Cistercian Monk?

Today me & Mrs MD visited Fountains Abbey - a World Heritage Site near Ripon in North Yorkshire.
Whilst wandering around - Blipping merrily away - I came across this monk (?) who was imparting knowledge and history to visitors.  I asked if he would be happy to be photographed by this archway.  He agreed but insisted that he had to have his face obscured.  He said he was ok to talk to visitors, but only to be photographed as above.
Was he genuine?  I don't know, but he sounded sincere.