Worthing, 1889 - 2010
Scope and Contents
Subfonds consists of records acquired and accumulated by the Sisters of Mercy of the Worthing Community, in particular the Superiors. It includes correspondence, property records; photographs; spiritual reflections, records of celebrations and personal papers of Sisters.
Dates
- Creation: 1889 - 2010
Conditions Governing Access note
As a private archive, access to the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy Archive requires application to the Archivist and approval by the Institute's Leadership Team. Where items are closed for access, this is indicated at the appropriate level.
Biographical / Historical
Towards the end of 1882, Henrietta Adele, the Dowager Duchess of Newcastle, brought a house standing in spacious grounds in Westbrooke, Worthing – and a few months later she purchased the property next door. The Duchess offered the houses to Bishop Butt of Southwark who, in turn, sought the help of the Bermondsey Sisters for the project. An agreement was fully drawn up between the Duchess, Bishop Butt and M Camillus Dempsey RSM, whereby the Duchess placed £5000 in the Bank towards the payment of repairs, Rates, Taxes and servant’s wages, a Condition of the Agreement was that ‘the Home was intended for the poor, and no persons of a different class should be received into it, except in space cases approved by the superior’. Sisters assigned to the mission in Worthing were kept very busy seeing to the needs of the poor. The two who were initially appointed to this new apostolate were Sr M Columba Maunsell and Sr M. Michael (Maurais?). The proper conduct of the Home – put under Our Lady’s protection and named Saint Mary’s – was the responsibility of the Sisters, and the bishop was given the right to alter the original conditions. Accommodation was provided for a minimum of 60 patients. So great was the demand for places, and the resulting flow of admissions and discharges, that the Sisters were kept in a state of ‘perpetual motion’. A new wing added in 1895, increased sleeping accommodation and dining-and-sitting room facilities. The cost of the building was borne by the duchess, and both she and the Bishop were present for the opening of the new wing. About this time, the Town Planning council rejected a proposal by the Community for the building of a house, near the Home, for the exclusive use of the Sisters and the children in their care. During World War 1, the Home was placed at the service of the military authorities, and as many as 75 soldiers were billeted there, with the Sisters looking after meals, and sleeping accommodation. Later, it served as a hospital for wounded soldiers, but was returned to the Sisters at the end of the war, and became once more a Convalescent Home and a Holiday Home for Sisters and the elderly.
Full Extent
1 box (8.0 folders 3.0 envelopes)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
The sub-fonds is arranged into six series that attempt to reflect the content and context of the collection. Original order has been re-created where possible.
Custodial History
The archives of the Worthing Community have been collected from the opening of the Worthing Convent and Home in 1892 to the present by Sisters of Mercy belonging to the Community and by the Reverend mothers in Bermondsey of which Worthing was a branch, they briefly cover the running of their lives. The records of the branch house would have been collected from the opening, by the mother house as the Reverend Mother, the Bursar and the Assistant would have controlled the finances, property, spiritual life, etc., centrally from Bermondsey. In 1983 Worthing became a member of the Institute Of our Lady of Mercy in its own right and became responsible for all areas of their life and administration.
Accruals
Further Accruals are to be expected.
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the Bermondsey Convent of Mercy Repository