I have spent the last weekend at Fleury Abbey, in the Loire Valley in France. Fleury Abbey is a community of Benedictine Monk, living, working, and praying in the beautiful French countryside, with an Abbey church that dates from the eleventh century. The Abbey is famous for housing the relics of St Benedict of Nursia, the sixth century founder of Western monasticism, whose ‘rule’ – his instructions for how a monastic community will run – have been an influential guide to many communities for well over 1000 years.

I was in Fleury along with Winchester Cathedral choir, who were on tour, singing concerts and services in both Fleury and Paris. Winchester Cathedral has a long-standing relationship with Fleury Abbey, based in our shared Benedictine heritage: Winchester Cathedral was a Benedictine Priory from the 10th to the 16th centuries.

It was wonderful to experience the beauty and prayerfulness of Fleury, and to hear the voices of Winchester’s choristers echoing around that stunning place. It was also wonderful to enjoy the welcome the monks of Fleury offered to me and to our whole party. Despite the fact that we now belong to different branches of the Christian church – they are Catholics and we Anglicans – there was a real sharing in common in worship and friendship. Benedictine communities are marked by their hospitality, and Fleury Abbey exhibited this to the full.

Prayer, friendship, and beauty are essential components of life. They draw us away from the isolation, anxiety, and violence that marks much of our lives and the life of the world. The conflicts that sadly disfigure communities from Eastern Europe to the middle East grab the news headline, whilst the gifts of prayer, friendship, and beauty rarely make the bulletins; indeed we are often too busy to slow down and enjoy these things ourselves. But prayer, friendship, and beauty have sustained human communities for centuries – and Winchester Cathedral and Fleury Abbey both have these in abundance.

I was grateful for the opportunity to travel to Fleury early in my time in Winchester. Two of the Fleury monks came to Winchester just seven weeks ago for my installation as Dean, and I was delighted to make the return trip. One of the monks had been present at the installations of my two predecessors, so has a long relationship with Winchester.

The relationship between Winchester and Fleury is marked by the prayer we pray every day at the Cathedral: “God bless this cathedral church, the Diocese of Winchester, the Benedictine community of Fleury, and the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus.”

I trust that this relationship will continue to flourish in the coming years. We have much to learn from one another, and much to celebrate together. And if you are ever in the area, take a trip to visit Fleury, and experience its welcome for yourself.