USE OF MOATED CASTLE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1933, Page 10

USE OF MOATED CASTLE

CONVENT IN ENGLAND. A religious community known as the “Sister Servants of the Holy Ghost" has established its first centre in England in the historic. moated castle at Caverswall, near Stoke-on-Trent.

The castle, which had been empty for two years and was about to be demolished and its fine oak panelling sold., was bought by the community, which is of Dutch origin and has for its object the co-operation with priests in the evangelisation of pagan peoples. It is to be used for the training of women for the propagation of Christianity in the British Indies. The order is 2000 strong and at present the only English member is Sister Winifred, who is Lancashire-born. The sisters are at present running their own farm of 24 acres. Their object is to make themselves a selfsupporting community as far as possible. A number of them are trained nurses and it is intended to establish nursing home at the castle. The outbuildings are to be converted into a retreat for the laity in North Staffordshire.

Tho 14th-century stronghold, built by William de Coverswall, a knight of the days of Edward 11, was preserved in plan and outline by the builder of the present castle. Matthew Craddock, a wool merchant, of Stafford. It is flanked by six octagonal towers. A feature of th© grounds is a tiny walled cemetery in which are buried about 30 of the- Benedictine nuns who inhabited the castle for 100 years.