1. Quidenham: its origins & history NOTE 1: Quidenham in history.
2. A Carmelite community at Quidenham today.
3. What do we do? - liturgy & prayer NOTE 2: The Divine Office.
4. What do we do? - daily work NOTE 3: Quidenham Cards.
5. A way of living: solitude in enclosure
6. A way of living: a community of friendship
7. Formation as a Carmelite
8. A community ethos NOTE 4: Vatican Council II.
9. Guest accommodation
10. Like Mary

Welcome to Quidenham!

The Bell Tower;
from an original drawing by Sr Anna;
(QC Monastery Garden series,no. 4)

In these pages you will find an introduction to our way of life here at Quidenham. The full reality of such a life cannot be conveyed by word and images alone. Only by engaging in it day after day can a woman come to experience for herself its potential for opening her heart to God and to the world. Its tasks are ordinary ones and we are very ordinary people. Yet the Carmelite vocation that we share teaches us how God can make use of even the most ordinary things to bring greater love into the world. It is in this spirit that the following pages are offered.

 

1. Quidenham: its origins & history

Quidenham Hall, now a Carmelite Monastery

Quidenham Hall became a Carmelite monastery in 1948 when the first group of nuns moved there from a house they had previously occupied in Rushmere, a small village in Suffolk. Later they were joined by nuns from two other Carmelite communities and together these laid the foundations for the community living there today.

From an original painting by Sr Deirdre Corfe Acrylic on board; 29 1/4 ins. x 30 1/2 ins Untitled

Gate in Winter

Standing in extensive grounds, surrounded by 142 acres of wooded plantation, pasture, and arable land in the heart of the Norfolk countryside, it provides an ideal setting for the life of silence, solitude, enclosure and prayer characteristic of the Carmelite vocation.

NOTE 1: Quidenham in history

The present day village of Quidenham traces its history as far back as the Roman conquest of Britain. It is notable for its associations with Boudicca, queen of the local tribe of the Iceni, whose burial mound is reputed to stand nearby. Quidenham Hall itself appears to have been in origin an important manor house of the district, the first recorded mention of it being in about the year 1000 when it belonged to a certain Guy or Guido, hence the name "Guidenham". In 1400 it became the property of the Bedingfeld family, remaining in their possession for about 170 years.

It was from the adjacent village of Kenninghall, where she had been kept under house arrest that Mary Tudor set out to claim the throne in 1533 and the Bedingfelds were among the small group of local supporters who accompanied her to Framlingham Castle on that occasion. The family upheld the Catholic faith during the period of the Reformation and suffered in consequence, being forced to pay exorbitant fines for their allegiance so that, by 1572, the last Bedingfeld was obliged to sell off the manor to a certain Protestant gentleman, John Holland. It was John Holland's son, Thomas, who began the construction of what would become the present house. During the reign of George III this house was bought by the 3rd. Earl of Albermarle and would be transformed out of recognition by his son, William Charles, who greatly enlarged it with the addition of extra wings encasing the original, Tudor style mansion. Later it would acquire its present day aspect when Georgian facings were added during the time of the 7th. Earl. The Earls of Albermarle, who retained possession of the Hall until 1948, were descendants of Walter Joost van Keppel who came over to England from the Netherlands as a page to William III in 1688, and it was as the Keppels that the family were known to King Edward VII. Alice Keppel, the Edwardian beauty who became the King's last mistress, was married to the third son of the seventh Earl. King Edward visited Quidenham Hall in 1907.

 

2. A Carmelite community at Quidenham today

The present community consists of Catholic women from different age groups, representing a variety of nationalities, backgrounds and religious experience, whose aim is to support each other in their endeavour to witness to the gospel by lives of service and self-giving, their primary mission being one of contemplative prayer.

Woodland retreat

The vocation to Carmel is a vocation to prayer and contemplation: this is 'the first principle of our Order'. Everything in our lifestyle is for the purpose of preparing us to receive the gift of transforming prayer, and this 'not for our enjoyment but for the sake of acquiring the strength which fits us for service'. (Quotation from the community statement of the Quidenham Carmelites)

(View from a cell window)
Following a timetable that is carefully balanced between prayer, work, intellectual study and recreation each member of our community is invited to give herself wholly to God under the inspiration of the Carmelite Rule.

THE TIMETABLE

5.30 Rise 5.55 Morning Prayer (Lauds) 6.20 Cup of tea 6.30-7.30 Private prayer 7.30 Prayer before Noon (Terce) Brief interval 8.00 Mass 8.30 Breakfast 9.00-11.30 Work period 11.30 Midday prayer (Sext) 11.45 Lunch & washing-up 1.00 Siesta period

1.45 Afternoon prayer (None) 2.00 Spiritual reading 2.45 Cup of tea 3.00-4.30 Work period 4.30 Evening Prayer (Vespers) 5.00-6.00 Private Prayer 6.10 Supper & washing-up 6.50 Recreation in common 7.45 Office of Readings (Matins) 8.15-9.30 Silent free time 9.30 Night prayer (Compline) Retire

The timetable is an important feature of our life. It provides a regular, prayerful rhythm to the day and ensures the time needed for the fulfillment of our obligations, both spiritual and material. The structure it provides helps us to keep a healthy balance between all the elements that make it up: prayer and work, study and relaxation. On certain feast days and special occasions the timetable is modified to allow extra time for personal relaxation and for celebrating together.

(QC Petite Notecard, no. 35)

 

3. What do we do? - liturgy & prayer

(View of the high altar from the Nuns' Choir)

At the heart of each day lies the liturgy, comprising the daily celebration of the Eucharist and of the Divine Office.

(View of the Choir)

Christmas Music; (QC Quidenham Classic series, no. 28)

According to the gifts and talents of our members we seek to enhance our celebrations of the liturgy with music and song and to make our worship a thing of beauty for the Lord. Over the years we have built up a rich heritage of music from many different sources while retaining the Church's traditional chant for the regular psalmody. A fully gender-inclusive version of the texts is used.

 

NOTE 2:The Divine Office

Bookmark designed & embroidered by a member of this community

The Divine Office (or "Office") is the name given to the public prayer of the Church. All monastic communities offer it each day in praise of God and in intercession for the needs of the world. There are seven such Offices interspersed throughout the day, frequently referred to by their medieval Latin names: Matins, Lauds, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. They are recited or sung by the community who assemble together for this purpose, each Office being composed of a certain number of psalms, a reading from scripture, and concluding prayer. By breaking up the day with these regular meetings for worship we are constantly recalled to the primary purpose for which we have entered the religious life and are enabled to make that repeated reorientation to God which is the foundation for all prayer. The Divine Office, whether recited or sung, is usually offered in that part of the church or chapel called the Choir.

The Carmelite tradition gives equal place in its timetable to private, solitary prayer as it does to liturgical prayer. At least two full hours are set aside each day for this private prayer: one in the morning and one in the evening. As Carmelites we are convinced that nothing can replace these hours for daily meditation if we are to fulfill our vocation. It is in prayer that we seek the union with God in love from which flows all our fruitfulness in the Church.

Midwinter Madonna; stained glass window designed & executed by Sr Margaret Rope, (d.1953)

 

4. What do we do? - daily work.

At the same time we recognise our common human obligation to do what we can to support ourselves. Our community earns a living by undertaking tradework, notably the running of a flourishing business in greetings cards.

(QC Fleur series, no. 75)

(QC Petite Notecard, no. 36)

Certain of our members have also been enabled to find an outlet for their personal talents: painting, embroidery, translation and other literary projects have all featured as ways of contributing to the community income.

Heron with irises;(QC Creation series, no. 2)
designed & hand embroidered
by a member of this community;

 

(QC Petite Notecard, no. 40)

 

We undertake the running and maintenance of our own house and garden.

A kitchen garden, complete with orchards and beehives, contributes to our vegetarian diet.

 

NOTE 3: Quidenham Cards

Quidenham cards© are privately distributed all over the British Isles and are widely acclaimed for the quality of their production and design. A number of series have been produced, many of them using original photographic work by the sisters. Most cards are available either with or without text, as preferred. Images indicated by the initials QC on these pages refer to cards currently on our catalogue showing scenes from our monastery. These, and many others, may be ordered by phoning 01953 887642 during office hours;

Spring Orchard; (QC Reflections series, no. 23)

or Email: Quidenham Cards Catalogues are available on request.

 

5. A way of living: solitude in enclosure

Walled Garden

Our relationship with the world is defined by our enclosure. This important dimension of Carmelite existence means, in practice, that we do not go out of the monastery unless it is strictly necessary. Reasons for exit would include such things as medical treatment or to visit a close relative who is very ill or dying. We do not participate in outside social events, however, and only rarely make use of the more intrusive forms of media, such as television or radio. At the same time we believe that our vocation holds us at the very heart of the world and we make its deepest concerns our own. It is a life for others.

 

We do not seek to evade life's realities... We are called to the desert of enclosure precisely in order to reach a profound solidarity with humankind. We are here to learn, on behalf of all, what it means to believe in Jesus, to take him as our only Saviour, our healing and our holiness.

(Quotation from the community statement of the Quidenham Carmelites)

 

(QC Petite Prayercard, no. 8)

To keep us in touch with the world of which we are a part we have regular, daily access to newspapers and other journals.

There is also a large and comprehensive library which provides us with the resources we need for more informed opinion and study. At times we invite visiting lecturers to speak to us on particular topics: not only scripture and theology but anything that may broaden our vision of the human scene.

Fiction and light reading is available since it, too, can help to keep us in touch with life's realities.

 

6. A way of living: a community of friendship

We believe it is important to establish real relationships between the sisters if our community is to be strengthened in its fidelity to our primary witness of silent prayer. A specific time is set aside each day when we can recreate, talk, and share special interests together.

During the course of the year other occasions arise for more personal contact with each other and for sharing ideas at a deeper level. And we produce for ourselves the entertainment that keeps us light-hearted in each others company.

 

7. Formation as a Carmelite

We recognise that a sense of vocation to our life is something that may evolve over many years and take time to assimilate. Typically, at Quidenham, we offer five years in formation during which great care is taken to assist the candidate in her discernment and to provide her with the spiritual, theological and scriptural input that she needs.

We look for a mature adjustment to our way of life during this formational period so that the moment of final commitment may be one of real choice on the candidate's part. The great reformer of our Order, St. Teresa of Avila, described our life as "a very happy one" and looked especially for this growing happiness in those who joined her enterprise

Formation begins from the moment of entry into our Noviciate when a woman is formally welcomed into the community as someone who sincerely desires to try our way of life for herself. Some time will already have been spent with us on an informal basis and this preliminary experience will have naturally guided the newcomer's decision. Novices participate fully in our community life while retaining a certain independence in its regard. Priority is given at this stage to providing each individual with the kind of formation she needs in the light of her previous life-experience.

At Quidenham the first stage of formation lasts two years. Its immediate goal is a formal commitment of self to God in the Carmelite way of life of our community for an initial, three year period.
(The act of consecration written by a newly professed Sister beside an ikon of Mary)	Its ultimate goal is the making of a total life-commitment, recognised and solemnly consecrated by the Church. All the formation that precedes this final commitment will have been structured with this goal in view and will have sought to elucidate it in the light of the candidate's everyday experience.

"Set her, Father, in the full radiance
of the face of your Son,
that she may catch his beauty
and, by what she becomes,
show all the world that Jesus
is living in his Church."

(Quotation from the rite of religious consecration)

 

8. A community ethos

(QC Petite Prayercard, no. 26)

As a community we have taken to heart the recommendations of the Second Vatican Council calling all contemplative nuns to rekindle the original spirit of their Order. They were to give it an outward expression more in conformity with the times and culture in which we live. In 1992, following a common effort at discernment by means of reflection, study and open discussion, we produced a written statement expressing our understanding of this charism as laid down for us in the text of the Carmelite Constitutions.

"We witness to the power of the living God, to the immensity of divine love, and to the inevitable demands of that love. We witness also to God's total involvement with humankind and the world."

(Quotation from the community statement of the Quidenham Carmelites)

 

NOTE 4: Vatican Council II

Among the many important documents to issue from the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) that which relates to the religious life is called the Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of Religious Life, otherwise known as Perfectae Caritatis. In it the Council defined the renewal it had in mind as essentially "a constant return to the sources of christian life in general and to the primitive inspiration of the (religious) institutes in particular" by their "adaptation to the changed conditions of our time." This statement set in motion a process of self-scrutiny and reformation among all religious communities which, to a certain extent, still influences the way they interpret their vocation today. Under its popular name "aggiornamento", taken from the Italian for "bringing up to date", this process came to refer to all those means by which communities now sought to reinterpret the spiritual vitality of their heritage in a contemporary setting.

 

9. Guest accommodation
We receive visits from family and friends as also from many other people who appreciate the quiet and friendly atmosphere of the monastery.

(Peace Cottage hermitage for visitors)

The hidden presence of the community gives prayerful support to all those whom it welcomes and enables them to return renewed to their daily lives. Accommodation in the form of three fully appointed hermitages is available for those who wish to spend a time of private retreat here, to share in the liturgy and prayer, or who would like to know more about our Carmelite calling. Bookings can be made through The Guest Mistress Email: Carmelite Nuns Quidenham

 

10. Like Mary...

Madonna and Child by Candlelight;
(Quidenham Classic series, no. 12)

 

"...like Mary, our model and inspiration, we believe that God does great things in our littleness. We labour, like her, to offer to God the "Yes" of our whole being and so to bring God's redeeming love into our world."

Quotation from the community statement of the Quidenham Carmelites

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