Convent of the Epiphany

The Convent of the Epiphany, Truro, Cornwall, UK, was the home of the Community of the Epiphany (1883-2001). The founder of this community was George Wilkinson, Bishop of Truro.[1] The sisters were involved in pastoral and educational work, the care of Truro Cathedral and St Paul's Church, and church needlework.

Branch houses and foundations

The convent opened daughter houses in the Penzance,[2] Newquay, and in addition to the mother house, Truro. The sisters also ran a convalescent home in St Agnes, and a small school (Rosewin School) and a retreat house (St Michael's House) in Truro.

In 1936, the sisters founded the Community of Nazareth, in Tokyo, Japan, which achieved full independence around 1960 under the jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in Japan, the Nippon Sei Ko Kai. This community, in turn, founded a daughter house on the island of Okinawa.

Alverton House

The Convent of the Epiphany was originally in the parish of St Paul at Alverton House, Tregolls Road, Truro, an early 19th-century house and a grade II* listed building since 1984.[3] Alverton House and grounds was put up for auction on 26 April 1881 by Jane Tweedy, the widow of William Mansell Tweedy. It was described as a residential property, enclosed within a ring fence. There were thirteen bedrooms and dressing rooms, a spacious drawing room, dining and morning rooms, library, hall and conservatory, kitchen and offices. There was also 12 acres (4.9 ha) of lawns, shrubberies, pleasure, kitchen and allotment gardens, and five cottages.[4] Bidding for the property ended at £5,700, which failed to meet the reserve price of £6,500 and it was later sold to Mr Pascoe of Essex (formerly of Helston) for £6,200.[5][6]

The house was extended for the convent with the addition of a bell tower, a main entrance, and a north wing to provide additional accommodation for the nuns. The chapel was built in 1908-1910 by Edmund H. Sedding. The west wing is coeval with the chapel and may also be by Sedding.[7][8]

Copeland Court

In 1983, because of a decline in vocations, Alverton House was sold and the twelve remaining nuns moved to Copeland Court in Kenwyn.[9][10] Alverton House is currently a hotel.[11]

In 2001, the last two remaining nuns moved out of Copeland Court and the Community of the Epiphany legally ceased to exist. In 2002, Copeland Court was renamed as the Epiphany House Conference and Retreat Centre.[12]

In 2008, Sr Elizabeth CE attracted some attention in the local and national press as the last surviving member of the order; she was then 92 and living in a nursing home in Devon, but still engaged in charitable work.[13] In 2017, Sr Elizabeth died at the age of 101.[14]

See also
  • Vincent Coles (1845 – 1929) – warden of the Convent of the Epiphany

References
  1. Article by Richard Savill "Last surviving nun of 127 year-old order", The Daily Telegraph, 4 November 2008, p. 7.
  2. Cornish Church Guide. Truro: Blackford; pp. 325–26 (The Sisterhood of the Epiphany)
  3. Historic England. "Alverton Manor Hotel (1282635)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  4. "Valuable & Important Freehold Residential Property". The Cornishman. No. 144. 14 April 1881. p. 1.
  5. Memoriter (12 May 1881). "The New And Lucky Owner Of Alverton". No. 148. p. 7.
  6. "Sale of "Alverton"". The Cornishman. No. 146. 28 April 1881. p. 5.
  7. Pevsner, N. (1970) Cornwall; 2nd ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin; pp. 234-35
  8. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1282635)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  9. "Last nun celebrates birthday of Order". Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  10. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1205448)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  11. "Hotels in Truro | The Alverton Hotel in Truro | Truro's Four Star Hotel".
  12. "History of Epiphany House conference and retreat centre". Archived from the original on 8 July 2016.
  13. "Nun, 92, is last representative of 125-year-old order".
  14. "Truro's last surviving nun has died aged 101 - Cornwall Live".

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