Sisters

The Community of the Sisters of the Church is an international body of women within the Anglican Communion, living under the gospel values of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, desiring to be faithful to the traditions of the Religious Life while exploring new ways of expressing them and of living community life and ministry today. By our worship, mi... nistry and life in community, we desire to be channels of the reconciling love and acceptance of Christ, to acknowledge the dignity of every person, and to enable others to encounter the living God whom we seek. Founded by Emily Ayckbowm in 1870, the Community pioneered work in Christian education, child care, social welfare and mission work. By the mid-1890's the Sisters had established work throughout England and in Canada, Burma, India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Eventually Provinces were established: the UK Province , the Canadian Province , the Australian Province and the Solomon Islands-Pacific Province . By 1989 all institutional works, schools and children's homes world-wide had been given up or handed over to others and new ways of service and ministry continue to be explored. Today the life of prayer and worship continues to be our foundation and from that evolves ministries of hospitality, spiritual direction, informal educational work such as facilitating retreats and workshops, preaching, and teaching Sunday School. Other ministries are undertaken according to the needs around us and our varying gifts. Sisters, lay and ordained, also work in parishes, or as hospital or prison chaplains. Work with children and young adults continues, as do ministries with people caught up in prostitution, drug or alcohol addiction and homelessness. Sisters also work with those who have physical disabilities and psychiatric difficulties, with elderly people and those living with HIV/AIDS. In 1970 three Sisters went to the Solomon Islands and began work in education, social care of various kinds, particularly with women and children, and primary evangelism. ...Read More