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Abbot Christopher Jamison Delivers Historic Lecture at Westminster Abbey
Last week, Abbot Christopher Jamison delivered the prestigious Charles Gore Lecture at Westminster Abbey, marking a significant and historic occasion. His address was the first given in the Abbey by an Abbot President since the Reformation.
The moment was made all the more meaningful by the presence of fellow Benedictine leaders, as the Abbots of Douai and Ealing joined our own Abbot, Abbot Mark Barrett, for the occasion. Their attendance reflected a sense of shared heritage and unity within the monastic community.
Prior to the lecture, the Dean of Westminster extended a special invitation to Abbot Christopher to lay flowers on the tomb of Abbot John Islip, the last Abbot President before the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This symbolic act served as a poignant link between past and present.
As Canon Hawkey observed, the gesture represented “a small step towards healing the wounds of the Body of Christ,” underlining the ecumenical and reconciliatory significance of the event.
The occasion was both memorable and moving, offering a powerful moment of reflection on history, faith and unity within the Church. A video recording of the lecture is available to view here.
Photo credit: The Dean and Chapter of Westminster
