The Carmelite Order

The Carmelite Friars are an international Catholic religious order, founded in the early thirteenth century on Mount Carmel, Palestine. 



The Carmelites originally came to Britain in 1242 and were based all across these isles until they were dissolved by Henry VIII at the Reformation in the 1530s.

In the twentieth century, the Carmelites returned to England after 400 years, first to Faversham and then to Aylesford. Today, the Carmelites main purpose is to work with the people of God through prayer, fraternity and service; it works alongside all people of faith and goodwill, which is done through traditional Christian ministry and by being available to those who are often at the edges of Church and society. The Trust serves the community throughout Britain: directing a large retreat centre, running parishes, working in prisons and hospitals, working at the University of York Chaplaincy, and running the Shrine of Saint Jude. It also supports Carmelite communities across the world, but particularly in Colombia, East Timor and Kenya.

Since 1955, donations received at the Shrine of Saint Jude have enabled the charity to support the presence and ministries of the Carmelite Friars in Great Britain and worldwide, including the training of new friars.