Margaret Haydock facts for kids
Margaret Haydock (also known as Sr. Stanislaus, O.S.A.; born around 1767 – died 1854) was a Roman Catholic nun and teacher. Her life shows the challenges faced by English Catholic nuns who had to live outside England during the French Revolution.
A Family of Faith
Margaret Haydock came from a family with a long history of strong Catholic faith. During a time called the Penal Period, Catholics in England faced many difficulties. Her ancestors, like William Haydock and Blessed George Haydock, even died for their beliefs.
Margaret's parents were George Haydock and Anne Cottam. She had brothers named James Haydock, George Leo Haydock, and Thomas Haydock. James and George Leo became priests, and Thomas was a famous Catholic publisher. Together, they all played a big part in keeping Catholicism alive in England.
Becoming a Nun
We don't know much about Margaret Haydock's early life. But she felt a strong calling to become a nun, just like her brothers became priests. At that time, Catholic religious orders were not allowed to operate openly in England. So, Margaret went to the Saint Monica convent in Louvain. This convent was set up for English Catholics living in exile.
A relative, Jane Haydock, was already serving there. Also, an ancestor, Father Gilbert Haydock, had been a chaplain at the convent. On February 2, 1790, Margaret officially became a nun. She joined the canonesses regular of the Windesheim Congregation and took the name Sister Stanislaus, O.S.A. The nuns at this convent followed the Rule of Saint Augustine and ran a boarding school for girls.
Escaping the French Revolution
In 1794, the French Revolution caused big problems in the area around Louvain. Because of the fighting, Sister Stanislaus and the other nuns had to leave their convent. They left on June 28, 1794, and made a dangerous journey. They traveled over land and water through places like Breda, Rotterdam, and Gravesend. Finally, they settled at Hammersmith Convent near London.
In 1800, the nuns moved again, this time to Amesbury, which is close to the ancient monument of Stonehenge. After staying there for a year, they found a new home at St Monica's Priory, Spetisbury in Blandford, Dorsetshire. There, they started another boarding school for girls.
Later Life
Her family called her Peggy. Sister Stanislaus often wrote letters to her brothers. In her later years, her eyesight became poor, so others had to write for her. She passed away at Spetisbury on April 11, 1854. She was the last surviving nun from the original St. Monica's convent in Louvain.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Great Britain
