Moniales de Wisques

Saint-Paul Abbey of Wisques is a Benedictine monastery for men set in the small village of Wisques, in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France. Founded in 1889, it has grown over more than a century into one of the region's notable centers of monastic life, shaped by an eventful history and a distinctive architectural heritage.

How did the monastery come to be founded?

The abbey did not appear on its own — its origin is tied to the neighboring women's community, Notre-Dame Abbey in Wisques, established by Benedictine nuns from Sainte-Cécile de Solesmes. To provide the sisters with pastoral care, monks from the abbey of Solesmes settled in Wisques as chaplains. They first lived in a small manor house opposite the local cemetery, which was raised to the rank of priory in 1894. The community later moved into a larger château, adapted to serve as their monastery.

Exile and return

The abbey's history was far from smooth. Early in the twentieth century, French legislation restricting religious congregations forced the monks to leave the country. They found refuge in the Netherlands, where they founded Saint-Paul Abbey in Oosterhout. The nuns came back to Wisques in 1919, and the monks followed a year later, in 1920 — monastic life at the site has continued without interruption ever since.

An architectural highlight

Among the most striking parts of the monastic complex is the north-east wing, designed by the architect Dom Bellot, a noted figure in early twentieth-century religious modernist architecture. This wing is generally regarded as the finest element of an otherwise stylistically mixed group of buildings, and it draws particular attention from visitors passing through the area.

Renewal of the community and life today

By the turn of the twenty-first century, the number of monks at Wisques had fallen significantly. A turning point came in October 2013, when thirteen monks from Notre-Dame de Fontgombault Abbey joined the community. The monastery then adopted Fontgombault's liturgical customs, including the celebration of the Mass in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, commonly known as the Traditional Latin Mass.

Daily life at the abbey today centers on prayer, work, and hospitality. The monks run their own ceramics workshop, producing items such as patron-saint images, crosses, sacramental keepsakes and Stations of the Cross, alongside gardening, orchard work, baking and food preserving — the results of which can be bought at the monastery shop. A permanent reception point at the gatehouse welcomes visitors. The abbey also runs a guesthouse with room for around a dozen men on retreat, while women, couples and families are accommodated in two separate houses in the village of Wisques.

Frequently asked questions

Can visitors tour the abbey? The gatehouse welcomes visitors at any time, but the cloistered areas remain closed to outsiders — access is generally limited to the church and the guest facilities.

How is this abbey related to Notre-Dame Abbey in Wisques? Notre-Dame is the neighboring Benedictine convent for women, for which the monks of Saint-Paul originally served as chaplains — the two communities were founded almost simultaneously and remain closely linked historically.

What liturgy do the monks celebrate? Since 2013, following the adoption of Fontgombault's customs, the community celebrates the liturgy in the extraordinary form of the Roman rite.

Is it possible to stay at the abbey for a retreat? Yes, the guesthouse welcomes guests for retreats, typically for stays of up to eight to ten days.