Benet Perceval
Dom Benet Perceval, OSB (1916 – 2009) was the oldest member of the monastic community at Ampleforth Abbey, England, when he died at age 92 on 30 January 2009.
Life[edit]
He was born as Peter Perceval in Wimbledon in 1916.[1] In 1926 he began studying at Ampleforth College. He took the name Benet in September 1934 when he joined the Ampleforth community. From 1937-1940 he studied at the University of Oxford. Besides the time he spent at the University of Oxford, he lived the entirety his life in North Yorkshire.[2] Following his studies at Oxford he fulfilled a variety of roles in the monastery and school, including:
- Secretary to the Ampleforth War Memorial Trust Fund which provides bursaries for students to Ampleforth College (1945-2009).[3]
- The first Housemaster of St John's House, a post he held until 1980.
- The College's Second Master until 1986.
- Prior of the Community from 1988.
- Served on the Abbey's Farm Board/Farm Committee which oversees work on Ampleforth's farmland.[4]
Family[edit]
He was a distant relation of Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated (shot in the lobby of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in May 1812).[4]
Posthumous tribute[edit]
Dom Benet's death was marked the same day by tolling the Abbey's bell, with 1 toll every 30 seconds for each year of his life.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Kelly, Liam (4 February 2009). "Ampleforth's oldest monk has died | ICN". www.indcatholicnews.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ Jeffels, David (5 February 2009). "Tributes to Ampleforth Abbey's oldest monk, 92". Gazette & Herald. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ "Ampleforth's oldest monk dies". The Northern Echo. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Father Benet Perceval". Yorkshire Post. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
Sources[edit]
- Kelly, Liam (4 February 2009). "Ampleforth's oldest monk has died". Independent Catholic News. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- Jeffels, David (5 February 2009). "Tributes to Ampleforth Abbey's oldest monk, 92". Gazette & Herald (England). Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- "Ampleforth's oldest monk dies". The Northern Echo (England). 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
- "Death of Ampleforth's oldest monk". Easingwold Advertiser (England). February 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2017.