by Alan Quick

A GOOD number of visitors attended the Posbury St Francis Convent Open Afternoon on Saturday, September 24.

The weather was fine, albeit a little breezy, for the afternoon and most stalls were outside.

Delicious teas were served and Sister Giovanna (86), who has lived at the convent since 1970, sold more than 90 pots of bulbs she had prepared specially for the event.

Adrian Iles ran the raffle and many other volunteers helped on the 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.

Posbury House is an Anglican Franciscan nunnery known as The Community of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus and Mary, which was founded in Stepney, London, in 1935 by Grace Emily Costing, who took the name "Mother Teresa".

It moved in 1937 to the Isle of Wight and again in 1942, to escape the danger of enemy bombardment during World War Two, to Posbury House, which was renamed The House of St Francis.

During the War the community started to host retreats for candidates for ordination as priests in the Diocese of Exeter, which practice was only discontinued shortly before 2014.

The house has its own chapel on site.

By 2014 the community had dwindled in number, and the practice has ceased of the sisters working in the local community in areas connected with spiritual matters yet the Convent still continues today.