by Martin Jefferies

An order of monks is to leave the historic Ramsgate abbey that has been its home for almost 150 years.

The Benedictine Monks of St Augustine’s Abbey say they can no longer meet the building's "considerable running and maintenance costs".

They voted to vacate the monastery after "a long process of discussion and discernment" and have pledged to relocate to a property better suited to the size of the order and its requirements.

Dom Paulinus Greenwood, the abbot of St Augustine's, said: "We're united in our search for a new site which will enable us to live an authentic, balanced, monastic life of prayer, work, and study, and to share that way of life with others who feel truly called to it.

"We plan to develop our existing guest ministry to offer residential and non-residential hospitality to groups and individuals. We also hope to offer structured retreats, educational courses and spiritual and intellectual study days."

The new abbey would need space for a church and a large library, as well as land for gardening and room for production of the monks' Sanctuary products, which include honey, beeswax furniture polish and organic balms and creams.

It is hoped that a public appeal, due to begin shortly, will help fund the move.

St Augustine's Abbey, built in 1861 and designed by Edward Pugin, son of renowned architect Augustus Pugin, can house up to 40 monks, the first of whom arrived in Ramsgate from the Italian monastery of Subiaco in 1856.

A spokesman for the Benedictine Monks said: "We sincerely hope that whoever acquires the abbey will show sensitivity to its historical and architectural significance and be mindful of its importance locally as part of the cultural heritage of the wider Pugin family legacy."