On Tue, 4 Mar 1997, Frederick S. Roden wrote:
> Greetings --
>
> I've written on the list once or twice before, and, after some
> correspondence with Fr. Cramer of Ampleforth, thought I'd make a posting.
>
> I'm writing a dissertation on medieval spirituality in the Victorian
> period. I'll be visiting the UK this summer to do some research, and am
> attempting to line up some avenues of investigation. I'm particularly
> interested in the revival of the religious orders in the 19th c. in
> England, both Anglican and Roman.
>
> Some literary queries, should anyone have direction here. First, on
> Christina Rossetti, who is central to my study. Her sister Maria, who
> professed in the Sisterhood of All Saints in 1873, is said to have
> translated medieval material. Does anyone have any idea how to track down
> material from the Anglican sisterhoods in the 19th c., or know whether
> this order is still in existence? Right now all I can locate is a
> tranlation of Dante done by M.R.
>
I would strongly recommend a visit to East Malling in Kent (going towards
Rocester I think) which is a nunnery founded by Gundulf of Rochester in
1090 (or so) a good part of whose buildings still stand. Currently run by
a female Anglican religious order, established there in the early 1890's
by a benefactress (fortunately for them a few years before she "poped") on
the site a tithe-barn of the fourteenth-century has been made into a
chapel for the only 2 Anglican Cistercians (male) in the world - set up by
an Anglican Franciscan named Fr Anselm (I think) in the 1960's) - I
suppose all this is somewhat later than Victorian spirituality, but shows
the continuing existence - the sisters do rent out rooms, (in the 15th c
stables in 19th c renov) but I'm not entirely sure to whom or on what
terms (did look nice though, last July)
Not sure this helps, but thought it might be of interest.
Cheers!
Georges Whalen
Centre for Medieval Studies
University of Toronto
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