Community of St Mary at the Cross
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Anglican Benedictine Community of St Mary at the Cross, Edgware Abbey
The Community and Society of Saint Francis
St Mary's Convent and Nursing Home
Priory Field Drive, Edgware, Middx HA8 9PZ
Tel: 020 8958 7868
Email: 
The Community was founded in 1866 in Shoreditch, London, with the primary objective of praying at the heart of the Church, through the offering of the Divine Office and the Eucharist, living under the rule of St Benedict.
From the beginning, worship found expression in loving care as the sisters responded to the desperate needs of the sick, poor and disabled around them. This work grew, developing to meet the needs and demands of its time and continues today with the provision of a high-quality nursing home, Henry Nihill House, in the beautiful grounds of the Convent. Easily accessible from the M1 and A1, the Abbey at Edgware is seen as a haven of peace, which enfolds many visitors. All are offered Benedictine hospitality with space for rest and renewal. The small, comfortable guest house provides short stay accommodation and its Day Conference Centre is an excellent and popular resource for the Church and local community. All visitors are welcome to share in the Community's offering of the Divine Office and Eucharist, which remains central to its life.
Timetable of Services:
Service times are subject to change, please check.
10 Halcrow Street, London E1 2EP
Tel: 020 7247 6233
Email:
This terraced house, in an inconspicuous part of East London, has been from 1982 the home of a group of Franciscan Sisters and Brothers. It was set up as a joint house for Sisters of the Community of Saint Francis and Brothers of the Society of Saint Francis, and it is the only joint house of this kind in England. Currently the members are Sisters Elizabeth and Chris CSF and Brothers Giles and Martin SSF. They live according to the Franciscan rule, with its emphasis on prayer and service to others.
Over the years the personnel has changed, and the work undertaken has depended on the talents of the members at any one time. It has included hospital chaplaincy, work with the local Bangladeshi people, contact with nearby schools and with local parishes. At present, members of the house have a share in the ministry of St Dunstan's, Stepney; St Paul's, Bow Common; St George's in the East and St Peter's, London Docks. Sister Chris has a daytime job with Deaf-Blind UK.
The chapel on the ground floor is the centre of the prayer life, and the members of the household welcome others to join with them in prayer. The two guest rooms are available for those who wish to come for short visits in order to share in the life of the Community.
Burlington Lane, Chiswick, London W4 2QE
Tel: 020 8994 4641
The Anglican Sisters of St Margaret have run this home for the past 90 years. The Nursing Home has single rooms or cubicles for the more dependent, with fully-trained nursing staff and auxiliary nurses available day and night.
In the Residential Home, everyone has single rooms although residents eat together in the dining room. There are also many comfortable sitting areas throughout the house.
St Mary's Convent is run, as far as possible, as an extended Christian family: the Sisters live on the premises. The beautiful gardens have pathways for wheelchairs and anyone is welcome to help with the gardening if they so wish. There is a minibus, used for outings and trips and many other activities take place every week. The family atmosphere is also helped by the presence of a dog, cat, budgie and fish.
There are daily services in the Chapel, which all are welcome to attend; a special place is reserved for those who are in wheelchairs. Visitors are always most welcome to come and visit or help.
18 Queensbridge Road, London E2 8NS
Tel: (Sisters) 020 7739 9976 (Guest bookings) 020 7739 6775
Website: www.stsaviourspriory.org.uk
St Saviour's Priory is one of the autonomous Houses which constitute the Society of St Margaret founded by John Mason Neale in 1855. Exploring contemporary ways of living the religious life, the community seeks, through a balance of prayer and ministry, to respond to some of the needs that arise in East London. The Office is four-fold and the Eucharist is offered daily. The Sisters' outreach to the local community includes: working as staff members (lay or ordained) in various parishes; supporting issues of justice and racial equality; dance workshops; complementary therapy; working with young people, the homeless and alcoholics; tutoring, individual spiritual direction and retreats. The Sisters also share their community building and resources of worship and space with individuals and groups, at low cost without profit making.
