Buckfast Abbey

Though there has been an Abbey on this site since 1018, the monastic buildings were stripped in the reformation ( 1500s) and the place left in ruins till the late 1800s.  Its a Benedictine monastery, which - though I'm not an expert on the differences between the orders, I believe they are a very community based one, and I understand that one of the main rules as a Benedictine monk, is the one about self sufficiency.

The huge church is a testament to the hard working monks of the time ( early 1900s) who rebuilt and reconstructed the building to an incredible state. We couldn't go into alot of the other buildings, but I believe that the church is built onto part of a gothic mansion which was built out of the ruins from the original Abbey.. all a bit confusing - but thats the way of building and rebuilding over the centuries.

I do love the stained glass you find in the churches - oh and the frescos on the ceilings.. Below is a picture of the fresco on the highest ceiling of the church.