Fr John Taylor retired as priest of the Convent of Syon Abbey in South Brent, Devon, on Palm Sunday, April 17. Fr Taylor began his career as a dentist in the Army, serving in Egypt in the Second World War. His connection with Syon Abbey goes back to the 1960s when the Abbey was at Marley House, Devon and the Sisters went as patients to his dental surgery in Totnes. He decided to become a Catholic priest and after some years returned to Syon Abbey to serve as their priest in 2004. The community and congregation are very sad to see him go. He is moving to Tewkesbury to be nearer his family. Sadly, Syon Abbey is closing due to the poor health of some of the community and the small numbers of Sisters. This branch of the Bridgettine order is the last remaining enclosed community of English Bridgettines and their continuum of existence is unbroken from before the Reformation.