THE late 19th century and early 20th left a legacy: the work of energetic, strong-minded women. They were social, educational, and political reformers. The Oxford Movement produced another group: founders of religious orders. This is a biography of Grace Costin, who became Mother Teresa, founder of the Franciscan Servants of Jesus and Mary (FSJM). Teresa’s life (Feature, 30 September 2022) is also the story of FSJM. It follows a common pattern: youth searching for purpose, adulthood pursuing that purpose — then decline and death.
Grace, born in 1888, had an inauspicious start: she was illegitimate because her father was a bigamist. Her mother married again, but Grace clashed with her stepfather and determined to be independent. She undertook nursing training, spent two years in America, and was the first policewoman in Oxford.
Her search for purpose began with an impulsive attendance at Holy Week services. This was her first encounter with an Anglo-Catholic priest; a series of similar encounters helped to shape her vocation.
There was a pattern: move to work with a new priest, at first all goes well, then a falling out, and a move to work with another priest. First, working with orphans in Cornwall, then a move to another Cornish parish, where she met Margaret, who became her loyal companion. Then to Scotland, followed by a return to Cornwall. The two made a pilgrimage to Assisi, where meeting a female Franciscan community led to a vocation to found a similar community. There were more moves, including a period in east London. Teresa became convinced, however, that city parish work was not their calling, and so looked for a rural base.
She found Posbury House, in Devon. The Sisters worked on renovating the dilapidated house and overgrown gardens and establishing a routine of work and worship. They rejected affiliation to the Anglican Franciscan First Order. More women came to test a vocation, and seven went on to life vows. Others became “Extern” Sisters. Posbury became a retreat centre, with many visitors and supporters.
Then vocations began to dry up, and the last Sister entered in 1974. Teresa died in 1979, two years after Margaret. The ageing community found it increasingly difficult to maintain Posbury; Sisters died or entered nursing homes. In 2019, the last Sister moved into a small building, and most of the property was sold to set up a trust.
This biography is enlivened by personal knowledge. The author’s father’s ordination retreat was at Posbury. The foreword is by Bishop Martin Shaw, the last FSJM Visitor, whose aunt was a FSJM Sister. The afterword is by a former FSJM Sister. This allows insights into the internal life of the community.
The portrait of Teresa on the book cover shows a clearly strong-willed person. She attracted great loyalty, but did not hesitate to contradict those whom she disagreed with, including priests. The portrait shows her wearing the large brown headdress of FSJM, described as: “somewhere on the cusp between forbidding and comical”. Teresa was both forbidding and capable of kindness. This biography is honest about her faults, but honours a remarkable woman.
Dr Hilary Pearson studied Christian spirituality at Heythrop College. Her research interests are medieval and early-modern women religious writers, and Franciscan spirituality.
Mother of Invention: Mother Teresa and the Franciscan Servants of Jesus
Bridget Gillard
Sacristy Press £25
(978-1-78959-373-0)
Church Times Bookshop £22.50