A Benedictine monastery in West Sussex, which came to prominence when
it featured in a BBC television documentary, has elected a new abbot.The community of Worth Abbey has chosen Fr Luke Jolly to be its sixth abbot, the first time an Old Worthian (a former member of the school attached to the monastery) has occupied the role.
Abbot Luke was born in Ipswich in 1953, left Worth School in 1971, and nine years later entered the monastery.
After school he read history at Manchester University and trained as a probation officer.
Abbot Luke has played a leading role in establishing Compass, a vocation discernment programme for young Catholics that started 10 years ago.
He is highly regarded as a spiritual director.
During the BBC's The Monastery documentary, where five men explored monastic life at Worth, Abbot Luke acted as their spiritual guide.