Lee Abbey
Encyclopedia
Lee Abbey is a nationwide ecumenical Christian
organisation (with a Church of England
foundation) which has a vision of "sharing Christ through relationships". Its original and largest site is Lee Abbey Devon, a Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre located on a 280 acres (1.1 km²) estate near Lynton
, North Devon
. In the decades since its founding in 1945, the ministry expanded to include youth camps on the Devon site, an International Students' Club in the centre of London
, three Household Communities in Bristol
, Birmingham
and Blackburn, and the Beacon Youth & Outdoor Activity Centre on the North Devon estate.
, North Devon
, serving around 9,000 guests per year. It is run by an international Community of around 90 people of all ages and 20 nationalities. The Community live and work together, offering hospitality, rest, activity and teaching to guests of many backgrounds. Guests can book as individuals, families or groups. The Lee Abbey Devon vision is to build community, be God's welcome and renew and serve the Church. The annual conference programme includes church weekends, creative breaks, Bible teaching, themed weeks, silent retreats, family holidays and seasonal weeks at Christmas and Easter.
in Birmingham
and Knowle West in Bristol
aim to share their faith through getting alongside people in deprived areas of British cities. The members of these Communities live out their faith and the Lee Abbey vision on a local scale, involving themselves in local community action projects with those around them.
Members of the Lee Abbey Communities are volunteers who receive their board, lodging and an allowance, and in return they serve on one of the teams that make the centres run. The working teams at Lee Abbey Devon and London are:
In addition to their team responsibilities, Community members also take full part in morning prayers, Community worship and other activities. Those in Devon serve meals and tea/coffee to guests, take part in the guests' programme and every 2-3 months take turns to lead that programme. Those in London take part in activities organised for and with the resident students.
Many Community members from all parts of the Lee Abbey Movement describe the experience as life-changing, learning new skills or growing in confidence as they are given responsibilities in team leading, entertainment or working with children. Some discover gifts that enable them to go on to become leaders in the Church or elsewhere.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organisation (with a Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
foundation) which has a vision of "sharing Christ through relationships". Its original and largest site is Lee Abbey Devon, a Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre located on a 280 acres (1.1 km²) estate near Lynton
Lynton
Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. It lies on the northern edge of Exmoor and is located at the top of a gorge above Lynmouth, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway...
, North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
. In the decades since its founding in 1945, the ministry expanded to include youth camps on the Devon site, an International Students' Club in the centre of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, three Household Communities in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Blackburn, and the Beacon Youth & Outdoor Activity Centre on the North Devon estate.
Vision
The Lee Abbey Movement's vision is to share Christ through relationships. Each part of the Movement (London, Devon and so on) lives out this aim in a unique way, and adds its own specific aims to the overall vision.History
- In 1945, following the William Temple report, "Towards the Conversion of England", Lee Abbey Devon was purchased in faith by Roger de Pemberton and Leslie Sutton, and set up as a centre for renewal and evangelism. It offered holiday houseparties and training courses - a core ministry that continues to this day.
- From 1948, annual summer camps for 13- to 25-year-olds ran on the Devon estate.
- In 1964, pioneers went out from Devon to found the Lee Abbey International Students' Club in central London, a "home from home" for international students studying in the capital.
- Household Communities were set up in AstonAstonAston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in 1988, Knowle West, BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in 1992 and Blackburn in 1995. The Aston and Knowle West households continue to thrive; Blackburn closed after 10 years of ministry in 2005. - 2004 marked the opening of The Beacon Youth and Outdoor Activity Centre, located on the Devon estate.
Lee Abbey Devon
A Conference, Retreat and Holiday Centre in a 280 acres (1.1 km²) coastal estate near LyntonLynton
Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. It lies on the northern edge of Exmoor and is located at the top of a gorge above Lynmouth, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway...
, North Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, serving around 9,000 guests per year. It is run by an international Community of around 90 people of all ages and 20 nationalities. The Community live and work together, offering hospitality, rest, activity and teaching to guests of many backgrounds. Guests can book as individuals, families or groups. The Lee Abbey Devon vision is to build community, be God's welcome and renew and serve the Church. The annual conference programme includes church weekends, creative breaks, Bible teaching, themed weeks, silent retreats, family holidays and seasonal weeks at Christmas and Easter.
Youth Camps
Camps run for 13- to 25-year-olds every summer at the Camp Field on the Devon estate. There is a two-week camp for 16-25s and there are two one-week camps for 13-18s. The Camp season usually runs from late July for four weeks, and celebrated its 60th year in 2008.International Students' Club, London
Set up in 1964 as a "home from home" for international students studying in the capital, Lee Abbey London is run by a Christian Community of approximately 40 volunteers from around the world and houses around 150 international students. The Community members are all Christians but the residents may be of all faiths and none.Household Communities
Small Communities based in households in AstonAston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Knowle West in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
aim to share their faith through getting alongside people in deprived areas of British cities. The members of these Communities live out their faith and the Lee Abbey vision on a local scale, involving themselves in local community action projects with those around them.
The Beacon Youth & Outdoor Activity Centre
Opened in 2004, The Beacon is a purpose-built outdoor centre for schools, youth groups and corporate groups of up to 40 people. It is designed to take advantage of the spectacular coastal estate in which it is located by offering climbing, orienteering, archery, crate stack, tree abseiling, nature walks and other adventure pursuits, alongside a full programme which can include Christian input where requested. The aim is to be a place where young people can learn to stretch themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.Past Community Members and Friends
Crucial to the work of the Lee Abbey Movement is its network of 3,000 supporters around the world. Some have spent some time volunteering on one of the Communities; others have been as guests and decided to commit to praying for and supporting the work. Those enrolled as Lee Abbey Friends receive a thrice-yearly 20-age Rapport magazine with Prayer Partners insert that helps them to pray specifically for the Movement's current needs.Living in Community
Lee Abbey is not a monastic or traditional religious order, and its Community members are male and female, of all ages, many countries and a variety of Christian backgrounds. A significant proportion, but not a majority, are single and in their 20s.Members of the Lee Abbey Communities are volunteers who receive their board, lodging and an allowance, and in return they serve on one of the teams that make the centres run. The working teams at Lee Abbey Devon and London are:
- Kitchen (Devon and London)
- House (Devon and London)
- Office/Admin (Devon and London)
- Maintenance (Devon and London)
- Estate (Devon only)
- Pastoral (Devon only)
- Conference (Devon only)
- Youth & Children (Devon only)
- Beacon (Devon only)
- Pudox (Devon only)
In addition to their team responsibilities, Community members also take full part in morning prayers, Community worship and other activities. Those in Devon serve meals and tea/coffee to guests, take part in the guests' programme and every 2-3 months take turns to lead that programme. Those in London take part in activities organised for and with the resident students.
Many Community members from all parts of the Lee Abbey Movement describe the experience as life-changing, learning new skills or growing in confidence as they are given responsibilities in team leading, entertainment or working with children. Some discover gifts that enable them to go on to become leaders in the Church or elsewhere.