You may be aware of Annora, the recluse that lived in an annex to our church in its very early decades. Did you know she had a more famous sister who was also a recluse (also known as an ‘anchorite’ or ‘anchoress’)? St Stephen’s Hackington, Loretta’s church, is hosting and streaming a talk by Cate Gunn. She was one of the speakers at our Annora seminar in 2018 and is an expert on Ancrene Wisse and other medieval guidance for anchorites.

Annual Commemoration of the Anniversary of the Death of Lady Loretta de Braose, Anchoress at St Stephen’s 1221-1266

Saturday 5th March 2022 at 11.00am GMT
This year we will be celebrating the life and death of Lady Loretta de Braose  near the anniversary of her death with a talk by Dr Cate Gunn on the Ancrene Wisse, a guide to the anchorite life written during the period of Loretta’s enclosure, and other written works relating to anchorites. The talk with questions and discussion  will be followed by midday prayers led by the Canterbury Gregorian Society. 
This will take place at St Stephen’s Canterbury, where all are welcome, subject to the Covid guidance then in place. It will also be live streamed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ovexj4Hdo

For other events both externally and at St Mary’s please see the current notice sheet.