The Community of St John the Divine Is to Leave Alum Rock

One of the most distinctive Alum Rock institutions will be saying farewell to the area in late spring 2016. After 40 years in its Grade II listed home at the junction of Moat House Road and Alum Rock Road, the Community of St John the Divine is leaving for a new home in Marston Green, a few miles further East of Birmingham.

This Anglican order of sisters was founded in London in 1848 and moved to Alum Rock in 1976. The Community’s work in London inspired the writer of the books on which the popular BBC TV series Call the Midwife is based.

Sister Margaret Angela, one of the long-standing community members, summarised the reason for leaving as practical: a large building with 20 rooms is no longer viable for the remaining five sisters to run. As she put it, “our stewardship of this house has come to a natural conclusion”.

Sister Margaret took the opportunity to reflect on 40 years offering a “ministry of hospitality” to those seeking spiritual direction, as well as a welcome space of contemplation and reflection.  In recent times between 1200 and 1600 people a year have passed through the Community’s doors. Sister Margaret made a point of highlighting the cordial relationships the Community has enjoyed with local residents from a variety of backgrounds. 

Many local residents may also remember Ruth Cooper who was based with the Community of St John the Divine until continuing her spiritual journey with a move to a contemplative Benedictine community in South East England.

The building – part of which dates back to 1700 – and the accompanying chapel with its subtly spiritual stained glass interior and adjoining cloister will remain in religious use.

The whole site is being sold to Interserve International, a global Anglican missionary society who plan to use the spaces to accommodate visiting members and as a base for local outreach work, possibly in conjunction with other organisations.

As for the sisters themselves, their new home in Marston Green has nine bedrooms offering a more realistic balance between the accommodation they need for themselves, and the facility for the sisters to continue to offer spiritual direction, albeit on a one-to-one basis.

The holiness and wisdom of the Community of St John the Divine will still be at work in the world.