Welcome to the Father Ignatius Memorial Trust website
The Monastery
The Monastery was founded in 1870 by Fr Ignatius with the aim of restoring monastic life to the Church of England, and it remained in monastic use for over forty years. Eric Gill, the sculptor and typographer, lived there from 1924 to 1928. It is now a private home.
The Pilgrimage
The next Trust Pilgrimage will be on Saturday September 5th 2026. Background information is given on the Pilgrimage page, and more details will be available in the 2026 Trust Newsletter and on our Facebook page in due course.
The Trust
The Trust’s objectives include the care of Ignatius’ ruined abbey church, and the nearby Wayside Calvary and statue of Our Lady, as places of pilgrimage, prayer and worship. Although the church is is now structurally unsound and unsafe for public entry, it remains a focus of the annual pilgrimage.
The Trust Archive
There is a collection of Father Ignatius Memorial Trust archive material at Abergavenny Museum. We have also made some documents and articles available on the website on the Documents page.
How you can help
We aim to keep the memory of Ignatius alive and to continue the annual Pilgrimage. You are warmly invited to make a donation and to become a Friend of the Father Ignatius Memorial Trust by subscribing to the Trust Newsletter.
(See the Help Us page).
Father Ignatius of Llanthony
Fr Ignatius OSB (Revd. Joseph Leycester Lyne, 1837-1908) was a prominent figure in the Catholic Revival which swept the 19th century Church of England. As a young man he resolved to restore to it the monastic life lost at the Reformation, and devoted the rest of his life to this aim.
Learn more
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Father Ignatius Memorial Trust
Fr Ignatius (Revd. Joseph Leycester Lyne,1837-1908) was a prominent figure in the Catholic Revival which swept the 19th century Church of England.
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The Orthodox Liturgy on Saturday 28 February has been relocated to St Michael's church, Llanfihangel Crucorney. This is on account of the landslip reported in an earlier post.
Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of Canon Colin Westbrook of St John the Baptist Newport the announcement of whose death on 19 January we have just seen (on the FB page of Tovey Bros, undertakers). Fr Colin was a regular pilgrim to Llanthony & Capel-y-ffin in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Llanthony Valley has yet again another slip which may mean restrictions in travelling in or out of the valley. ![]()
The council yesterday put up concrete barriers to prevent any traffic from moving either in or out. This barrier was removed last night (by unknown locals) but meanwhile vehicles were forced to travel via Hay on wye.![]()
A meeting is being held tomorrow ( Monday) consisting of Highways, surveyors and councillors, to determine a plan. Meanwhile be aware the valley may be inaccessible.![]()
EDIT - The Valley IS inaccessible for both vehicles and pedestrians if wishing to travel the main Valley road from Llanvihangel.
Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God![]()
Bristol![]()
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Saturday, 28th February 2026![]()
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ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE![]()
to![]()
St David's Church![]()
Llanthony![]()
Abergavenny![]()
NP7 7NN![]()
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Divine Liturgy: 11.00 a.m.![]()
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The church is built on the traditional site of St David's first monastic cell![]()
Free parking in the car park beyond the church![]()
Toilets at the far end of the car park![]()
Warm clothing and footwear recommended![]()
All welcome![]()
Bring a picnic lunch as the local hotel is closed for winter