Apply to join our residential Christian community

We’re so glad you’d like to explore joining the team as a Residential Community Member (voluntary worker).

You will need an up to date photo of yourself, details of your passport, travel and funding arrangements (if overseas), and references. The form will probably take at least 40 minutes to complete, but at any time you can scroll to the bottom and click “Save and continue later”.

Before you start please note:

It is a genuine occupational requirement that you must be a practising Christian with evidence of a growing Christian faith and involvement in a local church.
Lee Abbey London does not have suitable accommodation for married couples or families. If this applies to you, Lee Abbey London may not be for you. We will not issue certificates of sponsorship for couples or families.
You will be expected to share a bedroom with other members of our Community.
Lee Abbey London is a residential Christian community. Living, working and worshipping together with us “in community” is a requirement.
The use of AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot etc) to complete your application form is not allowed. Applications suspected of using AI tools will be rejected.

Some initial questions

Let’s start with a few questions to help us avoid asking for irrelevant information later on. It’s important that you answer these honestly and openly.

Are you a Christian?*

Do you believe in Jesus as Lord, and have a living relationship with God that affects the way you live your daily life?

Yes

No

Sorry, the Lee Abbey Community may not be for you.
Lee Abbey is a Religious Community, so we look for people who have a living relationship with Jesus and a passion and desire to serve as part of the Community.

Which country issued your passport?*

United Kingdom or Ireland

Rest of the world

I don’t have a passport

For security reasons you must have a passport to apply online, even if you are from the UK. If you are from the UK and have another form of official ID instead, please contact us.

IMPORTANT: Please read carefully.

If you are invited to join the Lee Abbey Community, you will need to apply for a Voluntary Charity Worker’s Visa, which will last for one year. You must be willing to commit to volunteering with us for this period. There are strict requirements for this visa and applicants may be refused entry by the British Embassy.

Have you been refused a visa to travel to the UK within the last 5 years?*

Yes, I have

No, I haven’t

Sorry, it’s highly unlikely you would be granted a visa again if you have been refused recently. We know it’s frustrating for you, but we would advise you to consider volunteering in your home country instead for now.

Have you previously travelled to the UK on a Tier 5 or Religious Worker visa?*

Yes, I have

No, I haven’t

Did you leave the UK more than 12 months ago on the last occasion?*

Yes, I did

No, it was more recently

Sorry, it’s highly unlikely you would be granted a visa again within 12 months of leaving. We know it’s frustrating for you, but we would advise you to consider volunteering in your home country instead for now.

Do you have enough money to apply for a visa to travel to the UK?*

Yes, I have enough of my own money

Someone else has agreed to pay for me

No, I don’t know how I will pay

Do you have enough money to pay for your travel to the UK?*

Yes, I have enough of my own money

Someone else has agreed to pay for me

No, I don’t know how I will pay

Sponsor's letter

Please upload a photo or scan of a signed letter from the person who is paying for your travel (and visa if applicable), declaring that they agree to cover these expenses for you.

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB.

Sorry, we do need to know that you will be able to afford the visa and travel expenses to the UK before we can offer you a place. We know it’s frustrating for you! Please arrange the necessary funds and then submit your application.

Your future plans when you return

If possible, please upload scans or photos of any documentary evidence of your future plans when you return to your home country, e.g. a letter from a university or college or from an employer guaranteeing that you will have a job when you return.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, pdf, doc, docx, Max. file size: 10 MB.

How long would you like to volunteer on Community for, if accepted?

You can select more than one option. This is not a firm commitment at this stage, but just to give us an idea of your availability.

A few weeks over the summer, up to the first week of September

6-9 months

1-2 years

Longer

If you want to apply for a 3 year or longer position and are from outside the UK, you might be restricted to a 12-month visa.

If you were selected, what is the earliest date you would be available to join?*

What is the latest date you would be able to stay until?

Leave blank unless you have a particular future commitment like starting university or a new job.

How good is your spoken (not just written) English?*

Lee Abbey is an international Community, and not all Community members need to be fluent in English. But you would need to be confident speaking and understanding English for all day-to-day and working tasks.

Yes, my spoken English is adequate or better

No, my spoken English is poor

Sorry, the Lee Abbey Community may not be for you.
To have a good experience of community life and work well in the team, you need to be able to speak at least some English.

Lee Abbey London Community expectations*

I believe that God is calling me to join the Community at Lee Abbey London as a voluntary Charity Worker. I understand what is expected of me and I will do my best to live up to these expectations.

I understand that while at Lee Abbey London I will be expected to live according to the values of love, faith, discipleship, hospitality, fun, thankfulness, generosity, honesty, respect and forgiveness.

I understand that Lee Abbey London holds a policy of responsible Christian living and prohibits illegal drugs, pornography, sexual relationships outside of marriage and irresponsible consumption of alcohol.
I understand that new romantic relationships are not encouraged for Community members – as these may distract us from our purpose of being on community. Any intention to enter into a romantic relationship must be discussed with a Leadership Team member.

I will participate fully in the life and worship of the Community at Lee Abbey London as expected of me, including attendance at the weekly Holy Communion service, Community meetings and training or teaching sessions.

I will willingly submit to the authority of my supervisors, and will seek to serve God and others to the best of my ability.

I will endeavour to stay at Lee Abbey London for the full period for which I have committed myself.

I understand that Community Membership at Lee Abbey London is a full-time commitment and that I will not be able to take up other employment while I am a Community member.

I understand that I have to return to my home country when my time as a Community Member at Lee Abbey London is finished (for non-European Union countries only).

I understand that Lee Abbey London cannot take responsibility for my personal property or the costs of any medical treatment while I am in the UK. I understand that I will need to take out appropriate insurance cover.

I have read and understood the application information.

I understand that failure to meet these expectations may result in me being asked to leave Lee Abbey London.

All the information I have provided in this form is accurate.

I agree to all the above statements

Returning to your home country*

As you are coming from outside the UK or Ireland, please tick to show you agree with the following statement.

I understand that I must return to my home country when my time as a Community Member at Lee Abbey London is finished.

Marital status*

Do you have dependent children?*

Yes

No

Sorry, you will not be able to proceed with your application. Due to limited accommodation options, we require volunteers who join our team to share a bedroom with other community members. We are therefore not able to offer placements to married couples or those with dependent children. If you are already in the UK and would like to discuss this further, please call Chris Barry on 020 7244 2711. Thank you for your interest in Lee Abbey London.

Personal information

Your name*

As it appears on your passport.

Title First (given) name Surname (family name)

What do your friends call you?

Email address*

Postal address*

Address line 1 Address line 2 City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

National Insurance (NI) number

Phone number*

Alternative phone number

Shall we keep in touch?*

Lee Abbey will send you information relevant to your application to join Community. Would you also be happy for us to email or write to you about other Lee Abbey news and offers?

Yes please, by post (if UK) and email

Yes please, by post only (if UK)

Yes please, by email only

No thanks

Do you hold a British passport?*

Yes

No

Your passport*

Whether it is British or not, please upload a photo or scan of the identity page of your passport here.

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB.

Dual nationality

If you have a second nationality, please tell us what it is.

Children

Please tell us the names and ages of any children you have, whether or not you plan for them to join you on Community.

Name

Age

Photo*

Please upload a nice clear photo of yourself (with no one else in the picture). We need this purely in order to identify you. Lee Abbey is an international Community, and we don’t discriminate against people based on their appearance.

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB.

Current or most recent employment

Please do include voluntary work as well as paid employment.

Name and address of your employer

Employer name Street address City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Job title

Employed from and to (month/year)

How much notice would you have to give to your employer when leaving?

Previous employment

Please start with the most recent, and include any unpaid or voluntary work.

I have more employment to tell you about

Previous employment 1

Name and address of your employer

Employer name Street address City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Job title

Employed from and to (month/year)

Reason for leaving

Any more previous employment?

Please include any unpaid or voluntary work too.

I have more employment to tell you about

Previous employment 2

Name and address of your employer

Employer name Street address City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Job title

Employed from and to (month/year)

Reason for leaving

Any more previous employment?

Please include any unpaid or voluntary work too.

I have more employment to tell you about

Previous employer 3

Name and address of your employer

Employer name Street address City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Job title

Employed from and to (month/year)

Reason for leaving

Any more previous employment?

Please include any unpaid or voluntary work too.

I have more employment to tell you about

Previous employer 4

Name and address of your employer

Employer name Street address City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Job title

Employed from and to (month/year)

Reason for leaving

Any more previous employment?

Please include any unpaid or voluntary work too.

I have more employment to tell you about

Please continue here

Please tell us in each case the employer name, address and dates you worked for them, together with your job title and reason for leaving.

Remember, you are not allowed to use AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot etc) to complete these questions or any others on your application form. We need to hear from you personally in your own words, and if we suspect that you have used AI tools your application will be rejected.

Your church*

Tell us about the church you are part of, and your involvement with it.

What denomination do you belong to?*

e.g. Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, etc.

The aim of the Lee Abbey Movement is "Communicating Christ through relationships". Please explain what this phrase means to you.*

Please describe a situation where you have shared your faith story with someone else. What was the outcome?*

Lee Abbey London’s ministry is one of “MISSION” – sharing the good news about Jesus and making disciples. A big part of this is being ready to share your own story about how you came to faith in Jesus and the difference God has made in your life.

Why are you applying to Lee Abbey London?*

Voluntary work and community service*

Please provide details of any other voluntary work or community service you have done.

Describe any hopes or fears you might have about joining our Community.*

Personal journey of faith*

Please give details of your own Christian experience and your personal walk with Christ. How important is this relationship to you?

References

Please give details of referees, one of whom should be a recent employer if you have been employed. If you are in or have just completed full-time education, one referee should be from your school, college or university. Referees must not be related to you. References will be taken up before an interview or offer of a place, unless you request otherwise.

Employer or teacher

Name*

Title First name Surname (family name)

Postal address*

Address line 1 Address line 2 City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Occupation*

Phone number*

Email address*

Minister, pastor or vicar

Name*

Title First name Surname (family name)

Postal address*

Address line 1 Address line 2 City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Phone number*

Email address*

Further referee

This should be a close friend or someone who knows you in a personal or spiritual context, but not your spouse or relative.

Name*

Title First name Surname (family name)

Postal address*

Address line 1 Address line 2 City or town County, state or region ZIP or postal code Country

Occupation*

Phone number*

Email address*

Taking up references*

I agree to references and a medical certificate being taken up before an interview or offer of a community vacancy is made.

Yes

No

Why would you like us not to take up your references at this stage?*

Apply to join community

Some initial questions

IMPORTANT: Please read carefully.

Know what you're signing up to

Personal information

Relevant experience and skills

Current or most recent employment

Previous employment 1

Previous employment 2

Previous employer 3

Previous employer 4

Education, training and personal development

Most recent education

Education or training 2

Education or training 3

References

Employer or teacher

Minister, pastor or vicar

Further referee

Other information

Declaration

Congratulations

Extra Information