Three Anglican nuns at Walsingham have left their community after they expressed interest in joining a personal ordinariate.
The nuns from the Priory of Our Lady of Walsingham have began a period of private discernment after they decided that they wanted to join any future English ordinariate.
In a joint statement, the nuns explained their situation. They said: “On December 2 2010 Sister Wendy Renate, Sister Jane Louise and Sister Carolyne Joseph left the Priory of Our Lady in Walsingham for a period of discernment with the intention of joining the ordinariate when established. We ask prayers for ourselves and for the Sisters remaining at the Priory of Our Lady.”
What’s interesting about that story is that the 3 that left are by far the 3 youngest members of the order.
Doesn’t give their ages, but the “youngest” could very well be in their 60s. What I found interesting is that this is a small group of 7 nuns who are independent and already split off previously. They’re not part of the official Anglican shrine. The “youngest” probably see their survival and continued ministry as best being served by joining a Catholic order and this ordinariate gives them an accessible way of doing that.
I am baffled by these reports that they are not part of the Shrine. Here is what it says in the handbook Anglican Religious Life 2010-11 p149 about the Priory of Our Lady of Walsingham:
‘The Sisters … welcome guests for short periods of rest, relaxation and retreat, and are available to pilgrims and visitors. They also work in the sacristy, shop, the education department and the welcome centre of the Shrine.’ To this I would add that if memory serves me correctly the convent is part of the shrine compound (I apologise for the latter word but it really is apt.)