‘Culture of peace and humanity’: Abbot President on living by the Benedictine Rule
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We spoke to Abbot Christopher Jamison, Abbot President of the English Benedictine Congregation, on living by the Benedictine Rule.
‘They created a culture of peace and humanity in a sea of real confusion around them.’
Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval explores the Rule of St Benedict, a deeply influential guide for communal living written in the 6th century. Abbot Christopher talks of what might surprises people about life in subculture of monasteries at the time, the power it gave women, and how his Big Question to pose the Sainsbury Centre would be about the art of good conversation.
Living by the Rule: Contemporary meets Medieval, 16 May – 4 October 2026, brings together extraordinary objects from medieval monastic contexts with a fascinating selection of contemporary artworks, and reflects on the ‘rules’ that we live by today.
Attributed to Robert Pygot, Painting of the Life of Saint Etheldreda, 1455. Courtesy of Society of Antiquaries, London. Photo: Courtesy of Department of Conservation, Ursula Griffiths © The Courtauld. Conservation generously funded by the Pilgrim, Idlewild, Leche and Barbara Whatmore Trusts
Filming and editing: Kate Wolstenholme