HISTORY
St Rumon’s House c.1950 (reproduced by permission of Norma Woodcock)
Teresa of Ávila by François Gérard
Tavistock’s Carmelite Convent When one thinks of monasteries and convents, one tends to think of ancient buildings and, perhaps, the Reformation. However, some have a more recent history. The Carmelite order, which traces its origins to hermits living on Mount Carmel in Israel in around 1200, did not establish itself in Britain until the late nineteenth century. Forced to leave the Holy Land, the Carmelites settled in Europe. Significant reform of the existing order took place in the sixteenth century through the efforts of St Teresa of Avila. This led to the founding of discalced convents of friars and nuns that emphasised austerity and contemplation. Discalced literally means ‘without shoes’, meaning barefoot or wearing sandals. In 1604, the first French ‘Carmel’ was founded (directly from Spain) in Paris.
In 1878, this Carmel sent seven of their sisters (two English and five French) to England, founding the Notting Hill Carmel, which still exists today. In 1883, one of these nuns, Madeleine Dupont (Mother Mary of Jesus), became prioress. Such was her success in recruiting new nuns that she was able to answer requests from Roman Catholic bishops from all over the country. Between 1907 and 1938, she founded 33 Discalced Carmelite convents, six of them in the South West of England including Plymouth, Exmouth and Tavistock. There is a cross and memorial to her in the Plymouth Road cemetery. The memorial reads: ‘In ever grateful memory of our venerated mother foundress Mother Mary of Jesus. Born Feb. 18th 1851. Professed Sept 8th 1873. Founded Tavistock’s Carmel August 30th 1922. Died March 15th 1942.’ In 1906, the Campbell family became the tenants of Mount Tavy (later to become a preparatory school) and built a small chapel on the estate for the few Roman Catholics in the area to worship in. In 1919, the Campbells moved to St Rumon’s, Watts Road, where they again built a small chapel. Following an approach by Bishop Kelly of Plymouth to the Notting Hill Carmel, it was agreed to set up a convent here. St Rumon’s was converted from a residential property to
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a convent, and in 1922, seven Carmelite nuns arrived. On 30th August 1922, Tavistock Carmel was founded. On August 31st and September 1st 1922, the new Convent of St Rumon’s was open to view by the people of Tavistock and the results of the workmen’s labours were, according to the Tavistock Gazette (dated 8th September 1922), a revelation, with cells for the nuns ... a small chapel, a choir, cloisters etc. Also noticeable were the high walls, blocked driveway with a grill and spikes and a rear entrance to the convent. The ceremony of the imposition of enclosure was led by Cardinal Bourne, the Archbishop of Westminster and was attended by over a thousand members of the general public, as well as many Roman Catholic clergy from across the county and beyond. The arrival of the nuns, and their need for solitude, meant that there had to be strict segregation between them and the Catholic community. This was solved in 1923 when the latter were able to use a wooden building in Russell Street where the Carlton Cinema was later to stand. However, this closed in 1937 and the Catholics could worship only in the Carmel chapel. The number of worshippers increased significantly during the Second World War because of billeted service men and prisoners of war, and the increased numbers
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