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Benet Perceval

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Dom Benet Perceval, OSB (1916 – 2009) was the oldest member of the monastic community at Ampleforth Abbey, England, when he died at age 92 on 30 January 2009.

Life

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He was born as Peter Perceval in Wimbledon in 1916.[1] In 1926 he began studying at Ampleforth College. He took the name Benet in September 1934 when he joined the Ampleforth community. From 1937-1940 he studied at the University of Oxford. Besides the time he spent at the University of Oxford, he lived the entirety his life in North Yorkshire.[2] Following his studies at Oxford he fulfilled a variety of roles in the monastery and school, including:

  • Secretary to the Ampleforth War Memorial Trust Fund which provides bursaries for students to Ampleforth College (1945-2009).[3]
  • The first Housemaster of St John's House, a post he held until 1980.
  • The College's Second Master until 1986.
  • Prior of the Community from 1988.
  • Served on the Abbey's Farm Board/Farm Committee which oversees work on Ampleforth's farmland.[4]

Family

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He was a distant relation of Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated (shot in the lobby of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom in May 1812).[4]

Posthumous tribute

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Dom Benet's death was marked the same day by tolling the Abbey's bell, with 1 toll every 30 seconds for each year of his life.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Kelly, Liam (4 February 2009). "Ampleforth's oldest monk has died | ICN". www.indcatholicnews.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. ^ Jeffels, David (5 February 2009). "Tributes to Ampleforth Abbey's oldest monk, 92". Gazette & Herald. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Ampleforth's oldest monk dies". The Northern Echo. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Father Benet Perceval". Yorkshire Post. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 25 November 2016.

Sources

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