Oxford Street Abbey
 
 
a place for Spiritual Transformation Many people, understandably, wonder at the concept of an abbey. Is it different from a church? Is it Catholic? And the answer is yes and no. It is a church, it is catholic yet it is more. It is a place in which the functions of church, mission, seminary and community have been integrated following the Celtic Model of the early centuries. But the Celtic model of church and mission was always motivated and under-girded by the desire for the spiritual transformation of God’s people. Therefore, growth in knowledge was always accompanied by growth in devotion and ardent love for God. The Abbey’s core value is that education and mission must always be motivated by love for God. Therefore an abbey is always a center for the devout life. Missionary Historically speaking, an abbey was a place of sacred learning as well as a place of creating and sustaining civilization in barbaric times. It was a hub of spiritual life in which believers and non believers could come in times of peril or peace for lessons on knowing and loving God. Abbeys generally offered a spiritual and holistic way of life which was centered around God. But more than any thing abbeys were places of learning and experiencing God—where people were taught how to live a new way of life for spiritual transformation. They were discipleship centers and light bearers in a dark world. Many of these centers were also the forerunners of the great apostolic missionary bands which were sent out to evangelize and civilize the surrounding culture. Oxford Street Abbey is a modern expression of an ancient and traditional form of learning, worship, healing and mission. Higher Learning However, an abbey is also a place of higher learning. It is the forerunner of the university. At Oxford Street, there is formal theological training and missiological preparation for the mission field. It is a seminary for the working man/woman as well as the professional minister. There are courses in biblical, practical, systematic and mystical theology to give a broad field of perspective for Christian service and personal devotion to Christ. A great emphasis for the Abbey is preparation of consecrated ministers and mature disciples which are consecrated to service. It is a place for the practice of the devout life. Welcome to the Abbey!