Where it all began

1945

A group of people, who ran houseparties in Lee Abbey during the holidays in the war, bought Lee Abbey when it came on the market in 1945, even though they had no money for the deposit until after the purchase was signed for.

1946

It was a neglected building that they obtained in 1945, and it took a huge amount of work to prepare it to receive the first guests by 1 June 1946. Then it opened and was dedicated to God on 5 June by the Bishop of Exeter. From 1946 to today, the place has been run by a Community, living and working here.

1951

Removing walls and ceilings from three bedrooms, we made a Chapel in the North of the Main House. Its first service was Holy Communion on Easter Day.

Lee Abbey just kept growing. We built new community accommodation with the Annexes and Garden Lodge in 1955, a house to take the diesel generator in 1958, more bungalows for married community in 1959, and Tower Lodge in 1960. Lee Cottage become ours in 1961, and more single rooms for community men were built in 1966. Finally, by 1967 we had mains electricity. 1968 saw more new guest rooms, and the laundry and playroom. In 1969 more single rooms were added in the garage under the flat. The Kitchen as we know it appeared in 1974, and the Dining Room grew as well! 1978 brought us a new Farm, a thanksgiving gift by an anonymous donor, and a Community kitchen, lounge and TV room. On 6 June 1983, Lee Abbey's 37th anniversary, the Archbishop of Canterbury opened the Preston Room, a new conference room opposite Reception.

1984

In a lime storehouse next to the lime kilns beneath the Beach Chalet, Ley Chapel (or the Beach Chapel) was opened by Denis Wakeling, then Chairman of the Lee Abbey Council and Bishop of Southwell.

After this, building carried on, with the Moos for community, and a lift for the Main House.

1994

Guest room refurbishment began, and several 3-bedded rooms became twins with en suite facilities. Room refurbishment is still going on...

2004

Lee Abbey's largest new venture, The Beacon Youth & Outdoor Activity Centre, opened in May 2004. Using the shell of the old dairy barn, this facility harnesses the unique location for a completely new purpose, namely activity holidays for not-necessarily-Christian groups of young people. With the Beacon, Lee Abbey is once again taking a bold step of faith in a new direction.

2006

We have celebrated our 60th anniversary, and are looking to how we can best provide for the future ministry of this place, which has touched so many through God's power these last six decades. As part of the Towards Tomorrow development project, we have provided new facilities for youth and children staying in the Main House (following from the excellent provision made by the stand-alone Beacon Centre for outside groups), and upcoming phases include a new accommodation block to address current shortages, a refurbished and extended Dining Room and Kitchen, and more. For more information, see the Towards Tomorrow Project web pages.