The Carmelites

The story of the Carmelites begins on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land, an impressive mountainous ridge jutting out into the Mediterranean. Traditionally, Mount Carmel has always been a sacred place, a place of prayer and pilgrimage, dedicated to the Prophet Elijah. Here the Carmelite Order was born. In the late twelfth century a group of hermits gathered on Mount Carmel, near the spring known as ‘the fountain of Elijah’. Probably most of them were from other countries, choosing to begin again in an unknown land.

In 1207 they were given a Rule of Life by Albert, Patriarch of Jerusalem.  The Carmelite Rule, as it is called, it is a short, inspirational document, a mosaic of biblical texts, inviting those who follow it ‘to live in allegiance to Jesus Christ’ and dedicate their lives to prayer and contemplation. Today, eight hundred years later, it is still a valid way of life and a vehicle of religious experience for thousands of women and men all over the world.

The original Carmelites did not stay long in the Holy Land. Within fifty years they were forced by the Saracens' advance to leave Mount Carmel and settle in Europe. But they carried with them the memory of their original experience on Mount Carmel, as a creative source of inspiration in the centuries ahead. 

The Carmelites settled in practically every country in Europe. They were accepted as part of the new mendicant movement, such as the Franciscans and Dominicans, that was flourishing at the time. As their lifestyle grew and developed, they took on a wider ministry of preaching, teaching and pastoral work. However, in late fourteenth century, the fervour of the order began to wane and grew worse in the fifteenth century as religious life, all over Europe, entered a period of decline.

In the sixteenth century a Spanish nun, Teresa of Avila (1515 – 1582) gave a fresh impetus to the tradition of Carmel. She felt called to return to the original inspiration of the early hermits on Mount Carmel. With her friend and companion John of the Cross (1542 – 1591), she rekindled the call to prayer and contemplation and established convents and monasteries all over Spain inspired by the spirit and example of the original Rule of Carmel. In time the new movement started by St Teresa developed along its own lines and became known as the Teresian or Discalced (barefoot) Carmelites (OCD), while the original branch of the Order of Friars of the Ancient Observance became known as O Carm.

The OCD Carmelite family today comprises a wide variety lifestyles. As well as 12,000 nuns and 4,000 friars, there are many other groups such as the secular order, religious congregations, associations, institutes and missionary societies, nourished and inspired by the original Rule of Carmel.

Today there are four communities of OCD Carmelite friars in the UK:

Carmelite Priory, Kensington, London,
St Joseph's Priory, Gerrards Cross, Bucks,
Carmelite Priory, Boars Hill, Oxford
Tabor Retreat House, Preston

more about the OCD Carmelites can be found at  www.carmelite.org.uk