Fr. Anselm Llewellyn (1912-2003)

Father Anselm was born in Buffalo, N.Y.  The family moved to Tulsa, Okla., and Anselm went to high school there.  He studied at St. Gregory’s College, Shawnee, Okla., and made first vows for that community July 13, 1935.  He transferred those vows to St. Benedict’s Abbey and was ordained June 7, 1941. 

Father Anselm studied music in New York, N.Y., at The Julliard School of Music, The Pius X School of Liturgical Music and at Columbia University where he earned a masters; he also studied in Europe at the Abbey of Solesmes under Dom Desroquetts.

Not especially happy with the state of liturgical music in the Catholic Church after Vatican II he launched out with the encouragement of his abbots on two careers.  He was director of the choir of Trinity Episcopal Church in Atchison for 26 years.  Simultaneously he joined the staff at Maur Hill School where he was kitchen manager, and director of nutrition and food service.  He was also the chaplain for the Mexican Guadalupanas de Christo Rey from Mexico, who served at the high school. 

While on the St. Benedict’s College faculty he was the founder along with Father Bede Bradley, of the Raven Theater Guild and worked with the Twin College Players.  He taught Gregorian chant at the Abbey and College.  For years he directed the Sunday and festive Masses at the Mount.

He was also chairman of the music department of the college, and founded the SBC “Continentals” male
Choral group that performed over 60 concerts each year across the Midwest.

When the Abbey completed the organ in the church in 2002, adding 800 pipes to the 1958 instrument, the rededicatory concert with organist Bruce Prince Joseph was held in honor of Father Anselm.  Though in poor health, Father Anselm was present for the concert.