THERE was a hint of sadness at Posbury St Francis Convent Open Day, held indoors due to the inclement weather on Saturday, September 22, when it was announced that it was likely to be the last such event to take place at the Convent.

Stalls were arranged in two rooms and the raffle tickets were sold in the hallway.

Sister Giovanna (87), who has lived at the convent since 1970, sold pots of bulbs she had prepared specially for the event.

She also sold knitted toys she had made.

Bishop Martin Shaw, from the Diocese of Exeter, and Father Peter Lee, were among those who attended.

A bumper raffle had many prizes and volunteers helped on the range of stalls and with the refreshments.

Funds were raised for the Convent and many visitors took a delight in meeting old friends and making purchases while they were there.

The Sisters of the Community of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus and Mary moved to Posbury House in 1942.

It was on June 28, 1935, that Mother Teresa and Sister Margaret made their life professions, their vows being received by Bishop Curzon of Stepney and for two years they worked in London.  In 1937 they moved to Witwell in the Isle of Wight, renting a house which they called the House of St Francis.  Here they worked with women and children in neighbouring parishes and held retreats for Externs, until the outbreak of war in 1939.?Travelling to and from the island became difficult making an end to the retreats but the Sisters accepted four evacuees.  As the island suffered both from bombs dropped by raiders returning from London, Southampton or Portsmouth and raids on the radar sites about Ventnor, the evacuees were returned to the mainland.

The Sisters continued to work on the island, speaking to young men at Camp Hill Borstal, talking to wives of prison officers at Parkhurst and helping with Sunday Schools, until in 1942 the authorities advised them to leave the island.

The House of St Francis they vacated later in the year became the officers mess of a batallion of the Devonshire Regiment.

The Sisters moved to Posbury House, which they renamed The House of St Francis.

With a great deal of hard work the house was made habitable and the ground brought into cultivation.

Hospitality was extended to many guests, a practise which has been maintained up to the present day.  The heavy bombing of Exeter, which destroyed much of the city centre took place in 1942 and the Bishop of Exeter asked the Sisters to hold a retreat for the Ordination candidates.  This they continued to do until recent years.

Additions to the house have been made over the years, including the enlargement of the chapel. 

Until recently, when depletion in numbers prevented them from doing so, the Sisters continued to work in the community, sending out speakers to meetings of the Mothers’ Union, Youth groups, confirmation classes and holding retreats.

While it is a changing time for the Community of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus and Mary, it is expected that a community will still continue at Posbury.