Reference code: GB-0298-LC/A19
Title: Syon Abbey Papers
Dates of creation: 1601-1940
Extent: 7 files
Held by: Ushaw College Library
Origination: Lisbon College
Language: Portuguese, Latin and English
Syon Monastery (often referred to as Syon/Sion Abbey) was originally founded in the parish of Isleworth in 1415 to house the English Bridgettine Order of nuns. Following the English Reformation and the dissolution of monasteries by King Henry
VIII, the Order was expelled in 1539. Following a brief period of exile in the Netherlands, the Order returned to England following the accession of Queen Mary I in 1553 but was expelled again during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. They eventually
settled in Lisbon, Portugal, and developed a close association with the English College. In 1861, the community left Lisbon and returned to England, settling first in Spetisbury, Dorset, before moving to Chudleigh, Devon, in 1887. In 1925, they
moved to their current location near South Brent.
Papers concerning the English Bridgettine Order of nuns at Syon Abbey, Lisbon. These are mostly legal and financial papers, as well as post-1861 correspondence between the college and the abbey at its new home in England.
Lisbon College closed in 1973 and this collection, along with the rest of the Lisbon Archive and Library, was transferred to Ushaw College by Mgr James Sullivan the following year.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Lisbonian Society and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners,
but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological.
Calendared card catalogue
Syon Abbey PapersLC/A19/1-5 22 September 1601 - 12 June 1604
Language:
Latin
A. Bernardes's certificates of ordination:
Tonsure, 22 September 1601
1st and 2nd minor orders, 22 December 1601
3rd and 4th minor orders, 21 December 1602
Subdiaconate, 23 September 1603
Deacon, 12 June 1604
5 items
LC/A19/6 [?1610]
Language:
Portuguese
Petition by the English Mother Superior of the English Bridgettine nuns in Lisbon
2f
LC/A19/7 4 May 1623
Language:
Portuguese
Power of attorney involving J. Para
2f
LC/A19/8 28 March 1648
Language:
Latin
Dimissorials for George of St Catharine
2f
LC/A19/9 15 November 1650
Language:
Latin
Dimissorials for Fr Rupert of St Barbara
2f
LC/A19/10 29 March 1658
Language:
Latin
Note on triennial elections
Authenticated: 6 March 1674
2f
LC/A19/11 October 1662
Language:
English
Proforma for a power of attorney
2f
LC/A19/12-13 1665 - 1869
Language: English and Portuguese
Miscellaneous bills and receipts for Syon Abbey
2 files
LC/A19/14 [?1660 x 1669]
Language:
Portuguese
Order from the Mother Superior of the English Bridgettine nuns in Lisbon
2f
LC/A19/15 [?1670]
Language:
English
List of the names of sisters to be advertised in a public place in order to revive an ancient custom of saying Pater Noster for a lay sister
1f
LC/A19/16 7 March 1672
Language:
Latin
Nuncio's certificate of absolution from censure for Mary Colston, pupil of Marvilla Convent
1f
LC/A19/17 7 March 1676
Language:
Latin
Confirmatio Electionis Prioris Generalis, & Definitorum Ordinis Sanctissimi Saluatoris Vulgo S. Brigattæ. Clemens Papa Decimus.
4p
LC/A19/18 1676
Language:
English
Copy of two letters from Fr Simon Hermon, general of the Bridgettines, to the Lady Abbess of Sion in Lisbon, on the appointment of a new pope
2f
LC/A19/19 24 April 1698
Language:
Latin
Certificate of authentication for relics in a reliquary (including the intestine of St Domatis)
2f
LC/A19/20 12 July 1698
Language:
Portuguese
Permission [from Rome] to allow Ellen Morgan to be taken in on a reduced dowry
4f
LC/A19/21 [?1717]
Language:
Portuguese
Petition [to Pope Clement XI] for a confessor and a procurator
2f
LC/A19/22 4 October 1749
Language:
Latin
Certificate of authentication for relics (a bone of St Luke the Evangelist)
1f
LC/A19/23 19 March 1757
Language:
Portuguese
Petition by [?E.R.M.] to the King [Joseph I] seeking money to rebuild the chapel
2f
LC/A19/24 3 January 1765
Language:
Portuguese
Certificate of admittance for Mary Teresa Joyce as a choir sister
1f
LC/A19/25 10 April 1765
Language:
Portuguese
List of officers at Syon Abbey
2f
LC/A19/26 31 December 1766
Language:
Portuguese
Note by Vicente Gomes Sottomayor relating to the confessor
1f
LC/A19/27-28 5 October - 14 November 1768
Language:
Portuguese
Profession certificates for Helen Bride
2 items
LC/A19/29 17 December 1768
Language:
Portuguese
Visitation report [?for Syon Abbey]
2f
LC/A19/30 25 May 1774
Language:
Portuguese
Permission to enable Fr A. MacCormack O.P. to give confession
2f
LC/A19/31 8 April 1778
Language:
Portuguese
List of officers at Syon Abbey
1f
LC/A19/32 [?1780]
Language:
Portuguese
Draft petition for confirmation of officers
1f
LC/A19/33 15 March 1783
Language:
Portuguese
Permission for Magdalen Kenyon to return to England
1f
LC/A19/34 1 April 1784
Language:
Portuguese
Profession of Catherina Lather, Anna Byard and Anna Smith
2f
LC/A19/35 4 June 1784
Language: Portugese
Profession of Mary Wade
1f
LC/A19/36 15 July 1785
Language:
Portuguese
Profession of Isabel Ferns
1f
LC/A19/37 25 January 1786
Language:
English
Appointment of a Visitor
1f
LC/A19/38 11 March - 22 April 1788
Language:
Portuguese
Reception of Monica Greenway [Mary Cecilia Francas of St Jerome]
2f
LC/A19/39 22 November 1788
Language:
Portuguese
Letter of congratulations on the occasion of the consecration of the patriarch
1f
LC/A19/40 27 July 1790
Language:
Portuguese
Note by Thomaz [?]
2f
LC/A19/41 16 July 1795
Language:
Portuguese
Form of prayer for the health of the Queen and the Infanta
2f
LC/A19/42 [?18th century]
Language:
English
Manuscript entitled
“The eight, & last exercise of St. Ignatius”
p.1 -18
LC/A19/43 [?18th century]
Language:
Latin
Manuscript entitled
“De officio Confessoris Generalis”
2f
LC/A19/44 [?18th century]
Language:
Latin
Form of prayer, possibly for Syon Abbey
1f
LC/A19/45 16 November 1802
Language:
Latin
Section of a unidentified document
1f
LC/A19/46 5 April 1809
Language:
Portuguese
Note on arrangements for leaving the convent
1f
LC/A19/47-48 18 August 1824
Language:
English
Note on the life of Sister Mary Genevieve Roberts
With an additional copy
2f/11f
LC/A19/49 6 November 1833
Language: English and Portuguese
Statement by the abbess on the ownership of Syon Abbey
With a note in English authenticating the above statement
2f
LC/A19/50-53 11 August 1834
Language: English and Portuguese
Letter from Messrs Winstanley, [?Suffe] and Walsh to Lord Howard de Walden, British Envoy in Lisbon, protesting against attempts by the Portuguese government to take ownership of Syon Abbey
Enclosure: copy of a note on the history of the Order of St Bridget in Lisbon to justify English ownership
With an additional English and Portuguese copy
4 items
LC/A19/54 8 June 1850
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: discrepancies in the accounts, delivering a copy of Mr Cunan's
“Naufragi da Galera Tejo” to Rev John Walker to be sent on to D. Megiuel, and the ascent of the female aeronaut up the Praça dos Touros at Campa do S. Anna in the presence of the Queen and the royal family
2f
LC/A19/55 18 June 1850
Language:
English
Letter from R. North to Rev Thomas Barge: Miss Middlehurst's cheque
2f
LC/A19/56 22 June 1850
Language:
English
Letter from R. North to Rev Thomas Barge: Miss Middlehurst's cheque
2f
LC/A19/57 30 June 1850
Language:
English
Letter from [?the Mother Superior of Syon Abbey] to Rev Thomas Barge: Miss Smith's pension and Sister Theresa's poor health
2f
LC/A19/58 5 September 1850
Language:
English
Letter from Gradwell Pyke to Rev Thomas Barge: enclosing money on behalf of Sister Mary B. Eccles of Syon Abbey
2f
LC/A19/59 7 September 1850
Language:
English
Letter from Gradwell Pyke to Rev Thomas Barge: enclosing money on behalf of Sister Mary B. Eccles of Syon Abbey
2f
LC/A19/60 18 November 1850
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: discrepancies in the accounts, and the death of a Lisbon student
2f
LC/A19/61 14 December [1850]
Language:
English
Letter from R. North to Rev Thomas Barge: refusing to issue a power of attorney
2f
LC/A19/62 28 December 1850
Language:
English
Letter from R. North to Rev Thomas Barge: the purchase of stock on behalf of Mrs Charlotte Bergtholon Hearne (widow) and Miss Mary Clemantina Bergtholon (spinster), and refusing involvement with certain college pensions
2f
LC/A19/63 23 January 1851
Language:
French
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: payment of a pension
1f
LC/A19/64 18 February 1851
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: accounts, Bleasdale leaving for Australia, Mr Jones's torrid time on the mission, and a controversy surrounding an ordination
2f
LC/A19/65 3 June 1851
Language:
English
Letter from R. North to Rev Thomas Barge: suggesting he contacts Mr Pater of the Bank of England
2f
LC/A19/66 5 June 1851
Language:
English
Letter from Sister [?] to Rev Thomas Barge: enclosing a power of attorney
1f
LC/A19/67 25 July 1851
Language:
English
Letter from Sister Mary to [Rev Thomas Barge]: Sister Theresa's pension
2f
LC/A19/68 19 August 1851
Language:
French
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [Rev Thomas Barge]: the management of the convent
2f
LC/A19/69 23 August 1851
Language:
French
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: the management of the convent
1f
LC/A19/70 30 August 1851
Language:
French
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: financial matters
1f
LC/A19/71 28 November 1851
Language:
English
Letter from Edward Barnard to Rev Thomas Barge: accounts
2f
LC/A19/72 24 January 1852
Language: French
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: Miss Smith's accounts
1f
LC/A19/73 24 January 1852
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: Mrs Hearne's accounts
2f
LC/A19/74 19 February 1852
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: Mrs Hearne's accounts and other financial matters
1f
LC/A19/75 8 May 1852
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: Mrs Hearne's accounts
1f
LC/A19/76 28 May 1852
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: Mrs Hearne's accounts, and letters for Mr Forrest
1f
LC/A19/77 15 July 1852
Language:
English
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: Sister Teresa's accounts
1f
LC/A19/78 10 January 1853
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: the death of Edmund Winstanley
1f
LC/A19/79 25 January [?1853]
Language:
English
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: Miss Smith's accounts
1f
LC/A19/80 16 July 1853
Language:
English
Letter from the Mother Superior of the Convent of St Anne, Courtrai, to [?Rev Thomas Barge]: Sister Theresa's pension
1f
LC/A19/81 29 July 1853
Language:
English
Letter from Peter Baines to Rev Thomas Barge: Baines's appointment as president
2f
LC/A19/82 1 August 1853
Language:
English
Letter from Gradwell Pyke to Rev Thomas Barge: accounts for Syon Abbey
2f
LC/A19/83 1 November 1865
Language:
Portuguese
Letter from Syon Abbey to [?]: accounts
2f
LC/A19/84 3 November 1865
Language:
Portuguese
Letter from Syon Abbey to [?]: accounts
2f
LC/A19/85 6 November 1865
Language:
English
Deed from Mary Richmond, Lady Abbess of the Bridgettine Community of Syon House, Spetisbury, to Rev Peter Baines giving him power of attorney
6f
LC/A19/86 6 July 1917
Language:
English
Letter from [Syon Abbey, Chudleigh, South Devon] to Bishop [?]: on the disposal of the property [?in Lisbon] and mass obligations in England
2f
LC/A19/87 7 August 1917
Language:
English
Letter from Sister Theresa, abbess of Syon Abbey, to Very Rev John Cullen: asking him to manage their business affairs, and obligation masses
2f
LC/A19/88 11 October 1917
Language:
English
Letter from James V. Warwick to the Lady Abbess: advising her to write to Cullen
1f
LC/A19/89-90 16 - 17 October 1917
Language:
English
Letter from Sr Theresa to Rev John Cullen, enclosing a letter from Mgr Warwick to Sr Theresa, on arrangements for mass obligations
2 letters
LC/A19/91 19 November 1917
Language:
English
Letter from Sr Theresa to Rev John Cullen: arrangements for mass obligations, the college magazine, payment for a lamp, prayers for Lisbon College, and sending copies of Mgr Courtney's articles on Dante
2f
LC/A19/92 16 November 1921
Language:
English
Letter from Sr Theresa to Rev John Cullen, enclosing relevant documents, on the subject of Cullen's request for a power of attorney to draw the community money, as well as Cullen's petition to the government to allow him to pay a certain sum to
be freed from giving information relating to mass obligations, increase in the number of Lisbon College students, a paper pattern of the stole, information on Fr Allen's sister, Sr Mary Anthony Gomas, prayers for the college, the work of the
Catholic Evidence Guild in Plymouth and opposition from the Anglicans, and Fr Williamson's diary of his time as an army chaplain
6f
LC/A19/93 3 February 1922
Language:
English
Letter from [?] to Rev John Cullen, with enclosure, concerning power of attorney, mass obligations, expenses for the lamp, and Fr Francisco
2f
LC/A19/94 1 February 1926
Language:
Portuguese
Manuscript draft by John Cullen, probably relating to his power of attorney
2f
LC/A19/95 25 April 1940
Language:
English
Copy of letter by Mgr John Cullen to the Lady Abbess, Syon Abbey: a financial dispute over the mass obligations
1f
LC/A19/96 5 August 1940
Language:
English
Letter from Sr Theresa to Mgr John Cullen: a financial dispute over the mass obligations
2f
LC/A19/97 20 August 1940
Language:
English
Letter from Sister M. Dominic to Mgr John Cullen: the desire of the convent to have St Bridget as the patroness of Catholic Action
1f
LC/A19/98 4 November 1940
Language:
English
Letter from Sr Theresa to Mgr John Cullen: a financial dispute over the mass obligations, the deaths of Sisters Captain Coulston and Lieut. Fleetwood killed on active service, and the continuation of their normal routine in spite of the war
1f
LC/A19/99 30 November 1940
Language: English and Portuguese
Note by Mgr John Cullen, with extracts of letters from 1867 to 1916, on a financial dispute over the mass obligations
21f
LC/A19/100 [?1940]
Language:
English
Copy of the will of Ann Carter of Syon Abbey
2f
