The Wantage Sisters in Wigan

The Community of St Mary the Virgin Sisters (CSMV), known locally as The Wantage Sisters, were present in Wigan from 1887 to 1954. They lived and worked at All Saints Mission House, 1a New Market Street which became The Tudor Lodge after they left.

 The order of nuns is still in existence today, based in Wantage in Oxfordshire.

From the convent archive we learn that:

“In 1887 CSMV sisters took part in a mission in All Saints Parish, and it was as a result of their work in this, that the Rector of Wigan, the Revd. Canon Bridgeman, asked for Sisters to remain in the parish permanently. The work was accepted by the community, and on September 29th, 1887, a service of blessing and dismissal sped Sisters Agnes Jane and Emily Harriet upon their way to Wigan. Sister Agnes Jane was to be the first Sister in Charge.“

In the early years, the Sisters lived at 5 New Market Street.  In 1893, the new purpose built All Saints Mission House was constructed, Miss Anson of Catton Hall laying the foundation stone (see image below.) The building cost about £1,800 and was designed by Wigan architects, Heaton and Ralph. 

At the laying of the foundation stone Rector Bridgeman made a speech:

“There were many who knew that All Saints House was something more than a mere residence for the Sisters. There were numbers who had found a home for themselves— haven of rest, refuge and a place for refreshment when they had sought it for both body and soul.  It had also become a centre for all women’s work for the church in the parish.

Before the Sisters came there were numbers who scarely knew what women’s work in the Church could be, or what with zeal and true sympathy one self-denying woman could do for another, and now that they had shown it they would find it hard to do without it.“

The 1911 census tells us that the All Saints Mission House had 21 rooms, 13 women lived there of which two were servants. 

The Sisters worked primarily with women and girls and as new churches were built and parishes established, a Sister was designated to serve in each parish.

From the convent archive of 1900s, we learn they ran a hostel for aged women which was very popular. Known as The St. Barnabas Home for Aged Women, it was at 3 Upper Dicconson Street and is listed in the 1911 census. There were 16 women living there, six sisters and 10 “inmates” aged 55 to 91.

Fund raising is mentioned in the Parish Magazine of July 1914.  “The Sisters wish to thank all friends who helped with their Pound Day, June 11th.”  Pound days were when parishioners were asked to donate a pound of tea, butter or other groceries.

There are mentions of the Sisters at work at St. Andrew’s Springfield, St. Anne’s Beech Hill and St. Barnabas Marsh Green.  

The Sisters were withdrawn from Wigan in 1954 and after repair and renovation the Mission House opened as a parish hall and meeting place in 1957. 

Do you have any memories of The Sisters? We’ve heard that they attended events at All Saints School, please share any stories of them there or in other parishes.

Thanks to Wigan Parish Church for the photographs.

Take a look at the Convent’s website