Society of the Holy Cross (SHC)

The community was founded on the feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in 1925 by the Rt Revd Mark Trollope, the third English bishop of the Anglican Church in Korea, admitting Postulant Phoebe Lee and blessing a small traditional Korean style house in the present site of Seoul. The Community of St Peter, a Nursing Order in Woking, Surrey, England, sent eighteen Sisters as missionaries to Korea between 1892 and 1950, who nourished this young community for a few decades. Sister Mary Clare CSP, who was the first Mother Superior of this community, was persecuted by the North Korean communists and died during the ‘Death March’ in the Korean War in 1950. This martyrdom especially has been a strong influence and encouragement for the growth of the community.


Our spirituality is based on a modified form of the Augustinian Rule harmonized with the Benedictine one. Bishop Mark Trollope, the first Visitor, and Sister Mary Clare CSP compiled the Divine Office Book and the Constitution & Rule of the Community. The activities that are being continuously practised even now include pastoral care in parishes, running homes for elderly people and those with learning difficulties, conducting Quiet Days, and offering people spiritual direction.

We run spiritual prayer meetings and a programme of healing Mandala workshops, with painting weekly or fortnightly throughout year, for those who want to improve their life of faith. We lead Ignatian Contemplation Prayer, Lectio Divina, Centering Prayer, Rosary, Way of the Cross, Silence Prayer and Meditanz (Sacred Circle Dance). We also have a programme of “A day in Religious Life” and weekend Retreats for individuals and groups.

A branch house in Myanmar was opened on February 24, 2020 in Yangon. There has not been an Anglican convent in Myanmar before, so this is a significant development. Four Sisters (Prisca, Anna, Esther and Mary) opened the house, beginning with introducing the Religious life to the churches and congregations. In addition, to encourage the spiritual life of congregations, the Sisters have taught various prayer methods and conducted regular prayer meetings.

The Sisters have a monthly visit to the families of people with disabilities, the elderly, orphans, refugees, and the victims of war to deliver the rice and oil needed for prayer and life.

In the future, there is a plan to open children’s study rooms in order to provide education and meals to children in poor areas who receive insufficient care, so as to help them grow in better health.