You can tell from the thickness of the walls that St Ethelwold’s House is one of the oldest houses in Abingdon. The house has a Georgian front, with medieaval rooms stretching behind.
There has been a lot going on at St Ethelwold’s House this weekend. Yesterday there was an open afternoon.
I read in a leaflet called “The Fellowship of St Ethelwold” that Dorothea Pickering – the founder – hoped to create a small scale Benedictine Community at St Ethelwolds. Dorothea was interested in the history of Abingdon Abbey and named the house after St Ethelwold – a Benedictine monk who rebuilt and reinvigorated the Abbey in the tenth century. Nowadays, Bed and Breakfast, and the use of rooms for spiritual and community activities, ensure that St Ethelwold’s continues to flourish.
Another of Dorotheas interests was interfaith relationships and today – Sunday – there was a large interfaith gathering in the garden. People shared a picnic and were entertained first by a group of children singing and dancing…
Then with some Bangladeshi music …
That reminds me, Duncan Brown, the ex Mayor, invited followers of a number of different faiths to act as his Chaplain during the year he was Mayor.
St Ethelwold’s House has been an inspiration to me. I feel that it is a true spiritual home and it is the sort of place that many towns would love to have. I am delighted that it might become better known through your blog.
hello i live on oxford road road abingdon i just wanted you to please highlight the fact that tesco has started work at the ox pub my local it was a nice one too. tesco workers with tesco safety vests on were seen putting up boards around the pub and a digger digging the front.