On a hilltop in Hampshire, where suburban England meets the last remnants of rural countryside, a French Gothic church rises incongruously against the English landscape. St. Michael's Abbey at Farnborough exists because an exiled Empress—Eugénie de Montijo, widow of Napoleon III—chose this spot to build a mausoleum for her husband, her son killed fighting for Britain in the Zulu War, and ultimately herself. The Imperial Crypt beneath the abbey church holds these last Bonapartes, while the Benedictine monks who now serve the abbey maintain perpetual prayer for their souls.
But Farnborough has become something more than a royal memorial. In 2015, the abbey church was designated England's National Shrine to St. Joseph, adding a pilgrimage dimension to this already remarkable site. The combination of French imperial history, Benedictine monasticism, and devotion to the foster-father of Christ creates a pilgrimage experience unlike any other in Britain.
The monks continue the contemplative life that Empress Eugénie intended when she invited French Premonstratensian canons (later replaced by Benedictines) to serve her foundation. Visitors encounter a living monastery where the Divine Office structures each day, where liturgy is celebrated with reverence, and where silence and prayer pervade the grounds.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Empress Eugénie (1826-1920) was one of the most remarkable women of the nineteenth century. Born into Spanish nobility, she married Napoleon III in 1853 and reigned as Empress of France until the catastrophe of 1870, when Prussian victory toppled the Second Empire. Exiled to England, she and her husband settled at Camden Place in Chislehurst, Kent.
Napoleon III died in 1873. Six years later, their only son, the Prince Imperial, was killed while serving with the British Army in South Africa—a tragedy that left Eugénie the last survivor of her dynasty. She purchased the Farnborough estate and commissioned the French architect Hippolyte Destailleur to design a church in the Flamboyant Gothic style, evoking the great churches of France.
The abbey church, completed in 1887, was intended from the beginning as a mausoleum. Napoleon III's body was transferred from Chislehurst; the Prince Imperial was brought from Zululand; and when Eugénie died in 1920, she joined them in the crypt. The Premonstratensian canons she installed were succeeded in 1895 by French Benedictines, fleeing anti-clerical persecution in France.
The monks have remained ever since, maintaining the monastic hours and praying for the imperial family's souls as Eugénie intended. The abbey's designation as the National Shrine of St. Joseph in 2015 added a new dimension: devotion to the saint whom Scripture describes as "a just man," the quiet protector of the Holy Family.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Farnborough
St. Michael's Abbey Church
The abbey church, a masterpiece of French Gothic revival, serves both as the monks' conventual church and as the National Shrine to St. Joseph. The interior glitters with mosaic, marble, and gilded ironwork in the style of Viollet-le-Duc's restorations of French Gothic monuments.
The Shrine of St. Joseph occupies a place of honor, with a statue and devotional space for pilgrims seeking the saint's intercession. Special devotions to St. Joseph are held regularly, particularly around his feast days.
Imperial Crypt
The crypt beneath the church contains the tombs of Napoleon III, the Prince Imperial, and Empress Eugénie. The sarcophagi rest in a solemn space that preserves the atmosphere of a royal mausoleum. Visitors may descend to view the tombs and reflect on the dynasty's extinction.
Abbey Grounds and Gardens
The monastic grounds provide space for walking and prayer. The atmosphere of the enclosure reflects Benedictine values of peace, silence, and contemplation.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Solemnity of St. Joseph — March 19
The principal feast of the National Shrine, celebrated with solemn Mass and special devotions.
St. Joseph the Worker — May 1
Additional celebration of the shrine's patron with Masses and prayers for workers.
St. Michael and All Angels — September 29
The patronal feast of the abbey, celebrated with the full monastic liturgy.
Empress Eugénie's Anniversary — July 11
The anniversary of Eugénie's death is marked with a Requiem Mass for the imperial family.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Abbey Guesthouse (pilgrim accommodation) — The monks welcome guests for retreats and quiet visits. Contact the abbey for availability.
Farnborough hotels — The town offers various chain hotels and guesthouses near the abbey.
Camberley and Fleet hotels — Nearby towns provide additional accommodation options.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: London Heathrow (LHR) is approximately 40 km east. London Gatwick (LGW) is approximately 60 km southeast.
By Train: Farnborough Main station is on the South Western Railway line from London Waterloo (approximately 45 minutes). The abbey is a 15-minute walk from the station.
By Car: Farnborough is just off the M3 motorway. The abbey is located on Farnborough Road (A325). Parking available.
📚 Further Reading
Tony Rennell. The Last Empress: The Life of Eugénie — Biography of the abbey's founder.
Online Resources:
Farnborough Abbey — Official abbey website.
🔗 Useful Links
St. Michael's Abbey, Farnborough — Mass times and visiting information.
Diocese of Portsmouth — Diocesan resources.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
London (50 km) — Westminster Cathedral, Tyburn Convent, and numerous Catholic sites.
Aylesford (60 km) — Carmelite shrine with ancient and modern elements.
Canterbury (120 km) — Site of St. Thomas Becket's martyrdom.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"Saint Joseph reminds us that all those who seem hidden or in the background have an incomparable role in salvation history. To all of them, a word of recognition and gratitude is due." — Pope Francis, Patris Corde, December 8, 2020
