Chapter Elects New Abbot

Episcopal News Service. April 13, 1989 [89077B]

THREE RIVERS, Mich. (DPS, Apr. 13) -- There is a new abbot at St. Gregory's Abbey, the Anglican Benedictine house in Three Rivers, Michigan. He is the Rt. Rev. Andrew Marr, who replaces Fr. Abbot Benedict (Fr. Benedict Reid), the group's former leader, who resigned in February.

The former abbot submitted his resignation at the February meeting of St. Gregory's chapter. The chapter, which is made up of monks in life vows, voted to accept the resignation with expressions of regret and appreciation.

Reid had served as head of the monastery since he was appointed prior in 1955 by the abbot of Nashdom Abbey in England. At that time, St. Gregory's Abbey was a dependent priory of Nashdom. Reid continued as prior until 1969, when he was elected abbot of the newly constituted and independent St. Gregory's Abbey.

Reid had first offered his resignation in 1986 at the age of 65 -- as required by the abbey's constitution. At that time, the chapter voted not to accept it, and he continued in office. However, the constitution required him to submit his resignation again at 70.

The former abbot is widely known in the Episcopal Church for his many conferences and retreats built around various aspects of spirituality.

In January, during a series of meetings held for a corporate review of monastic life, a consensus was reached that Reid's retirement as abbot and the election of a new abbot would be better dealt with in 1989 rather than two years hence as dictated by the order's constitution. In response to this decision, the chapter met again in March with their Episcopal visitor, the Rt. Rev. William Stevens, Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac in Wisconsin, and elected Marr as the new abbot.

Abbot Andrew, as he has chosen to call himself to avoid confusion with the former "Father Abbot," was born in Detroit, and graduated from Grosse Pointe High School. He pursued study at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and at Nashotah House, the seminary in Wisconsin. He joined St. Gregory's Abbey in 1972 and has served as guestmaster and librarian. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 and installed as abbot by Bishop Stevens immediately after the election on March 2.

A public celebration of the new abbot's ministry will be held in conjunction with the abbey's 50th anniversary observance on the Feast of St. Benedict in July.

Abbot Andrew has also named Brother Aelred as the new prior for St. Gregory's Abbey, replacing Fr. Prior Anthony Damron, who became ill toward the end of 1988.