St Mary's Cambridge About the Senior School

More than 400 years ago, a young woman of great faith had a moment of extraordinary clarity that led to a radical idea – women should be free from religious enclosure and are by every right entitled to an education equal to that of a man.

Persecuted and even imprisoned for her beliefs, Mary Ward never wavered in her convictions, which ultimately led to the founding of the Mary Ward Order. The Order was eventually named the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or IBVM (now the Congregation of Jesus, or CJ). The IBVM Order went on to found a number of girls' schools, including St Mary's, Cambridge in 1898. Mary Ward's purpose, to serve the Church through the education of girls and women, has now spread to forty-four countries and all five continents.

Today, we are proud to continue our celebration of Mary Ward's extraordinary vision and courage – honouring her legacy through religious reflection within the wider community, recognition of contemporary female leaders and a renewed appreciation for the sacrifices that Mary Ward so willingly made for the benefit of future generations.

Events in the life of Mary Ward.

The Life of Mary Ward...in her own words.

The Congregation of Jesus in Cambridge

Mary Ward's sisters made a foundation in Cambridge from York in 1898. In 1904 they moved to Bateman Street on the present site of St. Mary's School. The site had previously belonged to Dr B.H. Kennedy, Regius Rrofessor of Greek in the University and an ardent supporter of higher education for women.

A community of sisters now live in Brookside. Members work within the local parishes, in hospital and prison chaplaincy providing spiritual direction. Sister Jane Livesey is Provincial Superior of the English Province of the Congregation of Jesus; former Headmistress of St Mary's Shaftesbury and Governor of St Mary's Cambridge. Three of the sisters of the Congregation of Jesus, sisters Amadeus Bulger, Helen Southcott and Gemma Simmonds have acted as assistant Catholic chaplain in the University of Cambridge.

The Congregation of Jesus was instrumental in the foundation of the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge in 1994. This is a Catholic higher education institute in the Cambridge Theological Federation specialising in theology, spirituality and leadership for lay ministry.

Additional Articles

Pioneering educator who challenged Rome
by Sr Jane Livesey, published in the Tablet, 24 January 2009

They are but Women
by Sr Gemma Simmonds, published in The Church Times, 23 January 2009

St Mary’s is proud to support CAFOD and the livesimply project. Click on the links below for more information.