Abbot Giles Peter Hayes

Abbot Giles Peter Hayes, OSB

In the early 2000s long contemplated plans began to mature to meet two major needs, first, for an auditorium and fine and performing arts facilities and secondly, to solve the financial issue that had grown more pressing. The creation of the auditorium proved to be a great success.

The second initiative did not get past the planning stage but had unforeseen results which wrought a major change in the landscape of the Abbey and Delbarton and as a by-product occasioned the solution of a long standing Delbarton mystery. Both arts and economic projects began under the aegis of Abbot Thomas, but when the Congregational age limit, now seventy-five, brought about his resignation, Father Giles Peter Hayes was elected tenth abbot of a community now numbering forty-seven. Both projects would be brought to their conclusion under his leadership.