Objects from St Mary’s Abbey in Colwich, a centuries-old community of Roman Catholic nuns, are set to be auctioned.
Books from the nuns’ extensive library and religious paintings are among items from the atmospheric Staffordshire abbey being assessed by Hansons Auctioneers’ associate directors Jim Spencer and Adrian Rathbone who secured the instruction. Items will be auctioned in situ at the period property on November 25.
The abbey announced, with sadness, that it will close on October 31 due to an affiliation with other religious communities.
Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons, said: “We feel privileged to be invited inside the abbey which has been home to a community of nuns for more than 200 years. This auction provides an opportunity to celebrate local history and honour their story of religious devotion.”
St Mary’s Abbey of English Benedictine nuns has its origins in 1623 at Cambrai in the Spanish Netherlands. At that time, persecution made it impossible for women to become nuns in England. On February 6, 1652 the community was established in Paris as the Priory of Our Lady of Good Hope under Dame Bridget More as their Prioress. She was a direct descendant of the martyr, St Thomas More, and had been taught at Cambrai under mystical theologian Dom Augustine Baker.
During the French Revolution, the nuns were persecuted and imprisoned. When released in 1795, they settled in England, first in Dorset and then Somerset. In 1836, they finally settled at The Mount, Colwich, an 18th century building built in Gothic style. In 1928, the Priory was raised to the rank of an Abbey and the house was renamed St Mary’s Abbey.
The auction of items from St Mary’s Abbey will be held by Hansons Auctioneers on November 25. To find out more, please contact Adrian Rathbone: [email protected]
