The Catholic Pilgrim's Guide to Aylesford, United Kingdom

Aylesford Priory, dating from 1242, is the oldest Carmelite foundation in England where St. Simon Stock received the Brown Scapular from Our Lady.

Nestled beside the tree-lined River Medway in the heart of Kent, this ancient religious house invites pilgrims to walk in the footsteps of friars who first arrived here nearly eight centuries ago. Known locally as "The Friars," this venerable sanctuary preserves one of the finest intact medieval courtyards in England, 17th-century thatched barns, and a hostelry for pilgrims dating to the late 1200s. The story of Aylesford begins in 1242, when Carmelite hermits from Mount Carmel in the Holy Land—displaced by the turmoil of the Crusader kingdoms—were granted land here by Richard de Grey, a returning crusader. Within five years, in 1247, the Bishop of Rochester officially recognised the foundation, and Aylesford hosted the first General Chapter of the Carmelite Order ever held outside the Holy Land. It was here that the hermits made the momentous decision to become mendicant friars, transforming from reclusive contemplatives into active servants of Church and society. Today, after being forcibly closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 and spending over four centuries in secular hands, the Carmelites returned in 1949. Under the visionary leadership of Fr. Malachy Lynch, they rebuilt what he called "a prayer in stone"—an open-air shrine adorned with some of the finest modern religious art in Britain, created by Polish émigré artist Adam Kossowski. The Priory now welcomes some 250,000 visitors annually, whether devout pilgrims, spiritual seekers, or curious travellers drawn by the tranquil beauty and compelling history of this remarkable place.

📜 History & Spiritual Significance

The Carmelites trace their origins to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, where hermits gathered in the 12th century to live lives of prayer and contemplation, inspired by the prophet Elijah and devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When Latin Christian rule in the Holy Land collapsed, these hermits migrated to Europe, arriving in England around 1242. Richard de Grey, Lord of Aylesford, granted the friars land along the River Medway, where they established their first English foundation. The site quickly became significant: in 1247, Aylesford hosted the General Chapter that approved revisions to the Rule of St. Albert, enabling the Carmelites to establish foundations in towns and cities. Over the next fifty years, more than thirty Carmelite priories sprang up across England and Wales, including houses in London, Oxford, and Cambridge. It was during these formative years that St. Simon Stock, likely a native of Kent himself, served as Prior General of the Order. According to tradition, on the night of 16 July 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him while he prayed, surrounded by a multitude of angels. She held forth a brown scapular—part of the Carmelite habit—and declared: "Whosoever dies clothed in this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire." This promise gave birth to the devotion of the Brown Scapular, which spread throughout Christendom and is still worn by millions of Catholics worldwide. St. Simon composed the beloved hymn Flos Carmeli ("Flower of Carmel"), still sung by Carmelites around the world today. The medieval priory flourished for three centuries. A grand church dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady was begun but took over half a century to complete—delayed by the devastation of the Black Death in 1348—finally being consecrated in 1417. Then came the storm of the Reformation: in 1538, King Henry VIII's commissioners arrived, and the Carmelites were expelled. The priory passed through many hands—the Wyatt family, the Sedleys, wealthy merchants, even becoming a headquarters for the nascent Scouting movement under Mrs. Woolsey, with Lord Baden-Powell himself visiting. A devastating fire in 1930 gutted much of the interior. Then, in 1949, came an extraordinary twist of providence: the property was offered for sale, and the Carmelites were able to purchase their ancient motherhouse. Fr. Malachy Lynch, the first Prior of the restored community, rallied supporters with the motto "Courage to Build Anew." Working with architect Adrian Gilbert Scott and a remarkable group of artists, he created the open-air shrine complex that exists today. In 1951, a relic of St. Simon Stock's skull was solemnly brought from Bordeaux Cathedral—where he had died in 1265—returning to the place of his vision after seven centuries. In 1965, Cardinal Heenan and Archbishop Cyril Cowderoy rededicated the completed Shrine, and Aylesford resumed its ancient role as a beacon of Carmelite spirituality and Marian devotion.

☩ The Shrine of Our Lady and St. Simon Stock

The pilgrimage complex at Aylesford is arranged around an open-air piazza designed to accommodate large gatherings of pilgrims. Behind the altar stands Michael Clark's imposing 1960 sculpture of the Virgin of the Glorious Assumption, her arms raised heavenward, surrounded by Adam Kossowski's ceramic angels. Several chapels radiate from this central space, each offering distinct opportunities for prayer and contemplation.

The Relic Chapel

Local Name: Relic Chapel of St. Simon Stock Address: The Friars, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX GPS Coordinates: 51.303429, 0.471229 Google Maps: View on Google Maps Website: www.thefriars.org.uk Dedication: St. Simon Stock Historical Note: This chapel houses the most precious treasure of Aylesford: the reliquary containing the skull of St. Simon Stock. The relic was brought from Bordeaux Cathedral in 1951 by the Archbishop of Bordeaux, returning the saint to the place of his vision after nearly seven hundred years. Adam Kossowski designed the striking reliquary, depicting the hermit cells of Mount Carmel in white and gold glazed tiles.

St. Joseph's Chapel

This chapel contains what many consider Kossowski's finest work at Aylesford. Behind the altar stands a powerful statue of St. Joseph by Michael Clark, while Kossowski's ceramic scenes dramatically depict the world of Carmelite spirituality, including striking representations of the prophet Elijah—whose fiery zeal inspired the Carmelites—ascending to heaven in his chariot of fire.

Chapel of the Carmelite Saints

Fitted out by Kossowski in 1964-65, this chapel celebrates the great figures of Carmelite history: St. Teresa of Ávila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and two modern martyrs—Blessed Titus Brandsma and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)—who perished during the Holocaust.

The Cloister Chapel

This intimate medieval chapel survived the fire of 1930 and was restored by Mrs. Alice Hewitt. It was licensed for worship by the Bishop of Rochester and became the spiritual heart of the restored Priory—the first Mass of the returned Carmelites was celebrated here on Christmas Eve 1949, while the cement of the altar was still wet. The beautiful Flos Carmeli stained glass window was a personal gift from artist Moira Forsyth, given when she was received into the Catholic Church here in 1957.

The Rosary Way

This peaceful, tree-lined path along the River Medway features Kossowski's ceramic sculptures depicting the mysteries of the Rosary—his first major ceramic work, completed despite his initial doubts about the medium. A shrine along the way commemorates St. Simon Stock's scapular vision.

The Peace Garden

This walled garden extends from the 16th-century gatehouse and features a walkway paved with stones bearing the word "peace" in over 300 languages.

The Medieval Courtyard and Pilgrims' Hall

The Great Courtyard preserves one of the finest intact medieval monastic courtyards in England. The vaulted Pilgrims' Hall, dating from around 1280, stands beside the River Medway—the oldest building at The Friars. Upstairs in the Prior's Hall, Kossowski's tempera paintings tell the complete history of the Carmelites at Aylesford.

🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations

16 July – Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Main Shrine, Aylesford Priory. The patronal feast of the Carmelite Order draws thousands of pilgrims to The Friars for an open-air Mass, a Rosary procession through the grounds bearing the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the enrolment of new members in the Brown Scapular. This celebration commemorates the scapular vision of St. Simon Stock and Our Lady's promise of protection. 16 May – Feast of St. Simon Stock Relic Chapel, Aylesford Priory. Pilgrims gather to venerate the relic of St. Simon Stock on the anniversary of his death in 1265 and to celebrate the contribution of this English saint to Carmelite spirituality and the universal Church.

🛏️ Where to Stay

The Friars Guesthouse 📍 Address: The Friars, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7BX, England 🌐 Website: www.thefriars.org.uk/Accommodation The medieval Priory houses an 80-bedroom guesthouse set within 40 acres of beautiful grounds. Rooms are simple but comfortable, situated in two separate buildings—the Tudor Block and the St. Thérèse Block—both with communal lounges. Meals are served in the 13th-century Pilgrims' Hall. From £60 per person per day (single room). En-suite facilities are limited due to the listed building status. This is the ideal choice for pilgrims wishing to immerse themselves fully in the spiritual atmosphere of The Friars. Premier Inn Maidstone Town Centre 📍 Address: Bishops Way, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1LE, England 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Modern budget hotel approximately 3 miles from Aylesford Priory, offering comfortable rooms with en-suite facilities and on-site dining. Holiday Inn Maidstone-Sevenoaks ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 📍 Address: London Road, Wrotham Heath, Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 7RS, England 🔗 Booking: Book on Booking.com Four-star hotel approximately 6 miles from Aylesford, with modern amenities, restaurant, and leisure facilities.

🚗 Getting There

By Air: The nearest major airports are London Gatwick (approximately 35 miles) and London Heathrow (approximately 45 miles). London City Airport is about 30 miles distant. All airports offer excellent rail and road connections to Kent. By Train: Aylesford Station is served by Southeastern trains from London St Pancras International (journey time approximately 1 hour). The station is only 300 metres from the Priory as the crow flies, though the road route is longer (approximately 1 mile walk). By Car: From London, take the M20 and exit at Junction 5 or Junction 6. The Friars is well signposted from major roads. There is free parking on site. Note that signage may direct you on a 4-mile detour to avoid Aylesford's narrow High Street. Local Transport: Once at Aylesford, the Priory grounds are best explored on foot. The site covers 40 acres and includes woodland walks, riverside paths, and garden trails.

📚 Further Reading

Books:

  • Britain's Pilgrim Places by Nick Mayhew-Smith and Guy Hayward – Features Aylesford among hundreds of spiritually significant British sites; proceeds support the British Pilgrimage Trust.
  • Adam Kossowski: Murals and Paintings by Benedict Read (1990) – Comprehensive study of the Polish artist whose work transformed Aylesford.
  • Image of Carmel: The Art of Aylesford by the Carmelite Friars of Aylesford (2000) – The definitive guide to the artistic treasures of The Friars.
  • Building the Modern Church: Roman Catholic Church Architecture in Britain, 1955 to 1975 by Robert Proctor (2014), pp. 238-245 – Academic analysis of the shrine's architectural significance.

Articles & Online Resources:

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✝️ Closing Reflection

"Take this Scapular. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies wearing this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire."

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— Our Lady to St. Simon Stock, Aylesford, 16 July 1251