New audio trail celebrating the "trailblazers" of the Bar Convent

Source: Bar Convent

The Bar Convent in York is opening a new audio trail on 25 May, celebrating the "trailblazers" of the convent. It focuses on inspirational women from the convent's history.

Mary Ward has such international significance that her followers and supporters are building a case to have her officially recognised as a Saint by the Catholic Church. She believed that women were intellectually equal to men, and deserved an education that reflected that equality. Providing a proper education for girls was central to her work, and she travelled widely across Europe, founding schools in 10 European cities by 1628. She noted in 1617 that "There is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things - and I hope in God it will be seen that women in time to come will do much."

In the mid-18th century, Mother Ann Aspinal wanted to construct a new convent chapel with an Italianate style dome but it was still illegal to construct Catholic churches at that time. Rather than hiding the building project, she instead added a new suite of rooms to the front of the building, including a Georgian parlour, and disguised the building project underway at the back of the house.

More recently, Sister Gregory Kirkus wrote over 20 books about the history of the convent and researched the lives of many of the sisters who have lived there. She set up the first ever museum at the Bar Convent and saved historic books and documents. It is thanks to her that the community today know so much about the history of the building.

Established in 1686, the Bar Convent is the oldest living convent in the British Isles. It is of the highest significance to the worldwide order, the Congregation of Jesus, and more than 200 schools across the globe can trace their beginnings to this house.

The Grade I listed building is open to the public as an internationally celebrated heritage centre and receives visitors from all over the world. The centre has an 18th century chapel, which houses the relic of St. Margaret Clitherow, an award- winning 23-bedroom guest house, a café, a gift shop, a beautiful garden, three contemporary meeting rooms, and the exhibition.

The Bar Convent is a living heritage centre which is open to the public and welcomes all faiths and none. The Chapel is free to visit and a public mass is celebrated on Fridays at 12 noon. The trail is Included in admission to the exhibition. Complete the trail to be in with a chance to win a £30 voucher for the café.

Link: https://barconvent.co.uk/