Sisters of Mercy, Popular Politics and the Growth of the Roman Catholic Community in Hull, 1855-1930

“Maria McClelland’s pioneering study, drawing on a wide range of archival material scattered across the British Isles, focuses on one of the earliest English manifestations of the educational enterprise of the Sisters of Mercy, in Hull. Her research demonstrates how, despite adverse circumstances, financial hardship and a spectacular and ‘scandalous' court case that hit the headlines in the late 1860s, the Sisters achieved their aims and met with eventual success. The story that unfolds presents, in microcosm, a clear and valuable picture of the challenges and opportunities facing Catholic religious women in Victorian and early twentieth-century England.” – Maurice Whitehead

“. . . excellent use of the primary and secondary sources relevant to her work. Her use of the extensive archives of the Mercy Order, various dioceses and the Catholic Education Council as well as official government records is judicious and well balanced. It has resulted in a work which is wholly original. The study is clearly written, it has a good style and offers a strong narrative. . . . makes a major contribution to an important aspect of education.” – Derek Webster

Table of Contents:
Preface
1. The Origins of the Sisters of Mercy in the Field of Education
2. The Clifford Connection
3. Sr. Scholastica’s Story
4. The Great Convent Case
5. Establishing Roots in Hull
6. Establishing a Catholic School System in Hull
7. A Catholic Training College for Women – A Voyage in an Unknown Sea
8. Endsleigh Training College: The Dawson Legacy
9. Conclusion
Appendix, Bibliography, Index