An historic Warwickshire convent visited by Cardinal John Henry Newman is auctioning off its furniture after announcing it will close.
The secluded Poor Clares Convent in Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire, which is 160 years old, had 27 nuns two decades ago but now has just four.
Founded in 1850 by six sisters from Bruges, the convent has remained enclosed, which meant its nuns have not left the boundaries and have spent their time praying, reading and sewing.
But dwindling numbers of women entering the community meant the convent could not continue.
Sister Felicity, Reverend Mother Abbess, who has been at the Poor Clares convent next to St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for 22 years, said: “All across Europe, the numbers of people joining religious orders has fallen and is continuing to fall at the moment.
“However, the church is growing in other areas of the world. We are pilgrims so we are called to change.
“160 years is a long time for a community to be in one place. A normal life cycle of a community is 100 years and it usually closes after 100 years.”
The convent had close links with Cardinal Newman, who was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in Birmingham last September.
The Cardinal would bring provisions for the poor sisters, and gave the community a skull cap, which has now been presented to the diocese.
Sister Felicity and two other nuns were among those who attended the beatification in Cofton Park.
Last month, Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham led a farewell Mass and thanksgiving service for the convent, describing the closure as an “irrevocable loss” for the diocese.
Smaller items of furniture belonging to the convent including piano stools, tables and trunks will go on sale on Saturday in the public area of the enclosure.
Other items of interest, including the compartment or “turn” used to pass provisions into the convent, will be sold at an auction in Birmingham in April.
The building will revert back to a church.
Sister Felicity said: “There are a few antique pieces and there are all sorts of things in the auction including a large Welsh dresser and a lovely linen press.
“The proceeds will go to the sisters to help them relocate. It’s all part of our journey.
“We will close when we hear from Rome. Those in Rome are the only ones who can suppress a monastery.
“Two of us who are not well have moved to other places and there are two of us still here.
“We have a sense of gratitude for all the support we have had over the years from so many people.
“We hope people will come to the sales and find something that they can keep as a memento.”
* The sale at the convent in Rising Lane, Baddesley Clinton will be held from 10am until 4pm on Saturday with the furniture auction between 10am and 12pm. More information on 01564 783269.
