An image of the Tower that the Claretian’s received in 1556.
An image of the Tower from the same position today.
The Arrival of the Claretian Missionaries
After nearly one hundred years in private hands from 1869–1956, the social significance of Buckden Towers was renewed with the arrival of the present owners, the Claretian Missionaries and the return of the Catholic faith to the site. One of four foundations in England of an Order founded by Saint Anthony Mary Claret in Vich, Spain in 1849, the Claretians are devoted to spreading the Kingdom of God on Earth. By this they understand working together with other people to improve society, regardless of people’s creed. Over the years they have welcomed and worked with people of other Christian backgrounds and other religious faiths. In their work throughout the world their priorities have been in education and healthcare.
The Claretians, recognise the call to renew the commitment to the care of creation, as being deeply consonant with their own charism. Their congregational commitments to the integrity of creation, to transformed lifestyles, and to collaboration for a more just and sustainable world are not abstract ideals. They are invitations—practical, spiritual, and communal. These values challenge us all to ask ourselves how we live, how we host, how we invest, and how we witness.
Here, at Buckden, the Claretians recognise that have been entrusted with something extraordinary.
Buckden Towers is not simply a heritage site or a retreat centre. It is land. It is habitat. It is a living environment set within a wider ecological network in Cambridgeshire. It is also a place of prayer, welcome, formation, and encounter. That combination is rare—and it is a gift.
Restoration and the Junior Seminary
When the Claretians received Buckden Towers a considerable amount of work had to be undertaken to make the buildings habitable and a new chapel and community hall were erected in 1958 and 1962. It had initially been intended by the Claretians to have a junior seminary on the site and in September 1957, 31 boys arrived at the boarding school. Known as St Hugh’s College, the seminary prepared Catholic boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen with a classical education for eventual membership of the fast-growing Order. The Junior Seminary closed in 1965 and a Catholic parish was created in 1969 then the St. Claret Centre was opened in 1974 for youth activities and later in the 1980’s the continued restoration and repairs to the buildings allowed the facilities to also welcome conferences and spiritual retreats for adults.
The Claretians in the Local Community
The Claretians are now a vital part of the daily life of Buckden and surrounding villages. The Centre welcomes visitors, both local and from far afield, especially young people. Assisted by qualified lay people, they design and lead events aimed at religious formation and growth. Many adults come for religious retreats and conferences, both individually and in groups, staying in both the Tower and the refurbished Inner Gatehouse. St Stephen’s Hall, the community hall, is an extremely popular facility for independent local groups not concerned with the Congregation, as is the house which is currently in use as a conference centre.
The Friends of Buckden Towers
In 1976, on the initiative of Fr. Michael Mahon, the Superior and Parish Priest, a group of local residents met and subsequently formed a Trust under the title of the ‘Friends of Buckden Towers’. In May 1977 they became a Registered Charity the objects of which, as set out in the Trust Deed, are: ‘To preserve or by making monetary grants to assist in the preservation for the benefit of the townspeople of Buckden in the County of Cambridgeshire and of the nation at large of the group of buildings situate at Buckden collectively called or known as Buckden Towers or Buckden Palace together with the land belonging thereto.’
Buckden Restoration and Development Appeal (BRADA)
in the mid 1980’s an appeal was made to generate funds to help the Claretians continue with the repairs and maintenance that the facilities required. as a charity with limited resources help was required to continue to rehabilitate the buildings that had fallen into such disrepair.
Phase one involved the conversion of the inner gatehouse into self-catering apartments that could be used by individuals and small groups.
Phase two in the mid 1990’s involved the renovation of the Great Tower to modernise the resources available to the Schools and youth groups that availed themselves of this historic building. Alongside this work on the towers efforts were also undertaken to improve the grounds in keeping with the sites Historical nature.
At the turn of the millennium work was undertaken in the Victorian house to ensure it was safe for groups to use and simple accommodation was created that would allow groups of 20 to 40 people to stay.
Continuing Preservation and Queen Katherine’s Garden
The Friends continued to welcome members and arrange fundraising and social events, collaborating with the Claretians throughout each phase of the work. As well as fundraising for vital repairs, the Friends provide volunteers to physically help with the work and act as guides on visitor tours. The Friends have also supported the owners of the property in the creation of the knot garden, known as Queen Katherine’s Garden, which was started in 1994 and involved work with offenders on community programmes.
Present developments
in recent years the upkeep of the buildings and facilities continues to be a constant challenge. While basic maintenance work is undertaken under the advisement of Heritage England and heritage specialists the task is never-ending. The greater awareness of environmental issues and the need to reduce the carbon footprint of the site while also exploring ways to enhance the biodiversity that is present in our grounds provides us with new challenges that we are invited to consider and rise to.
