The monastic community of Douai Abbey currently numbers 21 monks, though not all of them are resident in the monastery. Some monks live in the parishes we serve, while others serve the Church in other roles. Below you can see the members of the community and some, but not all, of what we do. List updated on 13 September 2025.
Right Rev. Paul Gunter was elected abbot on 11 May 2022. He remains secretary for the Department of Christian Life & Worship of the bishops' conference.Very Rev. Gabriel Wilson is claustral Prior, Novicemaster, guesthouse director, and beekeeper.Right Rev. Geoffrey Scott is titular abbot of Lindisfarne and Parish Priest of Alcester (Warks). He is Librarian and archivist, EBC annalist, and president of the Catholic Archives Society.Right Rev. Edmund Power is titular abbot of St Albans and resides in Rome, where he is Procurator General for the English Benedictine Congregation, and director of priestly formation at Collegio Sant' Anselmo.Fr. Benjamin Standish is Subprior of the monastery, and assists in the Woolhampton parish and on the guest team.Fr. Gervase Holdaway is Oblate Director, leads retreats, and manages our bookshop.Very Rev. Godric Timney is Cathedral Prior of Worcester, and is Parish Priest of Ormskirk and Scarisbrick (Lancs). He is vicar for religious in Liverpool archdiocese.
Fr. Peter Bowe is Sacristan, director of the pastoral programme, and is on the guest team.Fr. Austin Gurr is Priest in Charge of Woolhampton.Fr. Oliver Holt is Parish Priest of Stratford-upon-Avon (Warks), and serves on the abbot's council.Fr. Alexander Austin manages concerts in the abbey church.Fr. Francis Hughes is Parish Priest of Kemerton (Glos), and sits on the marriage tribunal for Clifton diocese.Fr. Richard Jones is Parish Priest of St Davids and Fishguard (Pemb), and is editor of the Ordo for the EBC.Fr. Alban Hood is priest in charge of Fordingbridge and Ringwood (Hants).Fr. Benedict Thompson is Parish Priest of Studley (Warks), and sits on the abbot's council.Br. Christopher Greener, a deacon, is monastic Infirmarian, and helps in our pastoral programme.Br. Simon Hill, a deacon, is in active retirement.Fr. Hugh Somerville Knapman is Procurator, publisher, master of ceremonies, and serves on the abbot’s council.Br. Aidan Messenger is assistant sacristan and assistant master of ceremonies, and is pursuing studies at Blackfriars, Oxford.Br. Tobias Flynn is a junior, and pursuing initial Church studies at Blackfriar's, Oxford.