London

The Society’s work in London started at 14 Gate Street, West Holborn in 1851. At the time, this area was home to Irish families seeking work in London. Sisters Alphonsa Kay, Francis Magdalen Miller, Helen Green, Stanislaus McDermott and Martha Wilkinson began their work teaching 232 girls in two classrooms battling with the noise of a nearby forge. By 1854, the SHCJ taught in two further London parish schools.

In 1875, the SHCJ established a boarding school at 13 Nottingham Place. They later moved to the place of their final school in London at 11, 12 and 13 Cavendish Square in 1890. When the dangers of Second World War ravaged London, the SHCJ were forced to shut the boarding school and evacuate the local parish school and teacher training college. The buildings were severely damaged after suffering a direct hit. As part of the repairs to the Cavendish Square School, College and Convent, a 'bridge' between the buildings was created and a stunning image of the Madonna and Holy Child by Jacob Epstein was commissioned. This striking sculpture remains at Cavendish Square today.

In 1969, the SHCJ were no longer able to facilitate either the school or college at Cavendish Square due to funding constraints. However, parents of the school’s pupils were determined to preserve the spirit of Cavendish Square and founded a new school, the Cavendish in 1970. Located in Camden, the school continues to educate girls from 3 to 11 today.

After leaving Cavendish Square, SHCJ had communities at Dean's Mews, Holland Villas Road, Barford Street and Batoum Gardens.  Their ministries including teaching in primary, secondary and further education as well as supporting poorer families, asylum seekers and others. London also became home to the ‘scholasticate’, a stage of formation for SHCJ sisters when they spent time in further education (normally studying education at Bedford College) and lived together. The last SHCJ community based in London disbanded in 2023, but they and generations of communities before them had each improved the lives of those living alongside them in this great city.