The Benedictine Abbey Camperdown

The Monks and Nuns of St Mark’s Abbey, (Camperdown-Cobden Rd, Camperdown, Victoria, Australia), are Anglican Christian men and women who live a monastic life according to the Rule of St Benedict. The foundation of our life is prayer. The seven-fold Office (times of corporate prayer), form the framework of our day. The first Office of the day is Vigils at 4.30 am with times for Lectio Divina (a prayerful reading of scripture) and personal prayer throughout the day.

Our work is within the monastery and we support ourselves chiefly through printing, the making of incense, and mounting icons. Hospitality is an important part of our life. In response to Saint Benedict’s injunction to welcome all guests as we would welcome Christ, we care for guests in the Abbey Guest House and for the visitors who find here a place in which to worship God.

The monastic life is a life of prayer, commitment, love, work, generosity and joy. God calls men and women to consecrate themselves to his service in this way. Entry into the monastic life is not an easy option, but those whom God calls he also enables and as love grows so life blossoms into fullness in the joy of response to our loving Father.

The community was founded in the Anglican parish of St Mark, Fitzroy, in the Diocese of Melbourne, when the first two monks were clothed on the 8th November 1975. After working in this inner city parish for five years, the Rule of Saint Benedict was adopted and the community became a monastic house.

To better live a monastic life of prayer, the community moved to Camperdown in the Western District of Victoria. In 1993 the decision was made to become a dual community of Monks and Nuns. To this end the community of Monks was assisted by two Anglican Benedictine Nuns from Malling Abbey in the UK.

The Monastery Church was consecrated in 1995. The Silver Jubilee of foundation was celebrated in 2000. In 2002 the first Abbott was blessed.

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