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St. Philip's Priory, Chelmsford, England
  • Election of Our Prior
    Magno cum gaudio notum facimus omnibus carissimis praelatis, superioribus, consororibus et confratribus Ordinis Nostri, Canoniam nostram Caesaromagi, quae vulgo “Chelmsford” dicitur, Angliae, praesente Amplissimo Domino, Domino Praemonstratensi, Thoma Handgrätinger, Abbate Generali, in die 18 mensis Februarii, Anno Salutis MMXII, in … Continue reading →
  • St. Evermode
    Today we celebrate the memoria of Saint Evermode († 1178); one of Our Holy Father Norbert’s closest friends and disciples, he was also the first of a long line of Premonstratensian bishops of Ratzeburg and is credited with the conversion of the … Continue reading →
  • In the footsteps of St. Norbert
    Taking advantage of the traditional post-examination ‘vakantie’ Br. Rupert was able to spend a few days in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was an opportunity to visit and pray at some of the sites closely associated with the life … Continue reading →
  • St. Frederick
    Today in our Order we commemorate St. Frederick. Frederick Feikone was the son of a poor widow from Hallum in Friesland. His priestly vocation was already noticed in his early years and his pastor gave him his first Latin instructions. … 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