Catholic Women's League 120th Anniversary celebrations

Margaret Fletcher

The Catholic Women's League will celebrate their 120th anniversary on 1st August with a special Jubilee Mass at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair, followed by a talk on their founder and a lunch for CWL members.

The Catholic Women's League (CWL) unites and empowers women to nurture faith, build friendships and serve local and global communities. Members are active and fundraise for charities, enable parish clergy, coordinate social activities and represent a collective Catholic voice on social and moral issues.

The CWL has a long and proud history which began with our Founder, Margaret Fletcher (1862-1943). Margaret, the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, was born in Oxford in 1862. The late 19th century was an exciting time for women with improved educational opportunities for girls. At 17, Margaret studied at the Slade School of Art, Oxford, and continued her studies in Paris, living with other students and nationalities, discussing life, religion and politics.

A deeply religious woman, Margaret never blindly accepted what she was taught. After reading the writings of St John of the Cross she decided to become a Catholic. A priest friend sent her to the Jesuit church in Farm St, London, where she was received into the faith on September 9, 1897. Returning to Oxford, she was active in parish work and met Mary Miller, who was doing research on Catholic secondary education for girls. Mary told Margaret how impressed she was by a newly founded Catholic organisation in Germany. After many discussions on the topic of education, Margaret obtained permission from Cardinal Bourne and launched a new quarterly publication, The Crucible, with the aim of rousing the interest of teachers and schools to improve social education for women. The Crucible ran for eight years, and in one of its last issues proposed forming a league of Catholic women. Margaret felt that Catholic women would have a great responsibility in the future and that they must be organised not only in England but throughout the world.

In 1906 a national Catholic conference was held in Brighton, and permission was given to distribute a pamphlet about the proposed league. From then on things moved steadily forward. Margaret Fletcher became president and Ada Streeter agreed to act as secretary. In the choice of members, Margaret Fletcher insisted that the League needed women with "balanced common sense", and that they should "utilise the average woman in convincing the Catholic world that business-like methods and intellectual gifts are excellent weapons in the service of God".

120 years later the Catholic Women's League continues in England and across the Globe. You are welcome to come to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, London, on Saturday 1st August. Mass will be celebrated at 12.30pm.

All welcome for Holy Mass followed by a talk about the founder of the CWL Margaret Fletcher. Pre-booked Lunch available for CWL members.

LINK

Catholic Women's League: https://catholicwomensleaguecio.org.uk/