Community of the Holy Cross

The Community of the Holy Cross (CHC) is an Anglican religious order founded in 1857 by Elizabeth Neale (sister of John Mason Neale), at the invitation of Father Charles Fuge Lowder, to work with the poor around St Peter's London Docks in Wapping.^[1] The Community moved to a large convent in Haywards Heath.^[2]

The Community later felt drawn^[3] to follow the Rule of St Benedict, and moved their convent to Rempstone near Loughborough in 1979, where they lived the monastic life until 2011. The Community then moved a short distance to a new purpose-built convent at Highfields, Costock in Nottinghamshire.

The Community aims to achieve the Benedictine balance of prayer, study and work. All work, whether manual, artistic or intellectual, is done within the Enclosure. The daily celebrations of the Eucharist and the Divine Office are the centre and inspiration of all activity.

Apart from worship, prayer and intercession, and the work of maintaining the house, garden and grounds, the Community's works are publications; providing retreats and quiet days; and dealing with a large postal apostolate.

Community

Choir Nuns - 8

Sister Mary Luke (Mother Superior, elected 1991), Sister Mary Julian (Assistant Superior), Sister Mary Michael, Sister Mary Bernadette, Sister Mary Joseph, Sister Mary Cuthbert, Sr Mary Hannah, Sister Mary Catherine.

Postulants - 1

Oblates and Associates

The Community has women and men Oblates who are attached to it in a union of mutual prayers. Each has a rule of life adapted to her particular circumstances. Oblates are not Religious but they seek to live their lives in the world according to the spirit of the Rule of St Benedict. Associates have a much simpler rule.

Timetable

Matins - 6.15am; Lauds - 7.30am; Terce - 9.15am; Mass - 9.30am (subject to change); Sext - 12.15pm (subject to change); None - 1.30pm; Vespers - 4.30pm (4pm Thurs); Compline - 8pm.

Office Book: CHC Office

Elizabeth Neale (1822-1901)

Elizabeth Neale was born at Gestlingthorpe in Essex in 1822 and was the youngest of four children, the eldest of whom was John Mason Neale, priest and hymnographer.

After the death of her father the family moved several times, eventually settling in Brighton. Elizabeth’s home background was of a strict Calvinist regime but under the influence of her brother she adopted a Tractarian position. In 1857 Elizabeth responded to a call from Fr Charles Fuge Lowder to establish a sisterhood to assist the clergy of St George-in-the-East, Stepney. At that time she was running a small orphanage in Brighton and working in the parish of St Paul’s under the guidance of its priest, Fr Arthur Wagner.

Leaving the future of the orphanage in the hands of her brother and the Sisters of St Margaret, on 14 April, Elizabeth, with a fourteen-year-old orphan set up house in Stepney. Later in the year three other women joined her and the bishop of London, Archibald Tait, gave her his blessing as Superior of the Community of the Holy Cross.

At first the sisters had a hard struggle to be accepted in the area but an orphanage and a House of Mercy were founded. When a new mission district was created in Wapping and the Church of St Peter’s, London Docks was built in 1886 a cholera epidemic broke out. The sisters nursed the sick in their own homes, visited the hospitals and distributed food to those in need. The epidemic proved a breakthrough as the sisters won the confidence of the people.

As the Community grew additional works were begun. Mother Elizabeth’s idea was that, as a mission, the sisterhood should break new ground, get the work established and then turn it over to local people. In time the need arose to have a large Mother House and in 1886 land was bought at Haywards Heath, Sussex on which to build a permanent Convent. Mother Elizabeth relinquished her role as Superior in 1896 because of failing health and died five years later on 21 February 1901.

Mother Elizabeth didn’t leave any spiritual writings behind - she believed in doing rather than putting things down on paper - her legacy has been a rich one. She is remembered as a pioneer in the development of religious orders for women in the Anglican tradition and for her formidable faith. Generations of Sisters have followed her example of love: love of the poor and needy, a love of prayer, a love exemplified by their dedication to the Holy Cross.

CHC Reverend Mothers

1. Sr Elizabeth Neale (1857 - 1896)

2. Sr Anna (1896 - 1919)

3. Sr Lois (1919 - 1920)

4. Sr Mary Ida (1920 - 1923)

5. Sr Mary Mabel (1923 - 1931)

6. Sr Scholastica (1931 - 1947)

7. Sr Mary Anthony (1947 - 1962)

8. Sr Mary Margaret (1962 - 1970)

9. Sr Mary Benedict (1970 - 1974)

10. Sr Mary Laurence (1974 - 1978)

11. Sr Mary Katharine (1978 - 1991)

12. Sr Mary Luke (1991–present)

Haywards Heath and Rempstone^[4]

In 1886 Mother Elizabeth bought some land at Haywards Heath, West Sussex on which to buy a permanent Convent. The first part was blessed by Father Benson SSJE in 1887. Another wing was added in 1889 and the ConventChapel was built and dedicated on 14 July 1906.

In 1926 the full Latin, Benedictine Office was embraced. During the war the Convent was turned into a War Emergency Hospital and the sitters slept on bunks in the cellars. The day after the War Emergency Hospital closed the Community adopted the Rule of St Benedict in place of Mother Elizabeth’s original rule.

In the following years the Community changed from being an active to an enclosed Community with no work being done outside the Convent. At this time prayer and work for Christian Unity became important.

By the 1970s the Community was much reduced in numbers so in 1977 the decision was made to move to a smaller Convent.

In 1978 a house was bought in the village of Rempstone. Situated three miles north of Loughborough it was actually in Nottinghamshire in the diocese of Southwell. The move there was completed in September 1979.

The Community remained at Rempstone until the building of the new Convent just a few miles away near the village of Costock.

The Design and Setting of the New Convent at Costock

The Convent is in the countryside but not too far from the village of Costock, a third of a mile off the main road (A60) down its own track. The 26 acres of land is such that it can be managed simply in order to maintain and enhance the wildlife and biodiversity and to create the tranquillity appropriate to the Sisters’ way of life.

The Convent itself has been created with the three remaining farm buildings at its heart. It follows the traditional monastic pattern of a quadrangle around a Cloister Garth. This echoes the Benedictine Abbeys and Priories of the early monastic foundations in the more isolated areas of historic England. St Benedict’s House, the old Dower House of Bunny Hall and previously the farmhouse, is a building of great character and interest which has been fully restored rot become the main focus of the Community's ministry of hospitality to those seeking spiritual refreshment.

The building has been designed to minimise running and maintenance costs, using suitable green energy systems and materials wherever possible, thus fulfilling the Benedictine ideal of care of all things. Also a new kitchen garden has been created containing raised beds for ease of use and there is also an existing 100-year-old Orchard and a small orchard in the garden of St Benedict’s House.

References

↑ 'Gregory's Angels' Gordon J. Beattie, p157 ISBN 978-0-85244-386-6
↑ 'The Community of the Holy Cross Haywards Heath 1857-1957: A Short History of its Life and Work' Alan Russell, 1957
↑ 'A Short History of the Community of the Holy Cross', CHC Publications
↑ 'A Short History of the Community of the Holy Cross', CHC Publications

External links

Official website

Active religious orders and communities of the Anglican Communion

For men	Alton Abbey Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ Brotherhood of Saint Gregory Community of the Divine Compassion Community of the Resurrection Company of Mission Priests Ewell Monastery Franciscan orders Korean Franciscan Brotherhood Little Brothers of Francis Melanesian Brotherhood Oratory of the Good Shepherd Benedictine orders Order of the Holy Cross Order of the Teachers of the Children of God Salisbury Priory St Gregory's Abbey Society of St. Francis Society of St. John the Evangelist Society of St. Paul

For women	Augustinian orders Benedictine Sisters of Bethany Chama Cha Mariamu Mtakatifu Chita che Zita Rinoyera Chita che Zvipo Zve Moto Christa Sevika Sangha Community of All Hallows Community of Christ the King Community of Jesus' Compassion Community of Nazareth Community of St. Andrew Community of St. Clare Community of St. Denys Community of St. Francis Community of St. John Baptist Community of St. John the Divine Community of St. John the Evangelist Community of St. Laurence Community of St. Mary Community of St. Mary at the Cross Community of St. Mary the Virgin Community of St. Mary of Nazareth and Calvary Community of St. Michael & All Angels Community of St. Paul Community of St. Peter Community of St. Peter, Horbury Community of the Blessed Lady Mary Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd Community of the Good Shepherd Community of the Holy Cross Community of the Holy Family Community of the Holy Name (Europe & Africa) Community of the Holy Name (Australia) Community of the Holy Spirit Community of the Resurrection of Our Lord Community of the Sacred Name Community of the Sacred Passion Community of the Servants of the Cross Community of the Sisters of Melanesia Community of the Sisters of the Church Community of the Sisters of the Love of God Community of the Transfiguration Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation of our Lady Daughters of St. Francis Fikambanan'ny Mpanompovavin l Jesoa Kristy Franciscan orders Malling Abbey Order of St. Anne Order of St. Anne at Bethany Order of St. Benedict Order of St. Helena Order of the Holy Paraclete Order of Women (South India) Sisterhood of St. John the Divine Sisterhood of St. Mary, Bangladesh Sisterhood of the Epiphany Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity Sisters of Charity Sisters of the Good Shepherd Sisters of the Incarnation Sisters of Jesus Way Sisters of St Francis (Korea) Society of All Saints Sisters of the Poor Society of Our Lady of the Isles Society of Our Lady St. Mary Society of St. John the Divine Society of St. Margaret Society of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus & Mary Society of the Holy Cross Society of the Holy Trinity Society of the Precious Blood Society of the Sacred Advent Society of the Sacred Cross Society of the Sisters of Bethany

Mixed	Anglican Order of Preachers (Dominican) Community of the Glorious Ascension Community of the Holy Transfiguration Community of the Servants of the Will of God Companions of Saint Luke (OSB) Franciscan orders Mucknell Abbey Order of Julian of Norwich Benedictine orders Society of the Sacred Mission

Related articles	Topics closely related to active religious orders: Former religious orders in the Anglican Communion

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