The Benedictine Tradition at Sarum College

Sarum College was founded in 1995. Prior to that, the building housed Salisbury and Wells Theological College, but the history of theological education on the site goes back much further, perhaps even to the 12th century. This history of the site, 19 The Close, within the Cathedral Close in Salisbury, gives

Sarum a monastic feel to it. But more than this, Sarum College shapes itself specifically as Benedictine in influence. More than just an academic institution, Sarum College embodies a living tradition of Christian hospitality and reflection rooted deeply in Benedictine spirituality – a tradition that continues to deeply shape the ethos, character, focus and outreach of the college today.

The college shares its grounds with the Anglican Benedictine monks of the Nashdom community who moved into the site of the former principal’s house in 2011. Today, our Benedictine neighbours typically eat lunch in college every weekday and are a central part of life in Sarum College and in the Salisbury Cathedral Close more broadly, with Prior Simon sitting on Sarum College’s board of trustees.

Sarum College itself offers a range of educational programmes which feature St Benedict, his legacy, and that of his followers. This includes Benedict having a central role in the “Foundations and Forms of Christian Spirituality” module as part of the MA in Christian Spirituality, and several recent short courses being about Benedict or those who followed his rule.

A particularly resonant theme of Benedictine spirituality practiced at Sarum College is the hospitality offered here. Chapter 53 of Benedict’s rule says that “all guest who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” This message of radical welcome and hospitality is an important element of Sarum College’s ethos. Although not a monastery, Sarum College witnesses a great many people walk through its corridors each year who are here for many different reasons. Whether students studying for postgraduate theology qualifications, ordinands training for ministry, those in college for just a day to encounter a stand-alone course, clergy on sabbatical or retreat, those looking for spiritual inspiration, those coming to use the library, or guests staying in a room overnight, Sarum hopes that all are treated well and are given a genuine sense of being valued as part of our community, whether briefly or for a long period. Benedict asks us not just to put up with the stranger, but to listen to them and to be transformed through this encounter and conversation.

Sarum College staff and visitors eat together in the dining hall, providing a time for everyone to put down their respective tasks and to come together. We are very fortunate to have an excellent team of kitchen staff who are valued for their work in bringing those in the college together to share a meal.

A recent addition to the Benedictine legacy of the college is the gifting of a Heritage Edition of the Saint John’s Bible, which is on display at Sarum College. The Saint John’s Bible is a modern illuminated manuscript commissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. With the work on this project lasting from 1998 until 2011 and being conducted by the leading calligrapher Donald Jackson and a team of artists and scribes of significant experience, the Saint John’s Bible is the first illuminated, handwritten Bible of this size and scope to be commissioned by a Benedictine abbey in over 500 years. It is a rare gift to the college that reinforces our dedication to the Benedictine tradition. We have recently used this as part of the MA in Christian Spirituality, showing it to students as part of our modules on ‘Inspiration and Imagination’ and ‘Medieval Christian Spirituality,’ as well as exploring the calligraphy and artwork on the Song of Songs with our students who studied the text for the module on ‘Advanced Study of a Theological Text.’

Today we are grateful for the ongoing support for the Dom Gregory Dix legacy donated by the monks of the St Benedict’s Priory in Salisbury. Dr Michael Hahn is the inaugural holder of the Dom Gregory Dix Chair in Christian Spirituality, the endowment for which ensures the ongoing legacy of Benedictine life and spirituality at Sarum College. For more information about this endowment or the programmes in Christian Spirituality, contact Dr Hahn at mhahn@sarum.ac.uk.