We are the Friars of the Order of Preachers, also known as Dominicans after our founder St Dominic de Guzman, and are a religious order of priests and brothers in the Roman Catholic Church. The word friar is derived from the Latin word frater, meaning simply brother. Although we live a fraternal life in convents and celebrate a sung Liturgy in common, we are not monks as we are not tied to a particular monastery but are called to make the world our cloister. Consequently, although a friar is a son of a particular province, he is a brother in an international Order.

Founded in 1216, there are now nearly forty provinces of friars in the Order of Preachers, from all parts of the world, all united by obedience to the Master of the Order. Our Order, which was established for preaching the Gospel and the salvation of souls, has a world-wide mission, and so we work in a diversity of ways, with other members of the Dominican family, to spread the Gospel - not only by preaching in our own lands but also in those places around the world where the Christian message of hope and salvation in Jesus Christ has not been heard.

In these pages we shall discover something about the history of the Order and the English Province, some of the Dominican saints, and the hallmarks of Dominican life that help us to focus and direct our common mission.

History

Spirituality

Who are we?

Religious Life

Government

Help us?

Photos of Dominican Life