THIS IS FINDON — www.findonvillage.com  created by Valerie Martin, contains scenes from her home village of Findon, West Sussex, U.K.

A PRAYER IS ANSWERED IN FINDON

Nepcote Lane leads to the convent site — these were the autumn colours in 2003.

Copyright Valerie Martin 2003

Originally published in Along the Furlong in July 2003

In the Spring of 2003 I received an e-mail from Val Johnson with an interesting revelation concerning the Convent that once stood in Findon on the site of the present housing development, Convent Gardens. 

It seems that the religious house at Nepcote in Findon came to the rescue and answered a prayer in 1950 — and Val Johnson is the living proof......

 

8th April 2003.

Dear Valerie

My name is Val Johnson, I live in Chippenham, Wiltshire and I have lived here all of my life, I am 53 years of age.

My Aunt was very religious and undertook religious training at Findon.  She died about 6 years ago, but lived in her later years in the Lake District, Kendal.

I was married many years but have been divorced for 11 years now.  I am due to marry an American man towards the end of this year, he is part-time in the US Air Force and works as a Chaplains' Assistant, at the moment he is in a place near Afghanistan and he will be there until the end of July.  My soon-to-be second husband is a religious man, which would please my late Aunt.

My Aunt wrote to me about 15 years ago giving me a history of my birth.  In sorting out a cupboard tonight I found those papers.  She refers to "The Sisters of the Holy Cross at Findon".  My mother could not conceive a child many years ago and my Aunt asked for my parents' names to go on the intercessionary list for continuous prayers to be said for them by the nuns at the convent for my mother to bear a child.  This apparently was done and 9 months later I was born.

I have always been fascinated by this story and now that I am to marry a religious American I would like to research into this a little and visit Findon eventually.  In looking at the website I see that the convent no longer exists which is a great shame.

I know that my future husband is a great researcher and would love for us to visit this site. 

As I am marrying a religious man and my Aunt would have approved, I can only do her the honour of tracing through a little of her life.  I know that my fiance, Jeff, would enjoy this also.

I really do not know what end result I would like to achieve but in looking at the website your e-mail address appeared, hence this e-mail!

Are you able to tell me anything more of interest about the convent please?

I would love to hear from you.  Many thanks in anticipation of any help you can give.

Yours sincerely

Val Johnson

Val Johnson, Chippenham, Wiltshire.
 

In June 2003, I received this from Monica....

 

8th June 2003.

What a lovely story.

I have definitely heard someone say that they used to stay at the convent regularly, but I can't remember who.

Also my previous husband's grand parents, who lived in Worthing, used to take a cottage in Findon for the summer holidays, and I understand things were quite primitive. But unfortunately there is no-one alive now to verify or elaborate.

 

Monica Eastabrook, Findon Village, West Sussex.

 


 

click on image to enlarge

The Convent of the Holy Rood in Nepcote, Findon.    

I wonder who the young lady is?

Would anyone like to make a random guess at the date...... I would say 1950s or so..... what say you?

 

Continue if you would like to read a Requiem for Findon's Lost Convent.

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This is Findon Village — www.findonvillage.com is a continually growing record created by Valerie Martin exclusively for documenting life in Findon.

E-mail: valeriemartin@findonvillage.com