Marie Madeleine first came to Britain in 1830, accompanied by Mother Julie Guillemet, bearing a letter addressed to a certain Father Nėrinckx who ran a school in the area of Somers Town, London. It was to this place that Marie Madeleine came. Unknown to her, Father Nėrinckx was looking for religious sisters to continue the work for which he and his sister had worked hard for many years.

'Yesterday when you arrived,' explained Father Nėrinckx to Marie Madeleine, 'I was immediately convinced that you were the persons we had been waiting for. My sister thought as I did and all the personnel are likewise convinced. In this house besides my sister and myself there are eight young assistants, all of whom wish to become religious. The furniture of the house belongs to us. We have no debts and we have more than 100,000 francs in the bank. I offer all to you; I only ask that you accept it. My sister and her young associates wish to join you ...;'
Somers Town, 1830

Within a very short while Marie Madeleine received this School, St Aloysius Charity School for Girls, and the first FCJ community in England was formed in this place. There were 160 boarders and 100 day pupils. Many of these children were supported entirely by contributions raised by charity appeals.

It was from these beginnings, often fraught with difficulty but sustained by great courage, determination and desire for God's glory, that a very fruitful mission developed in England and Scotland.
The Front Garden of Gumley Convent
London, England
Painted by Elizabeth Philips, fcJ
For information about the History of Religious Women in Britain and Ireland, go to:


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