Discovering Vespers: our visit to Farnborough Abbey
Updated: Sep 14
By Paul Salisbury
One Saturday, my wife and I visited St Michael’s Abbey in Farnborough and joined a guided tour led by one of the Benedictine monks. We discovered a place rich in history, beauty and prayer—right on our doorstep.
The tour introduced us to the monastery and its connections with France and the French Imperial Family. There was so much to notice in the Abbey Church, from its architecture to the windows and artwork. I won’t give everything away: these are details best discovered on a visit!
The Imperial Crypt is the resting place of Napoleon III, Empress Eugénie and their son, the Prince Imperial. The Abbey is also home to the National Shrine of St Joseph and remains a place of prayer and pilgrimage.
We enjoyed browsing the shop too, where we bought a few things to take home.
Discovering Vespers
We also attended Vespers on Sunday evening. Before our visit, we didn’t know what Vespers was. It is the Church’s Evening Prayer, part of the Liturgy of the Hours, which joins the prayer of communities and individuals across the world.
We found it a peaceful and enjoyable experience, and would warmly recommend it. Visiting somewhere unfamiliar can feel a little daunting, but you don’t need to know everything beforehand to begin discovering more of the Church’s life of prayer.
An invitation to visit
We came away grateful to have such a special place nearby. If you have never visited, we would encourage you to explore the Abbey, join a guided tour and experience the monks’ prayer for yourself.
You can find current details about tours, Mass and Vespers on the St Michael’s Abbey website: https://farnboroughabbey.org/visiting
Please keep the Benedictine monks and the whole Abbey community in your prayers.
