Emily Ayckbowm

Emily Ayckbowm (1836–1900) was the founder and first mother superior of the Community of the Sisters of the Church. This Anglican order was founded in 1870.

Emily Ayckbowm
Born14 November, 1836
Heidelberg
Died5 June, 1900
Broadstairs
NationalityUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Occupationnun
Known forfounder of the Community of the Sisters of the Church

Life

She was the daughter of the Rev. Frederick Ayckbowm, rector of Holy Trinity Church, Chester. He was of German descent and she was born in Heidelberg whilst her parents were visiting.[1]

She first came to notice in the 1860s when she and her friend were commended for their voluntary work during an outbreak of Cholera in Chester. In 1864 she founded the very successful Church Extension Association which had a wide remit to do good works. In 1870 she founded the Community of the Sisters of the Church.[2]

Whilst she was the Mother Superior the community found that it had gathered a number of critics. One of the patrons, Archbishop Edward White Benson, tried to intercede but Ayckbowm distrusted his views and he had little trust in her. She rejected his help. This is thought to be poor judgement by Ayckbowm, she removed him from their literature and it is judged that the community's reputation was reduced.[1]

References
  1. "Ayckbowm, Emily Harriet Elizabeth [known as Mother Emily] (1836–1900), Anglican nun | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/51385
  2. "Essay on Mother Emily — Community of the Sisters of the Church". Community of the Sisters of the Church. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.