Introduction to the community
Founded as an educational order, the sisters have diversified their work in UK to include hospitality, retreats and spiritual direction, inner city involvement, preaching and mission, and development work overseas.
The Mother House is at St. Hilda’s Priory, Whitby. Other UK houses are in York, Dormanstown (near Redcar), Bishopsthorpe and Sleights (near Whitby).
The Order has had a long-standing commitment to Africa since 1926. Most of the work begun by the sisters has been handed over to local people who continue to run the projects. The Order has two houses in Ghana. In Jachie, Sister Aba runs an eye clinic. In Sunyani, Sister Mavis and Philomena make communion hosts, have a shop and run a vocational school teaching computer and crafts to girls who were unable to complete their education. Both houses still foster vocations to the Religious life.
Central to the Order’s life in all its houses are the Divine Office and Eucharist, and a strong emphasis on corporate activity.
Main house:
St Hilda’s Priory, Castle Road, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 3SL
Other houses in the UK:
3 Acaster Lane, Bishopthorpe, York, N Yorks YO23 2SA
Tel: 01904 777294
Email: ohpbishopthorpe@archbishopofyork.org
St Agnes Vicarage, 1 Broughton Avenue, Easterside, Middlesborough TS4 3PX
Tel: tbc
Email: sisteranita@btinternet.com
Houses in Africa:
Jachie, Convent of the Holy Spirit, PO Box AH 9375, Ahinsan, Kumasi Ashanti, GHANA, West Africa
Tel: 233 26 861 4521
Email: adedzewa2@gmail.com
Resurrection House, PO Box 596, Sunyani, Brone Ahafo, GHANA
Tel: 243 770 6840
Email: ohpjac@yahoo.com
Community information
Bishop Visitor: Most Revd John Sentamu, Archbishop of York
Publications
A Foundation Member, Fulfilled in Joy, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1964 (out-of-print).
Rosemary Howard-Bennett, I Choose the Cloister, Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1956 (out-of-print).
Rosalin Barker, The Whitby Sisters, OHP, Whitby, 2001.
Third Order, Fellowship, Associates
The OHP Tertiary Order is a fellowship of women and men, united under a common discipline, based on the OHP Rule, and supporting one another in their discipleship. Tertiaries are very ordinary Christians seeking to offer their lives in the service of Christ, helping the Church and showing love in action. They value their links with each other and with the Sisters of the Order, at Whitby and elsewhere, and when possible they meet together for mutual support in prayer, discussion and ministry. The Tertiary Order is open to communicant members of any Trinitarian Church.
The OHP Associates are friends of the Order who desire to keep in touch with its life and work while serving God in their various spheres. Many have made initial contact with the Sisters through a visit or parish mission, or via another Associate. All are welcome, married or single, clergy or lay, regardless of religious affiliation.
The Friends of OHP is a group open to men and women, of any religious affiliation or none, with an interest in OHP. The annual subscription of £10 includes a copy of the OHP newsletter and an invitation to an annual meeting.
Leadership
Prioress: Sister Jocelyn OHP
Assumed office 10 September 2019
Membership
Sister Janet
Sister Alison
Sister Anita
Sister Hilary Joy
Sister Grace
Sister Janet Elizabeth
Sister Dorothy Stella
Sister Caroline
Sister Heather Francis
Sister Erika
Sister Margaret Anne
Sister Mavis
Sister Linda
Sister Aba
Sister Karan
Sister Helen
11 Mar 2018 – Sister Marion Eva, aged 92, professed 45 years
12 Oct 2018 – Sister Olive, aged 92, professed 67 years
26 Jan 2019 – Sister Betty, aged 98, professed 52 years
8 Mar 2019 – Sister Carole, age 69, professed 33 years, Prioress 2015-2019
8 Mar 2020 – Sister Barbara Maude, aged 96, professed 71 years
31 Mar 2022 – Sister Margaret Elizabeth, aged 89, professed 53 years
24 Jul 2022 – Sister Benedicta, aged 84, professed 54 years
5 Jul 2024 – Sister Maureen Ruth, aged 97, professed 47 years
3 Nov 2024 – Sister Janette, aged 87, professed 59 years
