Sanctuary Monastic Produce - made by the Benedictine Monks of Chilworth

Since the foundation of St Augustine’s Abbey in 1856, the Benedictine Monks have sought various ways to support themselves. In 2004, one of the monks took possession of a colony of bees which is now a well-established monastic apiary numbering between ten and fifteen hives.

In 2007 a Novice suggested making traditional beeswax furniture polish, as a way of utilising the surplus beeswax from the apiary. Sanctuary Polish is made using genuine turpentine, following a traditional recipe which is sure to nourish and protect all manner of home furnishings from dining-room tables to parquet floors.

After several months, a friend of the monastery suggested making a beeswax lip balm. Although some of the monks had never heard of using beeswax for cosmetic purposes, a recipe was soon discovered, and production of Sanctuary Balm began. Two years on, the monks currently offer a range of different flavoured beeswax lip balms, which not only moisturise and offer relief for dry, sore, or chapped lips, but also provide a long-lasting savour, thanks to the high-grade, organic essental oils used in the preparation.

In March 2008 the monks began preparing Sanctuary Skin Cream, a moisturising hand and skin cream which contains a blend of organic oils, beeswax, cocoa butter and aloe vera juice.