Latest News

St. Philip's Priory, Chelmsford, England
  • Corpus Christi Procession 2013
    Our Holy Father Norbert was given by the Church the title of ‘Apostle of the Blessed Sacrament’ mainly for his valiant work in stamping out the eucharistic heresy of Tanchelm in Antwerp, and restoring due devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament … Continue reading →
  • Consecration of the Order to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
    The Order of Prémontré has long been associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially since our very own St Hermann Joseph (+ 1241) is credited with writing the first devotional hymn to the Sacred Heart, long before the … Continue reading →
  • Solemnity of St Norbert 2013
    The confreres of St. Philip’s Priory, Chelmsford wish all friends, relatives, benefactors and all members of our Order, a most blessed feast of Our Holy Father Saint Norbert. May we, like thee, shun worldly praise, In worldly paths no longer … Continue reading →
  • Novena to St Norbert
    Today we begin the novena to Our Holy Father Norbert, whose feast day is June 6th. The practice of a novena is an ancient Christian custom of spiritual preparation before a great feast, or in order to ask the intercession of … Continue reading →
The Canonry

Our community was established as a canonry of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré in 2004.

The Canons reside at St. Philip's Priory in Chelmsford where we serve two busy parishes. As well as the parishes, the canons are involved in a wide variety of apostolates that take them near and far. The apostolates taken by the Canons of St. Philip's reflect both the active and contemplative natures of our life. One canon teaches at university, another is a school chaplain, another a chaplain to a convent of Dominican sisters.

The parish apostolate is the main focus of our active life, but the contemplative nature also involves much labour. To this end the community is served by a dedicated cantor as we strive to make our worship of Almighty God the most solemn and beautiful way it can be. Recently our community celebrated its first ordination and we are fortunate to have students for the priesthood, preparing both for ordination and solemn vows and studying to that end.

As Canons of the Order of Prémontré we hope that our life still bears witness to those first hopes and prayers of Our Holy Fathers Norbert and Augustine.

 

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