Peace abbey for sale; Emily the Cow's fate uncertain

SHERBORN

Three foundations have toured the Sherborn Peace Abbey in recent months amid news that the complex is for sale, according to abbey director Lewis Randa.

None of the foundations have offered to buy the abbey, but one of them expressed interest in helping preserve the abbey’s statue of Gandhi, Randa said. The foundations, which Randa declined to name, were provoked to visit the abbey after the Globe reported in March about the abbey’s financial troubles, he said.

The abbey has seen a steep decline in donations and is now being sold for $5.5 million, abbey officials have said. Since the article appeared, however, the abbey has received a $135,000 donation from an out-of-state resident for the preservation of the “Emily the Cow” statue, as well as about $12,000 worth of small donations, according to Randa.

— Kyle Alspach