Sr Sara

There are stories which pass through the generations and it can be difficult to know their truth; it happens in religious communities as well as families. Sometimes research can confirm or deny them, sometimes the truth is lost to history. Sr Sara is one of our Sisters of whom such a story exists. I had never heard of her until I found a picture of her in the archives; checking the In Memoriam boards in our Chapel, her name was not on there. Curious, I asked one of the older Sisters, who told me she had left. Her brother, a Jesuit, had persuaded her to become a Roman Catholic. At one time, she had been Novice Guardian. In my memory, I thought she said that she had been her Novice Guardian’s Novice Guardian, but that is not born out by fact as the dates do not work. So either I’ve mis-remembered that, or the other Sister had. So do stories get started.

Born in Warwickshire in 1852, Sara Woods was the daughter of the Rev Charles Woods and his wife, Maria. Charles regularly advertised for pupils, in addition to his work, so I assume that he was poorly paid, and needed the additional income. It may also explain why he went to Canada. I have had problems finding the Woods family in any English Census, although I know they were in England in the 1850s; it’s possible they emigrated before the 1861 census. It was only a letter in The Times, signed by Anglican clergymen in Canada, including Charles, that alerted me that this may be where the family were. Charles was Archdeacon of Columbia [British Columbia], I think from 1867. He was also responsible for various parishes, and died in Canada in 1895. He is buried in Fraser Cemetery, British Columbia. 

Finding this information meant I was able to access the 1881 Canadian Census for the family, and there we find Sara. The facts do not quite line up: both Sarah and the eldest son, Charles, are said to have been born in Ireland, as their parents were, whereas we know Sara was born in England. However, I am fairly certain that this is the correct family. Also in the census are five more children, all born in Canada. However, I know Charles and Maria had at least ten children, so I have not traced them all. Crucially, I have not found the Jesuit brother. Nevertheless, their presence in British Columbia is exciting for another reason: we were also present there, from 1884. In fact, I have discovered online an extract from Charles’ journal describing a visit to All Hallows’ School, Yale, which is us. Whether this was the connection which brought Sr Sara to CAH, I do not know. The dates about fit; we came to Yale in 1884; we know the Woods family were in Canada by then; Sr Sara was professed September 4th 1888. As a choir Sister, she would have had a two year Noviciate, taking us back to 1886, so she would probably have joined us in 1885 or early 1886. However it happened, she came over to join us. She was not the only sibling to return to England, as I have traced others there, although some seem to have lived their lives in Canada.  Interestingly, one of her brothers, who seems to have become an Anglican Priest, is described in the Census as ‘Priest of the Anglican Catholic Church’, which rather suggests that the family were on the Anglo-Catholic end of the spectrum, and does confirm that some may have gone further and become Roman Catholic. 

In 1891, Sr Sara is listed at the House of Mercy; in 1893, there is an appeal in East and West, the Community magazine, for a sewing machine for the House of Mercy, contact Sr Sara, and in 1894 orders for plain needlework or knitting go to Sr Sara. This makes me wonder whether she was in charge of the workroom at the House of Mercy, and that this is where plain orders went, as orders for fancier work went to Sr Lenora, who worked in the Embroidery Room at the Community House. The workroom in the House of Mercy was where those girls not strong enough to work in the laundry were trained, and would have produced items, such as uniforms, for use in the house. But I do know that at times they also sought orders from outside. Sr Sara spent many years at the House of Mercy, becoming Sister-in-Charge by 1901. In 1906, she was made Novice Mistress, and it seems likely that she would have moved to the Community House then. I do not know how long she spent as Novice Mistress; she was at the Community House for the 1911 census, but data from the electoral register show she spent more time at the House of Mercy. She had relinquished the role of Novice Mistress by 1918, but it may have been earlier. By 1921, she was again Sister-in-Charge of the House of Mercy; the electoral register places her there until 1926.

This confuses me, as the Community Records suggest she left before 1926, although after the 1921 census. It’s possible I’ve copied the date down wrongly, and I will need to go back and check this. Our records do confirm the story about the Jesuit brother, though, and we know that she left. Whatever the exact date, she was in her late 60s in the 1921 census, so deciding to leave must have taken a great deal of courage. Whenever it happened, by 1939, she is found in a Roman Catholic community in Wales. From the details in the 1939 register, I cannot tell if she was a member of this Community, or only living there, but her occupation is described as ‘invalid, knitting’. She died at the end of 1941 in Wales; at least, I’m fairly sure she did. Without contacting the Community in question, I cannot be certain this is the same Sara Woods; and, even if I do, they may not know. The story I was told about Sr Sara seems to be substantially correct, but it does show how careful we need to be about passing on information, news, stories. Do we know if they are true, or are we assuming it? It was once suggested to me that before we say anything we should ask three questions: is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? This seems a wise way of assessing what we say, and whether it needs to be said.