Burnley Community (Yorkshire Street), 1845-2012

The roots of Mercy ministry in Burnley stretch back to the early years of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy - to Tullamore, Ireland, Catherine McAuley’s first foundation made in 1836. The Convent in Yorkshire Street was the first foundation from Sisters of Mercy in Commercial Road, London. Commercial Road Convent itself was founded directly from Tullamore. This is a really good example of the rapid spread of the Sisters of Mercy in those early years: Baggot Street, Dublin, 1831 –Tullamore, 1836 - Commercial Road, London, 1859 - Yorkshire Street, Burnley, 1872.

From the beginning the Sisters in Burnley dedicated themselves to education in the poor schools and visiting the poor, sick and vulnerable in their own homes and in hospitals. It was hard unremitting work with few resources to hand. A private school was opened in the convent for children of the more prosperous people of the area such as mill owners, deputies and a growing middle class. This provided much need funds for work among the poor. The earliest records of the private school date from 1913 but it was in operation much earlier. In the post-1944 Education Act era, Sisters made a great contribution to the expanding education system in Burnley and its surrounding areas including Todmorden.

Burnley Sisters took over St Joseph's all-age school in Todmorden from the Oldham Mercy Sisters in 1942. The branch house convent was sold in 1966 or 1967 when there weren’t sufficient personnel to staff it but two Sisters continued in the school until Sister M. Stanislaus retired in 1981 and Sister M. Evangelist retired in 1988.

Park Hill Convent was opened on 05 November 1957 as a branch house. The main purpose was to transfer the private school from the convent premises, which had become too small to accommodate the growing number of children. A large site was purchased to house the Convent and the new purpose-built private school.

In 1972, marking the centenary of the foundation in Burnley, a new ministry was initiated. McAuley Mount, with a resident Community, was opened in 1975 on land adjacent to Park Hill to care for retired priests. Mother Mary Ita Cahill was inspired to begin this apostolate. McAuley Mount became a Residential Care Home and since Sister Bridget Josephine Carey retired as the Care Manager, a lay Care Manager took over. Sisters now living in the building are those in need of care. Sister Margaret Foley visits from Park Hill on a regular basis as a Chaplain to the Home.

In 1983 the Burnley Congregation was a founding member of the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy and each branch house became an independent member house. A period of great change followed this re-founding and many Sisters moved to new ministries across the country. The large Yorkshire Street Convent was home to only 12 Sisters by 1985, so the decision was made to sell the property and buy two smaller houses in Burnley. Colne Road and Stephenson Drive were purchased in 1987 and the last Sister moved out of Yorkshire Street in 1988. Sisters also went to minister at and from Park Hill. The Convent in Yorkshire Street was taken over by the Franciscan Missionaries of St Joseph.

{Details from Institute of Our Lady of Mercy website: http://www.ourladyofmercy.org.uk/whereweare/dsp-default.cfm?loadref=129, accessed 15 April 2013 by K. Johnston.]