Elizabeth Tyldesley
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Tyldesley (1585–1654) was a 17th-century abbess at the Poor Clare Convent at Gravelines.
Elizabeth Tyldesley born in 1585, was the daughter of Thomas Tyldesley of Morleys Hall
, Astley
and Myerscough Hall and Elizabeth Anderton of Lostock, in Lancashire (now Greater Manchester
). Her family were recusants
and her mother arranged a pension for the Roman Catholic priest, Ambrose Barlow
, so that he could secretly carry out priestly duties, offering Mass
in the homes of Roman Catholics in the Leigh
parish. Her grandfather, Edward Tyldesley, had left her a dowry
of £500, but she never married.
Instead Elizabeth joined the English community of nuns of the Order of St. Clare, then called "Claresses", at Gravelines
, at that time part of the Spanish Netherlands. The Poor Clare Convent at Gravelines was a religious community founded in 1607 by Mary Ward
for English Roman Catholic women who wished to live the contemplative life of a nun
, which was impossible after the Reformation
and its consequence, the Dissolution of the Monasteries
.
Elizabeth was one of seven candidates who received their religious habit
s on 5 February 1609, when she was about 24 years old. She assumed the name of Sister Clare Mary Ann when she received the habit. She completed her novitiate
year and professed her first vows on 21 March 1610. The way of life of the Poor Clares was austere: the nuns slept on straw sacks, ate meat only at Christmas and spent much of their day in silent prayer or contemplation, speaking only when necessary and with permission.
Five years later, she was elected abbess
of the community. Previous incumbents of that office had struggled with financial difficulties, but under Mother Clare Mary Ann the establishment flourished. She became Superior
of four communities of Poor Clares, both Irish
and English, and received more than a hundred women into religious life
. Elizabeth died on 17 February 1654 after 44 years in the monastery, of which she had served as abbess for 39.
Elizabeth's nephew, the Cavalier
and Catholic Sir Thomas Tyldesley
, considered to be "one of the wealthiest gentlemen in Lancashire", must have been proud of his aunt's achievements, according to historian Gordon Blackwood.
Elizabeth Tyldesley born in 1585, was the daughter of Thomas Tyldesley of Morleys Hall
Morleys Hall
Morleys Hall, a moated hall converted to two houses, is situated at on Morleys Lane, on the edge of Astley Moss in Astley, Greater Manchester, England. It was largely rebuilt in the 19th century on the site of a medieval timber house. The hall is a Grade II* listed building and the moat a...
, Astley
Astley, Greater Manchester
Astley is a settlement within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan in Greater Manchester, England, variously described as a suburb or a village. Astley lies on flat land to the northwest of the city of Manchester, and is crossed by the Bridgewater Canal and the A580 "East Lancashire Road"...
and Myerscough Hall and Elizabeth Anderton of Lostock, in Lancashire (now Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
). Her family were recusants
Recusancy
In the history of England and Wales, the recusancy was the state of those who refused to attend Anglican services. The individuals were known as "recusants"...
and her mother arranged a pension for the Roman Catholic priest, Ambrose Barlow
Ambrose Barlow
Ambrose Edward Barlow, O.S.B., was an English Benedictine monk who is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church. He is one of a group of saints canonized by Pope Paul VI who became known as the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales....
, so that he could secretly carry out priestly duties, offering Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in the homes of Roman Catholics in the Leigh
Leigh, Greater Manchester
Leigh is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is southeast of Wigan, and west of Manchester. Leigh is situated on low lying land to the north west of Chat Moss....
parish. Her grandfather, Edward Tyldesley, had left her a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
of £500, but she never married.
Instead Elizabeth joined the English community of nuns of the Order of St. Clare, then called "Claresses", at Gravelines
Gravelines
Gravelines is a commune in the Nord department in northern France.It lies at the mouth of the river Aa 15 miles southwest of Dunkirk. There is a market in the town square on Saturdays. The "Arsenal" approached from the town square is home to an extensive and carefully displayed art collection....
, at that time part of the Spanish Netherlands. The Poor Clare Convent at Gravelines was a religious community founded in 1607 by Mary Ward
Mary Ward (nun)
The Venerable Mary Ward, I.B.V.M., was an English Catholic Religious Sister who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Loreto Sisters...
for English Roman Catholic women who wished to live the contemplative life of a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, which was impossible after the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
and its consequence, the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
.
Elizabeth was one of seven candidates who received their religious habit
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
s on 5 February 1609, when she was about 24 years old. She assumed the name of Sister Clare Mary Ann when she received the habit. She completed her novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
year and professed her first vows on 21 March 1610. The way of life of the Poor Clares was austere: the nuns slept on straw sacks, ate meat only at Christmas and spent much of their day in silent prayer or contemplation, speaking only when necessary and with permission.
Five years later, she was elected abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of the community. Previous incumbents of that office had struggled with financial difficulties, but under Mother Clare Mary Ann the establishment flourished. She became Superior
Superior (hierarchy)
In a hierarchy or tree structure of any kind, a superior is an individual or position at a higher level in the hierarchy than another , and thus closer to the apex. It is often used in business terminology to refer to people who are supervisors and in the military to people who are higher in the...
of four communities of Poor Clares, both Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and English, and received more than a hundred women into religious life
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
. Elizabeth died on 17 February 1654 after 44 years in the monastery, of which she had served as abbess for 39.
Elizabeth's nephew, the Cavalier
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
and Catholic Sir Thomas Tyldesley
Thomas Tyldesley
Sir Thomas Tyldesley was a supporter of Charles I and a Royalist commander during the English Civil War.Thomas Tyldesley was born on 3 September 1612 at Woodplumpton, the eldest of the six children of Edward Tyldesley of Morleys Hall, Astley, in the parish of Leigh and his wife Elizabeth Preston...
, considered to be "one of the wealthiest gentlemen in Lancashire", must have been proud of his aunt's achievements, according to historian Gordon Blackwood.