Latest News

St. Philip's Priory, Chelmsford, England
  • 14th January – Godfrey (and Gerlac)
    The 14th January marks two saints who have long been venerated in the Order. The 14th January is now marked as the memorial of St. Godfrey, but in the traditional Premonstratensian Breviary and missal it was marked as the feast … Continue reading →
  • The Holy Name
    Today we celebrate the memoria of the Holy Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Whilst at the conventual Mass in the Canonry this morning, I began to wonder what’s in a name? The liturgical feast of the Holy … Continue reading →
  • 2012
    MMXII 2012 1626 years since the conversion of Our Holy Father Augustine 1582 years since the death of Our Holy Father Augustine 932 years since the birth of Our Holy Father Norbert 897 years since the conversion of Our Holy … Continue reading →
  • Christmas and the Birth of Our Order
    “Indeed many religious men, both bishops and abbots, had advised him in various ways, one suggesting the eremitic life, another that of an anchorite, still another to take up the lifestyle of the Cistercians. But Norbert, whose work and plans … Continue reading →

Welcome to the homepage of St. Philip's Priory, Chelmsford. The community is a canonry of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (also known as Premonstratensians, Norbertines and the White Canons) which was founded in 2004.

As Canons Regular our life is centred on the worthy celebration of the Divine Office and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Rule of St. Augustine, together with the Constitutions of our Order, are the leaders and guides of our life.

The Order was founded by Our Holy Father Norbert on Christmas Day 1121 when he and his companions made their first profession at Prémontré in the diocese of Laon, France; the place that was to become the mother house of the Order until the French Revolution.

The Canons first came to Britain in 1143 and at the time of the Dissolution had already established some 48 houses. In 1872 the Order was re-established in this country and to this day we strive to live according to the Rule of Our Holy Father Augustine and the inspiration of Our Holy Father Norbert, ready to be, as the motto of the Order states, 'ad omnes opus bonum parati', (prepared for every good work). We hope you will enjoy this visit to our site and will learn more about our life and history.
 

You Are My Order...

“You are my Order. Just as bishops have their canons delegated to offer public prayer in their diocese, in the same way you are my canons, not just for one diocese, but for the universal Church.”

- Pope Pius XI

St. Norbert on the Priesthood

O Priest, who are you?
You are not yourself because you are God
You are not of yourself because you are the servant and minister of Christ.
You are not your own because you are the spouse of the Church.
You are not yourself because you are the mediator between God and man.
You are not from yourself because you are nothing.
What then are you? Nothing and everything.
O Priest!
Take care lest what was said to Christ on the cross be said to you:
"He saved others, himself he cannot save!"

178 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0AR, UK