Abstract

This paper aims to illustrate an example of how Anglican monastic communities make sense of their identity and purpose. By focusing on Anglican monasticism, this paper addresses a gap in existing literature on monastic identity and purpose. Holy Cross Monastery—an Anglican Benedictine monastery for men in West Park, New York, USA—is the case study used in this project. Using interview data from six individual interviews with monks at Holy Cross, this paper demonstrates the importance of values such as seeking God and being one’s true self in the monastic life. The paper examines the monastery environment and monastic practices as avenues through which monastic identity and purpose are made. The paper is written in a narrative, conversational tone, and extended quotes from the interviews are included on their own as interstitial chapters to foreground the voices of the monks.

Advisor

Graham, Mark

Department

Religious Studies

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion

Keywords

monasticism, Christianity, Anglicanism, identity

Publication Date

2025

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2025 Gabriel Z. E. McCreath