Convent of the Epiphany facts for kids

The Convent of the Epiphany was a special home in Truro, Cornwall, UK. It was where a group of religious women, called the Community of the Epiphany, lived and worked from 1883 to 2001. A man named George Wilkinson, who was the Bishop of Truro, started this community. The sisters helped people by teaching, caring for churches like Truro Cathedral and St Paul's Church, and creating beautiful church embroidery.

What the Sisters Did

The sisters of the Convent of the Epiphany did many important things. They opened other homes in places like Penzance and Newquay. They also ran a place for people to get better after being sick in St Agnes. In Truro, they had a small school called Rosewin School and a quiet place for reflection called St Michael's House.

In 1936, the sisters even started a new community in Tokyo, Japan, called the Community of Nazareth. This Japanese community later became independent around 1960. It even started its own new home on the island of Okinawa.

Where They Lived: Alverton House

The Convent of the Epiphany first started at Alverton House in Truro. This house was built in the early 1800s. It became a special listed building in 1984, meaning it's an important historical place.

Alverton House was a large property with many rooms, including thirteen bedrooms, a big drawing room, and a library. It also had beautiful gardens and five small cottages. The sisters bought this house and made it their home.

They added more parts to the house for the convent. This included a bell tower, a new main entrance, and a north wing for more space. A special chapel was built between 1908 and 1910 by an architect named Edmund H. Sedding.

Moving On: Copeland Court

By 1983, there were fewer sisters in the community. So, Alverton House was sold, and the twelve remaining nuns moved to a smaller place called Copeland Court in Kenwyn. Alverton House is now a hotel.

In 2001, only two sisters were left. They moved out of Copeland Court, and the Community of the Epiphany officially ended. In 2002, Copeland Court was renamed the Epiphany House Conference and Retreat Centre. It is still used as a place for meetings and quiet reflection today.

The Last Sister

In 2008, one of the last sisters, Sr Elizabeth CE, became well-known in the news. She was 92 years old and living in a nursing home in Devon. Even at that age, she was still helping with charity work. Sr Elizabeth lived a long life and passed away in 2017 at the age of 101.

See also

• Vincent Coles (1845 – 1929) – a warden of the Convent of the Epiphany