A GROUP of Chileans are preparing to join the monastic community at Ampleforth Abbey in North Yorkshire.

Committed lay embers of the Manquehue Apostolic Movement will arrive at the abbey in January where they will spend two years of service in the schools rather than the usual one-term visits which have been taking place since 2004.

The Manquehue Movement of the Chilean visitors was inspired by the Benedictine spirit at Ampleforth, according to the abbot, Father Cuthbert Madden.

Fr Madden said the stay would provide an excellent opportunity to strengthen relations between the movement and Ampleforth.

And David Lambon, headteacher at Ampleforth College, said he was looking forward to welcoming the visitors.

He said: "In the past we have seen the tremendous benefit of the work they have done with students in just one term, helping them to reflect on their faith and begin to share that faith with others, something which is a great challenge in our secularised society.

"We hope that this initiative will be of service not just to Ampleforth, but to the wider church in both Chile and the United Kingdom."