Community of the Sisters of the Church
Encyclopedia
The Community of the Sister of the Church is a religious order of women in various Anglican provinces who live the vowed life of poverty
, chastity
and obedience
. The order was founded by Mother Emily Ayckbowm in 1870 as the Church Extension Association.
Mother Emily and other women who felt called to the religious life established school
s and orphanage
s throughout England
in the late 19th century. The Church Extension Association evolved into the present Community of the Sisters of the Church. The sisters have houses in England, Canada
, Australia
and the Solomon Islands
. Formerly Sisters were also active in New Zealand.
Any woman who feels called to join the sisters must first apply to the house and then make several visits. Then she becomes an aspirant
, then a novice
then makes promises to live as a Junior Sister for a few years before taking life vows.
The Sisters of the Church are supported by an international network of associates, who pray for the sisters and give financial and other support for their ministries, which include parish
and retreat work, counseling and the only centre in the Solomon Islands for abused women and children at Tenaru.
Their most visible presence in recent years was when two sisters, one in Reeboks, sat in the sanctuary during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, chastity
Chastity
Chastity refers to the sexual behavior of a man or woman acceptable to the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization, or religion....
and obedience
Vow of obedience
The Vow of Obedience in Catholicism concerns one of the three counsels of perfection. It forms part of the vows that Christian monks and nuns must make to enter the consecrated life, whether as a member of a religious institute living in community or as consecrated hermit...
. The order was founded by Mother Emily Ayckbowm in 1870 as the Church Extension Association.
Mother Emily and other women who felt called to the religious life established school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s and orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
s throughout England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the late 19th century. The Church Extension Association evolved into the present Community of the Sisters of the Church. The sisters have houses in England, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. Formerly Sisters were also active in New Zealand.
Any woman who feels called to join the sisters must first apply to the house and then make several visits. Then she becomes an aspirant
Aspirant
Aspirant is a military rank in the Canadian Navy, French military, Brazilian military, Romanian Navy and Polish Police.-Canadian Navy:Similar to the French usage, the Canadian Navy uses the French-language rank of "Aspirant de marine" to denote a junior officer under training. The same rank in the...
, then a novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
then makes promises to live as a Junior Sister for a few years before taking life vows.
The Sisters of the Church are supported by an international network of associates, who pray for the sisters and give financial and other support for their ministries, which include parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and retreat work, counseling and the only centre in the Solomon Islands for abused women and children at Tenaru.
Their most visible presence in recent years was when two sisters, one in Reeboks, sat in the sanctuary during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.