FORTY monks from Ampleforth Abbey will sing vespers at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday.

The Ampleforth community is the spiritual successor to the Benedictine monks of Westminster Abbey, exiled by Queen Elizabeth I in 1559, said James Darley, spokesman for the monks.

"As far as we know this is only the fourth time vespers have been sung in the abbey since then."

Previous ocasions were in 1976 for the installation of Cardinal Basil Hume, in 1980 to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the birth of St Benedict, and for the Benedict 2000 celebrations. The Abbot of Ampleforth, the Right Reverend Timothy Wright, will address the congregation.