Sister Margaret Sinclair
Encyclopedia
Margaret Anne Sinclair a Scottish Roman Catholic nun
, was born in Middle Arthur Place, Edinburgh in a basement flat of a dilapidated tenement
block, the third of six children of Andrew, a dustman for Edinburgh City Corporation, and Elizabeth Sinclair. The family later moved to Blackfriars Street overlooking St. Patrick's church.
She was educated at St Anne's School, Cowgate
and went on to take a certificate in sewing, cooking and dress-making at the Atholl Crescent School of Cookery and Domestic Economy. At the same time, she worked as a messenger with a business firm in order to help support the two younger children in the family. From 1914 to 1918, she worked full time at Waverley Cabinet Works as an apprentice French polisher, and became an active member of her trade union. In 1918 the Cabinet Works closed down and she found work with McVitie's
Biscuit factory.
In 1923 she joined the Poor Clare Colettines at their convent
in Notting Hill
in west London where she took the religious name Sister Mary Francis of the Five Wounds. In London she worked seeking alms for her order and helping the poor. There she contracted tuberculosis
of the throat and died in 1925. She was buried at Kensal Green
in north west London, before being reinterred in 1927 at Mount Vernon, Liberton, Edinburgh. Her remains now lie in St. Patrick's Church in Edinburgh.
Over the years since her death, many cures and apparent miracles have been reported as a result of prayers to Margaret. For example, the mother of Sir Jimmy Savile
attributed
her son's recovery from a fall at the age of two years to prayers offered up after seeing a photograph of Margaret Sinclair in St. Anne's Cathedral, the Roman Catholic cathedral in Leeds
.
Margaret Sinclair was declared "Venerable" by Pope Paul VI
in 1978. The cause for her canonisation has persisted and, in relation to it, on 1 June 1982 Pope John Paul II stated: "I fully appreciate the aspirations of the Catholics of Scotland for that singular event to be realised and I know that you are praying that it may come about".
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
, was born in Middle Arthur Place, Edinburgh in a basement flat of a dilapidated tenement
Tenement
A tenement is, in most English-speaking areas, a substandard multi-family dwelling, usually old, occupied by the poor.-History:Originally the term tenement referred to tenancy and therefore to any rented accommodation...
block, the third of six children of Andrew, a dustman for Edinburgh City Corporation, and Elizabeth Sinclair. The family later moved to Blackfriars Street overlooking St. Patrick's church.
She was educated at St Anne's School, Cowgate
Cowgate
The Cowgate is a street in Edinburgh, Scotland, located about 5 minutes' walk from Edinburgh Castle, within the city's World Heritage Site. The street's name is derived from the fact that cows were herded down it for Edinburgh's market days in previous centuries .The street is part of the lower...
and went on to take a certificate in sewing, cooking and dress-making at the Atholl Crescent School of Cookery and Domestic Economy. At the same time, she worked as a messenger with a business firm in order to help support the two younger children in the family. From 1914 to 1918, she worked full time at Waverley Cabinet Works as an apprentice French polisher, and became an active member of her trade union. In 1918 the Cabinet Works closed down and she found work with McVitie's
McVitie's
McVitie's is a snack food brand owned by United Biscuits. The name derives from the original Scottish biscuit maker, McVitie & Price, Ltd., established in 1830 on Rose Street in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm moved to various sites in the city before completing the St...
Biscuit factory.
In 1923 she joined the Poor Clare Colettines at their convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
in Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
in west London where she took the religious name Sister Mary Francis of the Five Wounds. In London she worked seeking alms for her order and helping the poor. There she contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
of the throat and died in 1925. She was buried at Kensal Green
Kensal Green
Kensal Green, also referred to as Kensal Rise is an area of London, England. It is located on the southern edge of the London Borough of Brent and borders the City of Westminster to the East and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to the South....
in north west London, before being reinterred in 1927 at Mount Vernon, Liberton, Edinburgh. Her remains now lie in St. Patrick's Church in Edinburgh.
Over the years since her death, many cures and apparent miracles have been reported as a result of prayers to Margaret. For example, the mother of Sir Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile
Sir James Wilson Vincent Savile, OBE, KCSG was an English disc jockey, television presenter and media personality, best known for his BBC television show Jim'll Fix It, and for being the first and last presenter of the long-running BBC music chart show Top of the Pops...
attributed
her son's recovery from a fall at the age of two years to prayers offered up after seeing a photograph of Margaret Sinclair in St. Anne's Cathedral, the Roman Catholic cathedral in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
.
Margaret Sinclair was declared "Venerable" by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
in 1978. The cause for her canonisation has persisted and, in relation to it, on 1 June 1982 Pope John Paul II stated: "I fully appreciate the aspirations of the Catholics of Scotland for that singular event to be realised and I know that you are praying that it may come about".
External links
- Margaret Sinclair b. 1900 at sinclair.quarterman.org
- Margaret Sinclair - a cine film has been discovered showing Margaret at www.rosslyntemplars.org.uk
- Independent Catholic News at www.indcatholicnews.com
- Welcome to St Patricks at www.stpatricksparish.co.uk