Buckfast Abbey Choristers Travel to Germany

Guest Blog Post - Buckfast Abbey

Tucked away in the peaceful Dart Valley, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Buckfast Abbey is a place that blends history, faith, and music in a quietly powerful way. This summer, a group of its youngest members – the Abbey Choristers – are heading off on a very special trip that connects Devon to a small corner of rural Germany, and back through time to the man who helped shape the Buckfast we know today.

2025 marks 150 years since the birth of Abbot Anscar Vonier – a young man from Swabia in South-West Germany who would go on to become a central figure in the Abbey’s story. After the original Buckfast Abbey was dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII, it lay in ruins for centuries. Vonier, who joined the monastic community as a teenager, led the monumental task of rebuilding the Abbey from the ground up in the early 20th century. Under his guidance, and with the help of fellow monks – many from his home region – Buckfast rose again, stone by stone, on its medieval foundations.

To honour his legacy, the Abbey’s choristers – children aged 8 to 13 from local schools in Devon – will travel to Vonier’s birthplace this July. They’ll sing in churches and pilgrimage sites in Swabia, offering their music as both a tribute and a living connection between Buckfast and the place where Vonier’s journey began.

“Abbot Vonier lived a life inspired by faith and hope in Christ,” says Abbot David Charlesworth, Buckfast’s current Abbot. “In this Jubilee year, when we’re thinking about what it means to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, it feels especially meaningful for our choristers to make this journey – to follow in the footsteps of the monks who came before them, and to share something of Buckfast’s spirit through song.”

It’s a heartfelt mission that goes beyond the music. The choristers are not only representing the Abbey, but also carrying with them the history, resilience and faith that shaped it – and the warmth of the South Devon community that supports them.

If you’ve never been to Buckfast Abbey, this is the perfect time to plan a visit. It’s not just a historic site – it’s a living, breathing place of worship, home to a community of Benedictine monks who continue their daily rhythm of prayer, work and study. Visitors are welcome to join in Mass, listen to the soaring Gregorian chant, or simply enjoy the calm of the Abbey Church and gardens.

There’s also a lovely restaurant, shops selling monastic produce, and even accommodation if you fancy a longer stay. Whether you're drawn by the architecture, the music, or just the peace and quiet, Buckfast offers something very special.

And this summer, as the voices of its young choristers echo through the hills of Swabia, it’s a reminder that even the most local of places can have deep and far-reaching roots – and that the legacy of one person, like Abbot Vonier, can still inspire young hearts over a century later.

For more details on visiting Buckfast Abbey and upcoming events, head to www.buckfast.org.uk.