The new abbot, Father Ambrose Southey, was the first Englishman to govern the abbey for more than half a century. Dom Ambrose was already abbot vicar of the order when, in 1974 he was elected abbot general, the highest office in the order. Dom Ambose stepped down as Abbot-General in 1990 and later became superior of Bamenda Abbey (Cameroon) which he served from 1993 until 1996, and superior of Scourmont Abbey (Belgium), from 1996 until 1998. Dom Ambrose accepted the ministry of chaplain for the community of Vitorchiano and remained there until he returned to his "community of stability", Mount St Bernard Abbey, where he died on 24 August 2013, aged ninety years.