CAPTION: Mother Hilary joined the Franciscan order when she was 15

Mother Superior dies after 55 years in role

Posted: 25th February, 2019

The Mother Superior of an Anglican order of nuns in Devon has died leaving just one member of the order left.

Mother Hilary of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus and Mary, based in Posbury St Francis, near Crediton, died on Saturday 9 February at the age of 92. She had been Mother Superior for 55 years.

Assistant Bishop Martin Shaw from the Diocese of Exeter, who had an aunt at the convent, said:  “Mother Hilary always looked at me with a healthy scepticism, which she did to most priests.

“Throughout her life she was determined to defend the strong and traditional Anglo-Catholicism of the community.

“When I asked her about it getting smaller and smaller, she replied: ‘We shall die and we’ll go to God. If that’s not good enough for you Martin, I don’t know what is!’

Mother Hilary (L) with Harry Secombe when the broadcaster visited Posbury

“She lived a hidden and a determinedly faithful life.”

Mother Hilary, who was adopted, was 15 when she joined the sisters. At the time they were based on the Isle of Wight. She became a nun when she was 21.

The order moved to Posbury in 1942 during World War Two. The nuns dedicated themselves to prayer and to running a retreat house for the Diocese of Exeter and beyond.

They ran a small farm and had “one of the finest gardens in Devon”. Sisters from the convent also joined mission teams at parishes around the UK.

Mother Hilary’s funeral requiem mass will be on Tuesday 12 March at 11am at Crediton Parish Church (Holy Cross).

 

« BACK TO NEWS PAGE

Verified by ExactMetrics