The woman who represents a Catholic monastery

To mark International Women’s Day, Ampleforth Abbey’s Jenny Share spoke about her experience being a woman leading the charitable trust that represents and supports the all-male community of Benedictine monks.

Jenny arrived at the abbey as director of governance in 2018 after a long career in university administration, and she became CEO in 2022.

Her job involves shaping the work of the charitable trust that runs the day-to-day operations of the abbey and building the team tasked with ensuring a sustainable future for its resident monks.

She enjoys a close working relationship with Abbot Robert Igo OSB.

Jenny says she was welcomed from the moment she joined, being received as an equal despite being the first woman in the post.

She said: “I never felt I was considered a stranger or an outsider, even though the new environment was very different for me and sometimes a little bewildering.

“You might think in this position, I’d be a woman in a man’s world more than anywhere else, but I’m still very much made to feel part of the community, though I’m not a member.”

Asked if she feels equity for women is embraced at Ampleforth Abbey, Jenny explains that outside the all-male monastery the abbey employs a mix of staff with a wide age, gender and skills profile.

She said: “The members of the monastic community here appreciate each person for the skills they bring to help this place thrive and I’ve never even felt that my gender has been part of the equation for them. Above all, the Benedictine values we seek to uphold here at the abbey lead to a great sense of teamwork and community which supports and includes everyone.”

Abbot Robert said: “Working with Jenny is a pleasure and I have the utmost admiration for her skills and leadership. Her work towards ensuring a sustainable future for the monastic community is deeply valued.

“It is a great blessing that strong, dedicated women of all ages work at the abbey alongside us in our journey in faith.”

Asked what message she’d send to other women, Jenny said: “If you want to progress, choose your place of work carefully. Aim to go somewhere that is a