Arkley Poor Clare Monastery, Barnet, Herts Bringing all your needs, fears and hopes before God. The Poor Clares bring the light of Christ into the world by their Franciscan life of poverty, simplicity and joy according to the Gospel, living in a cloistered contemplative community with full choral Divine Office, private prayer and intercession. We welcome women and girls who may feel drawn to join us in offering the sacrifice of praise in union with Christ’s redeeming work. Please write to: Mother Abbess, Poor Clares, Monastery, Galley Lane, Arkley, Barnet, Herts EN5 4AN A Personal Testimony from Sister Jane Clare "St Clare was 17 years old when she heard Francis preach of the love of God and love of poverty. I was 44 when I entered the Poor Clares of Arkley. My name is Sister Jane Clare. I am a Poor Clare sister. In my formative years as a Junior I made my Simple Profession on 2nd February 2002 here in our own chapel, with all my sisters, family and friends with me "I chose the Poor Clares because of their lifestyle and love of poverty. Our life of prayer is very simple, and the privilege of being able to visit the Blessed Sacrament in choir any time gives great joy and strength to us all. We do the normal daily chores of any household, and are encouraged to develop any gifts and hobbies that we bring with us. We pray together the Divine Office seven times a day and include all the intentions that are asked of us." We are a community of mixed backgrounds, from different parts of the country. Why not come and see and talk to us here at Arkley, and let us share with you the joys and simplicity of a life with God following Francis and Glare. We are looking forward to meeting you. The Poor Clares, Poor Clare Monastery, Galley Lane, Arkley, Barnet, Herts. EN5 4AN. Tel 0208-449 8815. PRIVATE RETREATS AT THE POOR CLARES Facilities available: Pleasant sleeping accommodation and quiet sitting room with small library. Monastery chapel available for prayer at all times; daily Mass, Divine Office, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with the Community. Opportunity to use the Monastery grounds for prayer and meditation; also country walks in immediate neighbourhood. Midday meal provided by Sisters; D.I.Y. facilities for morning and evening meals (food provided, or bring own if preferred). Opportunity to talk with one of the sisters if desired. No set charge, but we are happy to accept a donation. Community History Our Poor Clare community came to Arkley from Notting Hill in 1970. This community, established in London in 1857, was the third foundation of the Poor Clares in England after the Reformation, and the first in the diocese of Westminster - indeed the first contemplative house of prayer of any Order in the diocese, which had been constituted in 1851 at the restoration of the hierarchy. In May 1857 Dr. (later Cardinal) Manning visited Assisi and, while praying at the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare, he longed to have Poor Clares in his London parish, to pray for the parish, for the whole Archdiocese of Westminster and the great city of London. He spoke of his desire to a young priest praying beside him; this priest had a sister (a convert like himself) a Poor Clare in Bruges, so he recommended Dr. Manning to apply to Mere Dominique, the Abbess. There was great difficulty in finding a house because of anti-Catholic feeling, so when the seven foundresses left Bruges on 29th September 1857, they donned secular clothes (over their habits) as disguise. Dr. Manning conducted them to the temporary house on 1st October and Cardinal Wiseman welcomed them the same day. A monastery after the pattern of the Bruges motherhouse was built in the green fields of Notting Hill (Portobello Road was the site of the farm where they got milk) and the sisters moved into it on 22nd July 1860. Postulants were abundant in those early years and the community was able to make four foundations; Hereford (1880), Arundel (1886), Woodford Green (1920 - closed 1969) and Hawarden (1928). The community remained in the monastery throughout both wars. In the Second World War there were direct hits on buildings just outside the enclosure walls but never any on the monastery. During the 1950’s and early 1960’s developers offered large sums for the site (for cinemas, department stores, etc.) but the community did not want to make profits but to remain at their post. However when the Council required the land for housing it was a different matter; the Abbess, Mother Felix Vaughan, and her successor from 1965, Mother Veronica Gladwell, began to took for a suitable site, hoping to remain in London and the diocese. At last, the property at Arkley was found, just within the boundaries. After a long struggle, planning permission was obtained and building began in 1969. Because the Council pressed for possession of the Notting Hill site, the new monastery was less than half built when we moved here on 22nd July 1970; the parish priest greeted us and the parish has never failed to give us wonderful support and help. Mgr. Stark offered the first Mass in the refectory, which was used as a temporary chapel until the chapel and choir were ready in December. MAY GOD BLESS AND REWARD ALL who have helped us in so many ways through these years. All, living and dead, are kept in our hearts and in our daily prayers.

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