The Order of Saint Cuthbert was approved as a community in formation by the Right Reverend Derek Jones, the Bishop of The Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) in 2019. Initially, four men joined together and began prayerfully discerning the direction of God in how this community was to be formed. By unanimous consensus, Saint Cuthbert was selected as our patron saint, because of his example of holiness and leadership for the Celtic Church during a time of realignment. Saint Cuthbert, following the synod of Whitby, guided the Church through a season of change and adaptation as they came more fully into alignment with the received catholic tradition while retaining much of their distinctive charism.
The current Anglican realignment is in need of similar guiding principles, conformity to the received catholic tradition of the Church without the loss of our distinctively Anglican charism. The brothers of the Order of Saint Cuthbert are committed to supporting and working alongside the orthodox Bishops of the Communion leading this effort. In 2022, seven men, who had spent several years in discernment and completed a robust postulancy and formation process, were approved to take novitiate vows. An Abbot, Prior, and Director of Formation were chosen and installed. Anyone interested in joining the Order of Saint Cuthbert must receive permission from their diocesan Bishop, prior to being allowed to advance to the postulancy phase of our formation process.