The Monastery was founded in 1897 from Downside as a parish, at the invitation of Cardinal Vaughan. It was canonically erected as a dependent Priory in 1916 with Dom Wulstan Pearsons as its first Prior; he became first Bishop of Lancaster in 1925. In 1947 it became an independent conventual Priory, and it was raised to an Abbey by Pope Pius XII in 1955, with Dom Charles Pontifex as its first Abbot.

A school was started by Dom Sebastian Cave in 1902, and there are now about 600 pupils in the senior school and 250 boys in the junior school. A large parish is served from the Abbey.

There is a guest house providing accommodation for individuals who wish to spend some time apart, and a flourishing group of Oblates.