By way of excuse, I can say that the "Carthusian Experience" was very significant for me - indeed a life-changing one - and I did have to make a few sacrifices to undertake it (giving up my job, flat and book collection) to make the trial. It was not undertaken lightly, and failing to persist (especially so quickly, having made such a song and dance about the whole thing - I'd been "searching" for a year beforehand) was somewhat embarrassing. Also, the life is so unusual that the experience, even if brief, if worth recording. But more of all this in another place (I intend jumping off points further down this page).
The photo opposite is of the monastic buildings of St. Hugh's Charterhouse, near Cowfold in Sussex, otherwise known as Parkminster. The photo is really a postcard, but was sent to me in an envelope postmarked 18th April 1978 by Fr. Bernard O'Donovan, the Novice Master, along with his first letter below.There are now several sources of information about Parkminster:-
- Firstly, Parkminster now has its own website (Parkminster), complete with audio-visuals. I cannot but think that, like the Carthusian order itself, the site is a strange combination of Christian wholesomeness larded with some Roman Catholic excess. I also think the website betrays too much of an accommodation to the modern world, though I understand that some of the austerity at the time I was there may since have been relaxed. Even so, how can you advertise without distortion a life that is essentially unchanged since the 11th century with such a flashy website?
- Secondly, here's a Sunday Times article and scary photo from 1981, briefly describing the situation at Parkminster. Unsurprisingly not much had changed from when I was there a couple of years earlier.
- Thirdly, for some more fascinating information on Carthusians, follow this link (Link). Note that this website is the responsibility of another former Carthusian, not me. Interestingly, the website contains a little note from Fr. Bernard O'Donovan, the then Prior of Parkminster (he was the Novice Master in my day). This website is much more spiritual than anything I have to say at the moment.
- Finally, there are two books that contain mostly second-hand information about Parkminster, though based on interviews with those having first-hand knowledge. From my first-hand perspective, they seem remarkably accurate.
- The first book is Richard North's Fools for God (Link), which can be downloaded from Richard North's Personal Website (or follow this link1 for my extract of the relevant chapters).
- The second book (much more extensive as regards Parkminster) is "Maguire (Nancy) - An Infinity of Little Hours: Five Young Men and Their Trial of Faith in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order" (obtainable from Amazon (Amazon: Nancy Maguire - An Infinity of Little Hours) (Nancy Maguire, the wife of a former Novice).
I have very fond memories of Fr. Bernard, and quite an extensive correspondence with him - extensive, that is, for interaction with the most reclusive of Orders. This splits into two parts. Letters while I was contemplating a Cartusian vocation, and then a series of somewhat disputatious letters after I left Parkminster following an evangelical conversion.
I am in the process of writing up my Carthusian experiences, and intend to make this latter correspondence available in due course. The early correspondence appears below.
This is the first letter I had in response to an enquiry. It's not overly encouraging, but I think I'd said I'd decided to go to Ampleforth, but wanted to check out the alternatives first. For my reminiscences of Dom Guy Thackrah, follow this link2.
I've now got round to writing up a draft of my recollections of this my first visit to Parkminster. For these, please follow this link3
Below is a letter from Fr. Bernard O'Donovan, the then Novice Master (and later Prior) following my request for a 6-week "trial in cell". This followed on from my few days in the Guest House, during which time I had had various discussions with Fr. Bernard. The letter is very warm and welcoming, and displays Fr. Bernard's enthusiasm for the life. The letter hasn't reproduced very well, so apologies if you can't read it. Here's a transcription4, with a few explanatory footnotes. The "trial in cell" refers to a six-week retreat in one of the hermitages.
