Society of Saint Francis
Encyclopedia
The Society of Saint Francis is a Franciscan
religious order within the Anglican Communion
.
The Society of Saint Francis comprises: The Brothers of the First Order; The Sisters of the First Order; The Sisters of the Second Order; The Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order.
The Brothers of the First Order are called the Society of Saint Francis (SSF); The Sisters of the First Order are called the Community of Saint Francis (CSF); The members of the Second Order are called the Community of Saint Clare (OSC); The Brothers and Sister of the Third Order are called the The Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis (TSSF).
all Religious Orders, including Franciscans, were banished from Britain. Not until the mid 19th century were the first Sisterhoods founded in the Church of England
, in response to the social needs of the time. Then came a revival of interest in Francis
. The Community of St Francis (CSF) was founded in 1905 with sisters living in poverty and working in the East End
of London
.
Shortly after World War I
, the Revd Douglas Downes, an economics don at Oxford University, and a few friends expressed their sympathy and concern for victims of the depression practically by going out onto the roads and sharing the life of the homeless men and boys, looking for work from town to town. In 1921, a Dorset
landowner, Lord Sandwich, offered a small farm property (now Hilfield Friary), and here the group of friends was able to offer shelter to the exhausted wayfarers and others in temporary need of help.
In 1934, another small group (led by Father Algy) who had a clearer idea of forming a religious order joined Brother Douglas (as he liked to be called). Gradually the little community took shape, modelling itself more consciously on the Franciscan tradition of prayer and study, as well as working with the poor. It started to look like a religious order in formal sense, with habits, a chapel, and regular worship. The Society of Saint Francis came into being, followed by the Third Order
in 1936, and the Second Order in 1950 with the establishment of the Community of Saint Clare
in Freeland
, Witney
.
Before long, invitations came to establish centres in other places and at the start of World War II
, there were houses in south London and Cambridge
. After the war other centres were opened in Britain. Establishments overseas followed and the Society now has friaries in the United States
, Brazil
, Australia
, New Zealand
, Papua New Guinea
, Costa Rica
, and the Solomon Islands
. Other communities were made in Germany
, Italy
, Africa
, and the West Indies.
The Daily Office, SSF's office book, was among the first to be fully updated with the Common Worship
lectionary, so was used in the wider Anglican communion. It provided the model for Morning and Evening Prayer
in Common Worship.
Third Order
The Society of St. Francis includes an order of Tertiaries, lay or ordained individuals who have taken vows and are followers of a version of the Franciscan Rule but do not normally live together in community.
First Order (Community of Saint Francis, CSF)
Second Order (Community of Saint Clare, OSC)
Third Order (TSSF)
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
religious order within the Anglican Communion
Anglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
.
The Society of Saint Francis comprises: The Brothers of the First Order; The Sisters of the First Order; The Sisters of the Second Order; The Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order.
The Brothers of the First Order are called the Society of Saint Francis (SSF); The Sisters of the First Order are called the Community of Saint Francis (CSF); The members of the Second Order are called the Community of Saint Clare (OSC); The Brothers and Sister of the Third Order are called the The Third Order of the Society of Saint Francis (TSSF).
History
During the English ReformationEnglish 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....
all Religious Orders, including Franciscans, were banished from Britain. Not until the mid 19th century were the first Sisterhoods founded in 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...
, in response to the social needs of the time. Then came a revival of interest in Francis
Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare, and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis. St...
. The Community of St Francis (CSF) was founded in 1905 with sisters living in poverty and working in the East End
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Shortly after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Revd Douglas Downes, an economics don at Oxford University, and a few friends expressed their sympathy and concern for victims of the depression practically by going out onto the roads and sharing the life of the homeless men and boys, looking for work from town to town. In 1921, a Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
landowner, Lord Sandwich, offered a small farm property (now Hilfield Friary), and here the group of friends was able to offer shelter to the exhausted wayfarers and others in temporary need of help.
In 1934, another small group (led by Father Algy) who had a clearer idea of forming a religious order joined Brother Douglas (as he liked to be called). Gradually the little community took shape, modelling itself more consciously on the Franciscan tradition of prayer and study, as well as working with the poor. It started to look like a religious order in formal sense, with habits, a chapel, and regular worship. The Society of Saint Francis came into being, followed by the Third Order
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
in 1936, and the Second Order in 1950 with the establishment of the Community of Saint Clare
Community of St. Clare
The Community of St. Clare is a Franciscan Anglican religious order of nuns. The community, founded in 1950 and based in Witney, Oxfordshire, England, is one of several associated with the Society of Saint Francis. The community is an enclosed and contemplative one, and the sisters provide for...
in Freeland
Freeland, Oxfordshire
Freeland is a village and civil parish about northeast of Witney in Oxfordshire.-History:Freeland village began as part of the parish of Eynsham. Its toponym is derived from the common Old English word fyrth, meaning a wood. In 1150 the Abbot of Eynsham granted land called terra de Frithe to one...
, Witney
Witney
Witney is a town on the River Windrush, west of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.The place-name 'Witney' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 969 as 'Wyttannige'; it appears as 'Witenie' in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name means 'Witta's island'....
.
Before long, invitations came to establish centres in other places and at the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, there were houses in south London and Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. After the war other centres were opened in Britain. Establishments overseas followed and the Society now has friaries in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, 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...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, 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...
. Other communities were made in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, and the West Indies.
The Daily Office, SSF's office book, was among the first to be fully updated with the Common Worship
Common Worship
Common Worship is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent in 2000. It represents the most recent stage of development of the Liturgical Movement within the Church and is the successor to the...
lectionary, so was used in the wider Anglican communion. It provided the model for Morning and Evening Prayer
Evening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
in Common Worship.
Third Order
The Society of St. Francis includes an order of Tertiaries, lay or ordained individuals who have taken vows and are followers of a version of the Franciscan Rule but do not normally live together in community.
See also
- Community of St. FrancisCommunity of St. FrancisThe Community of St. Francis is a Franciscan Anglican religious order of sisters founded in 1905, and is the oldest surviving Anglican Franciscan religious community. It was begun by Sr Rosina Eleanor Rice, who left another Anglican religious order, the Sisters of Bethany, to found CSF...
- Franciscan orders in LutheranismFranciscan orders in LutheranismFranciscan spirituality was not favoured by Reformation, but later the 20th centuryHigh Church Movement has given birth to Franciscan orders among revival of religious orders and confraternities in Lutheran Churches.-Third orders:...
- Little Brothers of FrancisLittle Brothers of FrancisThe 19th and 20th century has seen the creation of a number of religious orders in the Anglican Church. One late addition to Anglican religious life is the Little Brothers of Francis, a contemplative order of Franciscan friars within the Anglican Church of Australia...
External links
First Order (Society of Saint Francis, SSF)- WorldWide links to Anglican Franciscans
- European Province - Brothers (SSF) and Sisters (CSF)
- Province of the Americas - Brothers
- Australian Province
- New Zealand Province
- Brazilian Friary - Comunidade do Brasil, in Portuguese (Brazilian)
- A Life in Order: the memoirs of Brother Francis SSF 2003 autobiography with photographs
First Order (Community of Saint Francis, CSF)
Second Order (Community of Saint Clare, OSC)
Third Order (TSSF)