THE Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity is a religious community in the United States and was founded 143 years ago. Its mission was stated as Advancing the Anglo-Catholic Movement in the Episcopal Church. It was founded about the same time as other religious communities were being established in England in the wake of the Oxford Movement. Their focus was the centrality of the eucharist in worship, sacramental confession, and personal holiness.
As with their counterparts this side of the Atlantic, religious communities were not always welcomed, especially by more Protestant-minded Anglicans, including bishops. The Sisters faced opposition, but were gifted with perseverance, and the work that they undertook in caring for the sick, the poor, orphans, and prisoners, as well as their work in parishes, missions, and retreat centres, gained them acceptance and admiration, and they expanded and opened various branch houses. In fact, the number of invitations far exceeded the number of Sisters available. The Sisters were supported by a many Associates, who shared the Sisters’ spiritual focus and mission.
Writing a history of a religious community and to make it of wider interest than just to those associated with the community is quite a challenge; but Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook has succeeded. She is a historian, a priest and theologian, and editor-in-chief of the journal Anglican and Episcopal History; and so the book is well researched, and the growth and decline of the Sisterhood is placed within its historical and sociological contexts.
The Sisterhood were devoted to teaching the Catholic faith, and they undertook various initiatives. They published sermons, and devotional and teaching material. They established a lending library that sent books out, to be returned, by post.
The Sisterhood of the Nativity was the first Episcopalian Sisterhood to undertake missionary work among Indigenous peoples, and they lived and worked among the Oneidas for more than 50 years, during which time they ran a dispensary and educated children before they were sent away from home as part of the residential-school system. In 1925, they were the first Episcopalian community to open a retreat house, which they viewed as part of what they called their “soul work” in providing spiritual accompaniment, hospitality, rest, and silence for people seeking to deepen their spiritual lives.
Although it was once the largest of the Episcopalian Sisterhoods engaged in many diverse ministries there are now just two remaining Sisters. The author reflects on the decline of the traditional consecrated life in the West and new developments taking place in different parts of the world. The book is beautifully written and illustrated, a tribute to some remarkable Episcopalian women.
The Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS is a former Bishop of Monmouth.
A History of the Sisterhood of the Holy Nativity: Advancing the Anglo-Catholic movement in the Episcopal Church
Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook
Pickwick Publications £29
(979-8-3852-0536-3)
Church Times Bookshop £26.10
