“What’s a feminist like you doing in a convent?” asked the bishop, amazed. I proceeded to explain to him that life in a women’s religious community seems to me an impeccably feminist option. We are a self-governing group of women, each of whom has responded to God’s direct call to take her part in God’s mission in the world.
When Anglican communities began in the nineteenth century, women’s communities led the way, and at that time they offered opportunities for women to do church work and social work, and to exercise leadership, which were available almost nowhere else; and they flocked to convents in their thousands.
We are now in a different world, and no woman needs to enter a community in order to find useful and fulfilling work. Fewer enter these days, but why do any come?
St Benedict says that the only requirement for those entering the monastery is that they 'truly seek God' and that remains fundamental. Our primary commitment is to prayer – in our community, Office five times a day, together with Eucharist, intercession, spiritual reading and personal prayer.
A major part of our service to others is to help them in their own life with God, through individual spiritual accompaniment and leading retreats and quiet days. A convent offers a quiet space where people can calm down, away from the clamour of their everyday lives, to find peace and healing and listen for God’s voice.
Our vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience offer a powerful counter-cultural witness in a world obsessed with the pursuit of money, sex and power. We aim to be with people, especially (but not exclusively) those who are poor and marginalised, in a variety of contexts: parish churches, schools and universities, hospital and prison chaplaincies; with asylum seekers, with people of other faiths, with people in distress of many kinds
– and on General Synod!
In the current disputes in the Church, we are committed to living together in love with those who disagree with us. We cannot opt out of our worshipping community (which is also our living community) to find somewhere more congenial; we have made vows to God and to our community, and we are here till we die.
Protect Me, O Lord
My boat is so small
And your sea is so big
Old Breton Fishermen' Prayer
All communities are smaller and older than they used to be, and we are looking for ways to live more creatively in partnership with those not under vows. There has been an enormous growth in numbers of those who seek to be associated with a community, or to ‘live alongside’ for a time.
There must be change, but it is our task to hold fast to the essentials of the vocation, so that our communities continue to be places where people can authentically seek God.
The Revd. Sister Rosemary CHN
