Her Nottingham Story

Mary Potter: Born in Bermondsey, London on 22nd November 1847

Founded the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary in Nottingham 1877

Mary Potter had hoped to receive permission to found a Religious Congregation in the South of England where she lived, however through various circumstances this did not come to fruition.

On the 12th of January 1877 Mary and her sister-in-law Marguerite were in Brighton and instead of returning to her home in Southsea, Portsmouth, Mary just knew she had to leave and make arrangements to travel to Nottingham. She hoped to meet with Bishop Bagshawe and prayed he would understand the work she felt called to commence. On the 13th January she secured an appointment to meet with Bishop Bagshawe the following day at St. Barnabas Cathedral House.

Her calling and desire was to found a new Religious Institute whose primary focus would be to pray and intercede for the dying of the world. The Bishop, a great social reformer, had a vision; a passionate desire to help the plight of the poor and destitute in areas of his large Diocese where he wished to set up Missions and elementary schooling. He envisaged a picture of a Convent, Mission and School coming together in one of the villages and his welcoming words to Mary Potter were “See if you can find a cheap place which we can rent to make a beginning.”  Mary came to the village of Hyson Green and with the help of a local lady, Mrs. Tacey, found only a small disused building full of rubbish and not fit for purpose. Mary saw beyond that, concentrating on its potential, given the space it would provide for the new venture. The Bishop inspected the property, paid the advanced rent and organised essential repairs. 

Mary Potter sent for the first two companions to come and join her in Nottingham and the local people rallied round to help get the building ready for the new Mission Chapel and Convent to open on 2nd April 1877.  Although only parts of the building were habitable the Sisters made do and slept on bags of straw to begin with.

The Sisters set about visiting the sick and the dying giving what help and assistance they could in this area. They helped the Priest who was appointed Superior of the New Mission by visiting families and assisting him in his work. 

By June, three more companions had asked to join them and on 2nd July a special Ceremony took place in the Mission Chapel with the Bishop. From then on the Sisters would be known as the “Little Company of Mary”. They would wear black religious garb with a distinctive blue veil. The Sisters had very little to live on and what they had they shared. An example of this was when one morning, Mother Mary (Potter) as she was affectionately called, asked a Sister to take some eggs to a family in need. The Sister explained that the eggs were all they had for dinner. Mother Mary replied, “Never mind take them dear, and God will provide.” On her way home the Sister met Mrs. Tacey, a neighbour, who called her and said “Will you take these eggs to dear Mother Mary, I haven’t sent her any lately,” so God indeed provided.

The Bishop wished to open a small school and Mother Mary saw the necessity of this if real work was to be done, where the Sisters would teach the children. It began in two rooms within the convent, a mixed school with children unused to schooling. In time to come, a certified teacher, Miss Doran took over as Mistress, with a Pupil Teacher and Assistant.

Mary Potter suffered ill-health most of her life and in 1878 developed breast cancer. Surgery was arranged and would take place in the convent. Because of her heart condition very little anaesthetic of chloroform could be administered.

A schoolroom was just above where Miss Doran was trying to keep the children very quiet; she told them Mother Mary was very ill and the Doctor was operating. She suggested they pray that she would soon get better, and instead of answering their prayers with “pray for us” young Tom at the top of his voice said “Pray for Mother Mary” and the class all joined in. When it was time for the class to be dismissed the children went down the stairs very quietly, whereas usually they rushed down making lots of noise.

Seven months later the cancer returned and the second breast had to be surgically removed under the same conditions in the Convent.  The year after, Mary Potter contracted Scarlet Fever and was so seriously ill, it was thought she may not survive.

Within a few years part of the old factory building was suddenly declared unsafe and the two classrooms in the Convent were closed immediately and a large room hired some distance away.

(A site to build a more permanent Chapel was gifted to the Diocese and the Beaconsfield Street School-Chapel opened in 1880. The Chapel remained there until 1910 when the newly built parish church of St. Mary’s Hyson Green opened.)

With the Bishop’s instructions Mother Mary went on to help set up other Missions, the Bishop sent one or two Sisters to look after the Priest, to teach in the small schools and help with Mission work. These houses were an anxiety to Mother Mary as the Sisters could have no real religious life and most of them were young and inexperienced. Whilst the Bishop was her higher Superior, she could not make changes.

Mother Mary felt it necessary to go to Rome to obtain a Blessing and approval from the Holy Father, to continue the work of the Little Company of Mary.

Bishop Bagshawe accepted this, insisting that two Sisters accompany her as her continuing poor health indicated she was possibly a dying woman.

Mother Mary (Potter) accompanied by Mothers Cecilia and Phillip left for Rome on 24 September 1882, ‘the whole scene of our departure in the midst of tears and lamentations.’ said Mother Cecilia.  ‘I remember Mother Mary’s words, ‘going they went and wept casting their seeds;  but coming they shall come with joyfulness carrying their sheaves’ (Psalm 126) ‘Yes’ Mother Mary said ‘Please God we shall return full of joy, carrying  the sheaves we have gathered.’  

Bishop Bagshawe thoughtfully wrote letters of introduction for the Sisters to take with them to assist their journey. A notable one among these was to Monsignor Luigi Macchi, Maestro di Camera to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII.

The long journey was fraught at times with great concern for Mother Mary’s fragile health. The Sisters were about to enter Rome, (10th October 1882) and Mother Cecilia recorded the moment, “I will never forget Mother’s joy, as from the train window she caught a glimpse of the Dome of St. Peter’s just after midday. She immediately left her seat- we had the carriage to ourselves- and on her knees returned thanks and adored God abiding under the mighty Dome.”  Mothers Phillip and Cecilia knelt down beside her and joined her in reciting the Magnificat.

Monsignor Macchi presented the three Sisters of the Little Company of Mary to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII and Mary Potter asked for a Blessing on their work, then they would return to England.  The Holy Father replied, “Why return? The doors of Rome are open to you.” 

The Sisters remained and set about the lengthy process of recognition by the Holy See for Papal approval.  In May 1886 Pope Leo XIII authorised the approbation of the Little Company of Mary for five years, declaring it an Institute of Pontifical Rite. The final Decree was granted in 1893.