Colchester, 1891-2003

The Mercy convent in Colchester was opened on 23 January 1891 as a branch house of Brentwood. The convent was opened by the exertions of a Miss Catherine Aggis, who prevailed upon the parish priest Father Collingridge to invite the Sisters of Mercy to the schools, and the generosity of Mr John Kavanagh who found the Sisters a house at 15 Queen Street. The three Sisters destined for the new branch house were Mother M. Stanislaus Maunsell, Sister Michael Ryan and lay Sister Joseph. They were accompanied by Miss Ellen Harrigan who was to be trained for teaching.

A Middle School was immediately opened and in April the Sisters took charge of the mixed Elementary School. Money was short but the Sisters resourceful. In July 1895 the Sisters moved to more suitable premises at 15 East Hill. In the same year, new school buildings were opened. In 1897 a house was purchased by the Westminster Diocese on behalf of the Sisters in Priory Street as closer to the church and school; the Sisters were able to move in 1901 once it had been repaired. Improvements included a chapel in which weekly Mass was subsequently celebrated.

After almost twenty years teaching in St James’ Elementary School, in 1920 Sister M. Aquinas Harrigan was obliged to resign her post due to ill health and take charge of the Convent School. The school became overcrowded in 1921 and the decision was made to extend the building. Fortunately the Bishop advanced a loan for the works, which was paid off in 1930, and the new classrooms were opened in 1922. After Sister M. Aquinas, the Headship of St James’ Elementary School was taken by Sister M. de Pazzi for about three years, followed by the newly-qualified Sister Dominic for a short time. In 1927 Sister Anthony Ignatius Hustler arrived from Brentwood to fill the post of Headmistress for over 30 years.

In 1930, Convent renovation works commenced and were completed in 1931 (the Tudor parts were not removed). In 1960, after much prayer and consultation, it was decided to reconstruct and extend the Convent and School and the Tudor building was demolished as the whole building was rebuilt. As Brentwood became part of the new Institute of Our Lady of Mercy in 1983, Colchester became an independent house within the Institute and in 1987 became the House of Formation for both the Institute and the Union of the Sisters of Mercy. Professed Sisters and Novices were to live together as one community as a new venture. A small shelter, named the Travellers’ Lodge, was constructed in the garden for distribution of food to Poor Men, a practice that had always been an important feature of life in Colchester. Other apostolates included Hospital Chaplain’s Visitor, drop in sessions at the Baptist Church, Hospice volunteering, cooking at the Night Shelter, Catechetics, and Parenting Course.

The Centenary was celebrated in 1991 with a Mass and meal for Sisters, priests and parishioners old and new. In 1992 Sister Veronica Walker retired as Head of the Convent School and Sister Jude Groden succeeded. In 1994 the House of Formation moved to Poplar, London, and the Convent School closed on 13 July. The Colchester Community were all moved to new communities and apostolates (including missions to Kenya and the Falkland Islands). The School buildings were used by the parish school of St Thomas More’s from September 1994. The Convent had a new community of three Sisters with the apostolate of exploring the needs of young people in the area. The work with the poor and that of receiving groups of various denominations continued, and the middle floor of the house was opened as accommodation for six paying students in 1995. In 2002, the Institute's leadership team reached the decision to close the house at Easter 2003. Sister Helen Walsh asked to continue her ministry in Colchester living in rented accommodation at Collingwood Road until 2008.