it will be out of date. This is a good testimony to the speed and efficiency with which our building contractors, Robertson Northern, have conducted the operation.

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