Margaret Throckmorton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Throckmorton
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A painting from 1636, celebrating her re-election.
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| Born | 1591 |
| Died | 26 October 1668 (aged 76–77) |
| Nationality | Kingdom of England |
| Other names | Magdelan (religious name) |
| Occupation | nun and prioress |
| Known for | prioress in Leuven in Flander |
| Predecessor | Jane Wiseman |
| Successor | Mary Thimelby |
Margaret Throckmorton (born 1591 – died 26 October 1668) was an English nun. She later took the religious name Magdelan. She became the leader, called a prioress, of St Monica's convent in Leuven. This convent was one of several places in Europe where English nuns could live and practice their faith. They had left England because they faced discrimination there.
Early Life and Becoming a Nun
Margaret Throckmorton was born in 1591 at Coughton Court in England. She was one of nine children born to Agnes and John Throckmorton. Her father passed away when she was about five years old.
On August 5, 1613, Margaret made her vows and officially became an Augustine choir nun. This meant she dedicated her life to God and joined the religious community.
Leading St Monica's Convent
Margaret became the prioress of St Monica's convent in Leuven, a city in what is now Belgium. Her family helped the convent financially. When she was first chosen as prioress, not everyone agreed, and she was only elected for three years.
However, her leadership was successful. In 1636, her time as prioress was extended, and a painting was made to celebrate this. By 1639, she was appointed to lead the convent for the rest of her life.
St Monica's was one of seven religious communities in Europe for English nuns. These communities offered a safe place for nuns who were facing difficulties in England.
Challenges and Successes
Margaret Throckmorton was very good at managing the convent's money. She made sure the convent stayed financially stable. She did this by only accepting women who wanted to become nuns if they could bring a dowry. A dowry was a sum of money or property that a woman brought with her when she joined a religious order.
During her time as prioress, Margaret faced many challenges. She had to guide the convent through a time of plague. In 1636, the city of Leuven was under a siege, meaning it was surrounded by enemy forces. Margaret wisely arranged for half of the nuns to leave the convent temporarily to stay safe.
The convent also had a musician named John Boult. He worked as their organist and chaplain until 1640. Boult had previously been a musician for Queen Elizabeth I of England. He had also been with Margaret when she first became a nun in 1613.
Margaret Throckmorton passed away in Leuven on October 26, 1668. At that time, there were 36 nuns living at St Monica's. After her death, Mary Thimbleby was chosen as the new prioress.
