Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd
Encyclopedia
The Community of the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd (CJGS) is an Anglican religious order
founded in 1920, part of the Church of England
. It is currently based near Kidlington
, Oxfordshire
.
Originally, the sisters were teachers living alone or in small groups, but in 1943 a mother house was established in Devon
under a monastic rule. Christian education continues to be the primary focus of the community's work, mainly through ministry training and spiritual direction
.
The community has decreased in size and its novitiate is now closed. In 1996 the remaining sisters elected to move to Clewer
and share accommodation with another Order of sisters, the Community of St John Baptist. The two Orders remain separate and distinct, but share the same priory
house. In 2001 they moved to Begbroke
, near Kidlington, and a further joint move is likely to take place during 2011.
Anglican religious order
Anglican religious orders are communities of laity and/or clergy in the Anglican Communion who live under a common rule of life. The members of religious orders take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and lead a common life of work and prayer...
founded in 1920, part of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. It is currently based near Kidlington
Kidlington
Kidlington is a large village and civil parish between the River Cherwell and the Oxford Canal, north of Oxford and southwest of Bicester.-History:...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
Originally, the sisters were teachers living alone or in small groups, but in 1943 a mother house was established in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
under a monastic rule. Christian education continues to be the primary focus of the community's work, mainly through ministry training and spiritual direction
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
.
The community has decreased in size and its novitiate is now closed. In 1996 the remaining sisters elected to move to Clewer
Clewer
Clewer is an ecclesiastical parish and region of Windsor making up three wards of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in the English county of Berkshire.-History:...
and share accommodation with another Order of sisters, the Community of St John Baptist. The two Orders remain separate and distinct, but share the same priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
house. In 2001 they moved to Begbroke
Begbroke
Begbroke is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Kidlington and northwest of Oxford.The toponym "Begbroke" is Old English for "Little Brook". This refers to Rowel Brook which runs through the village and was the reason for its early settlement...
, near Kidlington, and a further joint move is likely to take place during 2011.