Emily Ayckbowm (1836–1900) was the founder and first mother superior of the
Community of the Sisters of the Church. This Anglican order was founded in 1870.
Life
She was the daughter of Mary Ann(e) born Hutchinson and the Rev. Frederick Ayckbowm, rector of
Holy Trinity Church, Chester. He was of German descent and she was born in
Heidelberg
Heidelberg (; ; ) is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, fifth-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, and with a population of about 163,000, of which roughly a quarter consists of studen ...
whilst her parents were visiting. Her mother died in 1842 and her father soon remarried, Charlotte, and she gained a devoted stepmother. In 1861 her married sister died and in 1862 her father died.
In 1864 she founded the very successful
Church Extension Association which had a wide remit to do good works. She came to notice when she and her friend were commended for their voluntary work during an outbreak of
cholera
Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...
in Chester in 1866. In 1870 she founded the
Community of the Sisters of the Church. She became the first novice of the order and she was "clothed" by the Reverend R.C.Kirkpatrick in the new parish of St Augustine's, Kilburn.
[
Whilst she was the Mother Superior the community found that it had gathered a number of critics. One of the patrons, Archbishop Edward White Benson, tried to intercede but Ayckbowm distrusted his views and he had little trust in her. She rejected his help. This is thought to be poor judgement by Ayckbowm, she removed him, and any other male supporters, from their literature and it is judged that the community's reputation was reduced.][ However the "Community of the Sisters of the Church" continued.
]
Death and legacy
Ayckbowm lived to see sisters of the order going to South Africa. She died of gangrene and diabetes on 5 June 1900 and she was buried at St Peter's Church in Thanet.[ Sisters including Sister Rosalie that she had trained later set out for Australia to found Perth College in 1901.]
References
External links
Community of the Sisters of the Church - Our Founder
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayckbowm, Emily
1836 births
1900 deaths
19th-century British Anglican nuns
Clergy from Heidelberg