Mary Ward Day - celebrating four centuries of women's rights to education

On Friday 23 January, we celebrated the birthday of Mary Ward, the 17th-century pioneer who paved the way for women’s right to education. She would have been 441.

Born in Yorkshire, with the unshakeable belief that “in time, women would come to do much”, she opened her first school for girls in 1609, in an era of religious upheaval, suppression and severely limited opportunities for girls.

Her courage came at great personal cost. Mary Ward was imprisoned as a heretic, risked exposure to the plague and was eventually excommunicated from her beloved Church for sticking steadfastly to her beliefs. Beliefs that would go on to shape the education of women for generations.

In the four centuries since her death, more than 200 schools have opened across the world in her name, providing girls with the opportunity to flourish, grow in confidence and believe in themselves and their potential.

Each year, the community that is St Mary’s School, Cambridge unites to appreciate and celebrate the legacy of unique opportunities that she afforded to women, even when those same opportunities were not necessarily available to her.

Alumnae, current and former staff, students and the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus – one of two congregations founded through the work of Mary Ward – gathered together to mark this significant day in our school calendar. The occasion also provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate the lives of two former Headmistresses, Sr Patricia Harriss CJ (Dominica), and Sister Christina Kenworthy-Brown CJ as well as marking 50 years of religious life and service by Sr Jane Livesey CJ and Sr Gemma Simmonds CJ, both treasured members of our school community.

After a whole-school Mass, led by Fr Tony Rogers, students enjoyed birthday celebrations with games, cakes and sweets. We were delighted to see many alumnae return – particularly from the years when Sr Patricia (Dominica) and Sister Christina were their headmistresses – and together we enjoyed cake (alumnae already know there is always cake at St Mary’s!) in honour of Sr Jane and Sr Gemma.

From our inception in 1898, St Mary's School, Cambridge has offered an exemplary education based on the values of Mary Ward - of freedom, truth, justice, love and joy - values that remain as key to our success today as they were to the girls in that first school, in 1609.

Photos from the day.

January 2026