The English Benedictine Congregation founded Belmont in 1859 as the Common House of Studies for the three existing monasteries (now Downside, Ampleforth and Douai). At the same time it was the Cathedral for the Diocese of Newport and Menevia which covered the whole of Wales and Herefordshire. The Monastic Community and Abbey Church is under the patronage of Saint Michael & All Angels.

The Abbey Church was built to the designs of Edward Welby Pugin, son of the great Augustus Welby Pugin. Built in the decorated, early English, or Gothic style, it demonstrated the resurgent optimism of the restored Catholic faith. The exterior is in local pink sandstone, simple and unadorned, especially the west front which is reminiscent of many classical monastic facades of the fourteenth century. The interior is faced with warm Bath stone. Light from the rich aisle windows frequently suffuses the whole space.

In 1917, the General Chapter of the Congregation declared Belmont to be an independent Priory, and in 1920 the Holy See raised it to the rank of an Abbey by the Papal Bull Praeclara Gesta.

Dom Aelred Kindersley, a monk of Downside, had been appointed as the last Cathedral Prior in 1915. The young community elected him as their first Abbot in 1920. Abbot Kindersley ruled the infant community for fourteen more years until his death in 1934. He saw the number of monks and the variety and scope of work increase. During his term of Office the Abbey School was established and the Community took to its care a number of parishes. The school closed in 1994, but educational work continues with visiting school groups and local catechetical work. The Community has also expanded its hospitality work: individuals and groups are welcomed for retreats, conferences and holiday breaks.

In 1981 three monks began the monastic life at Tambogrande in the north of Peru at the invitation of the Archbishop of Piura. In 2018 the community moved to its new home, Monasterio de Santa María de la Santísima Trinidad, at Lurin, formerly home to a community of Cistercian nuns and a foundation of the famous Abbey of Las Huelgas in Spain.

Today the Community numbers about thirty monks: about 15 are resident at the Abbey with around 9 working outside on Belmont’s parishes and other pastoral commitments with another 9 in Peru.