The Holy Island of Caldey

Caldey Island is one of Britain’s Holy Islands and lies just off the coast of Wales near Tenby (on the Pembrokeshire coast). Its name probably comes from the Viking kald ey or ‘Cold Island’ in English. The Island is actually two Islands – Caldey Island and Little Caldey Island (also called Saint Margaret’s Isle from the 17^th Century and known for its bird sanctuary and seals) which are separated at high tide. The Island is 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide with an area of 538 acres.

The Island has on it a Cistercian abbey and monastery indeed there has been a monastery on the island since the sixth century (and it is from the first abbot, Saint Pyro, that the Island takes its Welsh name Ynys Bŷr) although Viking raids brought an end to this monastery in the tenth century. The twelfth century though saw Benedictines from St Dogmael's set up a Priory on the Island which stands to this day although the order’s time on the Island lasted only until the Dissolution in 1536. It was not until 1906 that the Island again saw Monks upon it when Anglican Benedictines purchased the Island and built the present Abbey. This order was received into the Catholic Church in 1913 but faced a difficult time on the Island and so were forced to sell in 1925 to the current Cistercian monks who came originally from Scormont Abbey in Belgium in 1929. In 2007 there were 20 monks living in the monastery.

The current monks too found difficulties with farming an Island but the advent of the tourist trade, with tourists travelling by boat to the Island through Spring and Summer, means that as well as farming (mainly dairy farming) the monks now sell chocolate, shortbread, perfume (mainly lavender perfume which is very highly regarded by perfumers), shortbread, vegetables (produced in its greenhouses and sold in Cardiff and Glamorgan), poultry raising and toiletries.

Perfume for sale on Caldey Island

inside the chocolate factory

The monastery has roofs are white pebbledash with red tiling and the Abbey church has a tapering tower to the south and five-sided windows. The current Abbey is considered to be the most complete example of the Arts and Crafts style in the UK (it was the largest project of Penarth John Coates Carter who was chosen by the Abbot Aelred Carlyle to build the Abbey in the Italianate style) and was called, ’.. the greatest phenomenon of the Anglican community at the present time’ when it was built. There are two services daily at 12:15 and 14:20 in the Abbey Church which visitors can attend.

The Island also has 40 other inhabitants and has its own postage stamps and money the Dab named after a small fish species which could be caught on the beaches here.

Caldey Island lighthouse was built in 1827 and first lit in 1829.

It is possible to stay for a retreat on the Island at Saint Philomena’s from Easter to October. Stays are for groups or individuals and is full board in single rooms and stay in by donation. More information on this can be found at: http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/

The return journey by boat costs £12 for an adult.