Members of the Nobility in Convents

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 21 June 1906, Page 15

Members of the Nobility in Convents

Th? conversion )f Princess Ena to Catholicism recalls to mind how many of the "old faith" are still to be met- with in the smart drawing-rooms of Loiv don (writes " M.A.P."). Among those who have recently joined the Roman Catholic faith may be mentioned Theodosia Lady Cottyenhani, and her daughter, Laldy Mary Pepys. The latter is noted as a singer, and has studied under Madame Thenard of the Camedie Francaise. The Hon. Mary and Hon. Margaret Russell, daughters of the late Lord Russell of Killovvcn, are now both nuns in the CVnvent of the Holy Child at Mayned'd, Sussex ; and also the 'lien. Violet Gibson, the peetty daughter of Lord and Lady Ashbourne. Writing oi nuns brings to mind the number of high-born women who have elected to spend their lives in the seclusion of a convent. The Duke of Norfolk has two sisters who are nuns : Lady Minna Howard belongs to the Carmelite Order, and Lady Etheldreda Howard is a Sister of Charity. Lady Edith Feildin^,, sister to Lord Denbigh, is another Sister of Charily, and cheerfully endures exile at a convent in China. Lady Maria Christina Bandini, daughter of Lord Nevvburg'h, is at a Sacre Coeur convent on the Continent ; and Lady Frances Bertie, sister to Lord Abingdon, resides in a convent at Harrow ; and Lady I.eo'poklina Keppel, sister to Lord Albemarle, is a nun of the Sacred I 'cart. Then, Miss Mary and MUss Ediih Clifloid, sisters of Lord Clifford, arc both nuns ; Mi.<-s F.ik'ii and Miss Maiia Ffrench, sisters of Lord Ffrcnch, are also nuns ; Miss Leonie Dormer, sister to Lord Dormer, is a nun; and yet another religiouse is M : ss Cicely Arundell, sister to the twelfth Lord Arundell of Wardour. No fewer than four sisters of the present and fourteenth Lord Herries, are nuns, as are three sisters of the present and fourteenth Loid Petre. One of them is a Sister of Charity, and the others belong to the Order of the Good Shepherd, and reside in convents at Cardiff and Glasgow. And in bygone days Ili3re weic fcur sisters of a dead and pone Lord Camoys who had one and al 1 taken the veil, but most of these ladies have now passed away.