Catherine Holland facts for kids

Catherine Holland (born 1637, died 1720) was an English woman who became a Catholic nun. She also wrote her own life story, which is called an autobiography. Her writings tell us about her journey to become a nun.

Catherine Holland's Early Life

Catherine Holland was born in England in 1637. Her father was Sir John Holland, a Protestant and a Member of Parliament. Her mother, Lady Alathea Sandys, was Catholic. Catherine grew up with four sisters and six brothers. Their family home was Quidenham Hall in Norfolk.

Growing Up in Different Countries

From 1641 to 1652, Catherine lived with her family in Bergen op Zoom. This town is in what is now the Netherlands.

Her father wanted his children to be Protestant, like him. He made Catherine copy sermons and learn religious lessons. If she did not do these tasks, she would be punished. Even though her father was Protestant, he allowed her mother to practice her Catholic faith.

A Secret Catholic Faith

In 1652, Catherine's family moved to Bruges, a city in what is now Belgium. Her father went back to England. While in Bruges, Catherine secretly attended Catholic church services. This was a big step for her.

Becoming a Nun

By 1660, the Holland family had returned to England. Catherine felt a stronger pull towards the Catholic faith. In 1661, she secretly started writing to Mary Bedingfield. Mary was the leader, called a prioress, at an English Catholic convent in Bruges.

Leaving Home for the Convent

Mary Bedingfield offered to help Catherine leave England. In 1662, Catherine wrote letters to her parents. She left them on a table in her room. Early one morning, she quietly left her family's home in London. She met a helper and they traveled to Dover, a port city.

Because leaving to become a Catholic nun was not allowed in England at that time, Catherine used a false name to cross the border. Her journey was successful.

Life at the Convent

On September 3, 1664, Catherine became a choir nun at the English convent of Nazareth in Bruges. Less than two weeks later, she finished writing her autobiography. It was titled "How I came to change my religion". She wrote this book for her fellow nuns. It explained how she changed from being Anglican (Protestant) to Roman Catholic.

Catherine spent her time at the convent writing. She translated many books and stories about saints from French and Dutch into English.

Death and Legacy

Catherine Holland died in Bruges in 1720. Her autobiography was published over 200 years later. Another nun from the same convent, Catherine Sidney Durrant, included it in her book Link Between Flemish Mystics and English Martyrs. This helped share Catherine Holland's story with more people.