The Abbey House
Constructed solidly and exquisitely in the 1890s, the Abbey House is set in a quiet, residential neighborhood in Worcester, Massachusetts. It is expansively designed (4000 sq ft) and has up to seven separate bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a large dining room, living room, kitchen, pantry, and working fireplaces. It has three outdoor porches for conversation, a backyard patio, a biblical Stations of the Cross and Labyrinth, a Gazebo, a waterfall pool, and a half basketball court. It has two handicapped-accessible suites and an accessible entrance. The spiritual centers of the house are in the Oratory on the first floor, The Upper Room on the third floor, and the Prayer Cabin outdoors, spaces set aside for personal, group, and online prayer. Those who visit report feeling the peaceful Presence of God as soon as they turn onto Berwick Street.
We welcome guests who wish to come for a few hours or a day, either indoors or outdoors. Those wanting to stay overnight or several nights will find comfortable and gracious accommodations. We can house up to 10. We can house more for those who can share a double or queen bed, or sleep on a cot or a couch.
We request a donation of $35 for a day stay, $50 for an overnight, $12 for dinner, $10 for lunch, and $8 for breakfast. If this presents a financial hardship, we will accept whatever donation our guests can offer. The Abbey exists to serve the servants of the Kingdom of God in Jesus Christ and is supported by those who regularly donate to its ministry.
The Abbey Community
The Abbey Community includes leaders and followers of Jesus Christ who give themselves to living His Gospel and serving His mission. They desire to grow personally and together in Christ-likeness so that they can go deeper in their life with God in order to go further in their service to Him and to others. Though they live in separate locations, occupations, Christian communities, and callings, they live a common life informed by the Abbey Way of Virtue, all to the glory of God. They support the ministry of The Abbey of The Way in building up others in Christ, particularly leaders in His Body, helping them to foster a life of prayer and spiritual formation for the building up of Christ’s Church. Though they may or may not be members of The Anglican Diocese in New England, of which The Abbey is a ministry, they are in essential agreement with its doctrine and disciplines. They are bound together in love and obedience to Christ as outlined in Scripture and tradition. However, they are free under God’s Word and Authority to be diverse in our interpretations about matters of Church discipline and practice. They respect each other’s conscience and our prayerful responsibility to live as God leads us individually. They are called to particular forms of servanthood, and view this community, and its Way of Virtue, as tools to sharpen them for the service and advancement of God’s Kingdom. We hope that local expressions of the Abbey Community will develop in other locations, offering additional opportunities for members to be in close connection with each other and to focus on mission in their local area.
Who Runs The Abbey?
It is directed by Father Len Cowan, an Anglican priest in the Anglican Diocese of New England, is overseen by a Board of Directors, is staffed by a Community that shares its vision for ministry and lives its Way of Life, and is supported by all who believe in its ministry. It is in partnership with and is a sponsored mission of the Anglican Diocese in New England.
Len and his late wife, Hallie, pursued and promoted a deeper life in Christ ever since they met in college in the Jesus Revolution of the 1970s. Len served as an Episcopal priest for 37 years in three parishes, a summer camp, and regional and national renewal ministries. Hallie served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 28 years, first as campus staff at three women’s colleges, then as Coordinator for Prayer and Spiritual Formation in New England. While serving in their last parish, Len and Hallie developed The Refuge, a parish-based center for renewal, retreat, and refreshment at the church building.
Len stepped down from parish ministry in 2015 to found The Abbey of The Way, situated in his childhood home in Worcester, Massachusetts. Conceived as a center for the spiritual formation for Christian leaders, The Abbey is grounded in a life of prayer. Key to its life and ministry is its Via or Way of Life, a disciplined guide for living in the Vision of God in which The Holy Spirit replicates the Virtues of Jesus in real life.
Len is an experienced Spiritual Director/Mentor, and promotes prayer and spiritual formation in various Kingdom-focused networks throughout New England. He is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and assists the Bishop of The Diocese in New England in fostering intercession and deep formation. He on the preaching team of The Journey, an evangelical church start in Worcester, is a participant in Worcester’s Emmaus City Church, a Christian Reformed church start, and is also affiliated with Holy Trinity Anglican Church, a pan-African congregation in Auburn, MA. Len and The Abbey are in fellowship with the breadth of the faithful church, embracing its evangelical, charismatic, catholic, contemplative, and social justice streams of renewal.
Len is blessed with two grown daughters who share in The Life in Christ with their husbands and four grandchildren who are growing in Christ.
Who can be a part of the Abbey and its ministry?
Though the Abbey’s particular focus is on building up Christian leaders, anyone seeking to follow Jesus is welcome to find refuge here and to join our community.
How do I receive more information?
Please call us at 508-799-5011
or email us at fatherlen@abbeyoftheway.us