Theodosia Mansfield (Sister Mary Angela of the Holy Family)
Theodosia Olympia
Mansfield
was born on August 25th 1862 in Horningsham, Wiltshire,
England, to parents James Pearce Mansfield and Mary Anne
Perryman. Her father was the minister of Horningsham Free
Congregational
Church, the first Free church in England. In the 1881 census she
was described as a Teacher in English and French. At some point
she became a governess to a Catholic family and must have been
so impressed by their faith that she joined the Catholic Church.
The census of 1891has an entry where she is living as a boarder
with John and Lavinia Carley at 5 Summer Hill, Frome, Somerset
which is only a few miles from Horningsham.Later,
Theodosia decided
to devote her life to God and entered a Carmelite Convent in
Wells, Somerset where she received the Holy Habit on November
21st 1896 and was given the name of Sister Mary Angela of the Holy
Family. On the 23rd of November 1897, aged 35, Sr Mary
Angela was examined by the Bishop of Clifton and it was decided
she should be received for Profession.
"This
happened at 7.15am on the 31st May 1898 at the Monastery of Saint
Joseph and Teresa Wells in the hands of the Rev. Mother Mary Catherine
of the Immaculate Conception, Prioress to the said Monastery with
the express leave of the Right Revd. William B. Brownlow, Bishop
of the Diocese of Clifton, in the presence of the Community."
On February 26th 1925, after the death of the Mother Superior, Sr. Mary
Angela was elected Third Discreet and became Mother Subprioress.
Theodosia died in the monastery at 5.50am on August 23rd 1937 just two days
before her 75th birthday and was buried
in St. Benedict's cemetery, Downside Abbey, Stratton on the Fosse,
Somerset.
Notes:
The Wells Carmel amalgamated with the Carmelite Community in Darlington
in 1972. The Wells property - Mount Carmel Vista, 11 Chamberlain
Street was sold although part of the house was left for the diocese
which they have used to enlarge the church, the remainder becoming flats.