Lamspringe: An English Abbey in Germany 1643-1803

Papers given by the History Commission of the English Benedictine Congregation and their friends at their 2003 Symposium, to mark the second centenary of the suppression of the Lamspring Abbey in 1803, with additional chapters and extensive historical lists and texts in an Appendix. At Lamspringe near Hildesheim in Germany an English Benedictine monastery grew strong 1644-1803 on a site given by the German Bursfeld Congregation. Lamspringe had a reputation for learning and a good, though small, school for English Catholic boys, made necessary by England's then anti?Catholic laws. By 1691 they had rebuilt the church in the Baroque splendour which has recently been restored: in the next forty years they built an entirely new monastery. The buildings are in very good condition, still in use, but not as a monastery. English families (mainly in the north) and German princes were generous in support The Abbey was shut down in the general suppression of 1803, but the school was moved to its present home at Ampleforth. This is the only book in English about Lamspringe and its English monks. They built a notable set of buildings, much the finest that the English Benedictines ever had, and are still remembered in the Hildesheim diocese. There are many coloured illustrations, a map, Appendix and Index. Publication (hardback) is due in March 2004. The book includes a discussion of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, Northern Ireland, and last of those martyred in England under the anti-Catholic laws. He was befriended by the monks and his body was placed in a shrine in the Abbey at Lamspringe, where he is still held in great honour. He died in some way linked to the monastic community, and this issue is discussed. Except for Prof McClelland and Herr Woerdenweber, the contibutors are English Benedictine nuns and monks. A P P E N D I X List of Monks, Students & Pastors at Lamspringe 1643-1803, of library books & of the books sold in 1830 by Sotheby's, some source texts, bibliography and General Index.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Short history of the English monks, & Abstracts of each chapter, in German 1 A German Background [R. Wordenweber] 2 Lamspringe and the English Benedictines [D. Rees] 3 The Abbots of Lamspringe [A. Bellenger] 4 Buildings and Craftsmen [A. Cramer] 5 Library Publications [G. Scott] 6 Manuscripts [A. Cramer] 7 Spirituality: Fr Baker's Legacy [M. Truran] 8 Abbot Corker & the Nuns [B. Rowell] 9 School & Studies [V. A. McClelland] 10 Saint Oliver Plunkett [A. Cramer] 11 The Suppression [A. Cramer] 12 Restoration at Broadway [R. Jones]

About the Author :
Fr Anselm Cramer was born in Kent, educated at Ampleforth College and became a monk of Ampleforth in 1954. He read English at Oxford, and taught in the College till 1974, after which he moved to administration, organising the Sports Centre, serving the College and Abbey libraries for forty years, and now acting as Archivist. He was also the College swimming coach for fifteen years, and 1980 was made an Honorary Vice-President of the Yorkshire Amateur Swimming Association.