The Cathedral and Abbey Church of Saint Alban
For all enquiries relating to any of the Friends events listed below, please contact Julia Davis on 01442 258725.
The Amaravati Monastery is situated in a small village on the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead. It is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery inspired by the Thai forest tradition. It was opened in 1985, utilising a collection of wartime huts purchased from Buckinghamshire County Council. It has since then built a beautifully designed Temple and meditation centre. Members of the community follow a strict rule of life and teach traditional meditation techniques in their retreat centre. It is a mixed community of around 20 professed monks and 15 nuns, together with a number of lay supporters. The monastery welcomes members of other faiths. In particular, religious and lay members of both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Church maintain a link with the community.
We shall be met by a senior member of the community who will talk about the Buddhist way of life, and tell us about the community and its objectives. We shall be given a tour of the monastery, visit the Temple and meditation centre, and be offered refreshments before we return to St Albans.
Our coach will depart Westminster Lodge car park at 1.30pm to arrive at Great Gaddesden by 2pm. We shall leave there at 5pm. Tickets: Members £19; Non-members £21.50 (includes coach travel and donation to monastery).