Cloister Cats. Richard Surman
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in this country. One of the monks at Glenstal Abbey commented wryly to me that ‘Monks need cats, to remind them not to be catty’. In some communities, particularly those with nursing or care activities, their cats have brought great pleasure to the sick and the elderly. Oscar, at St John’s in Oxford, even gets to ride on an elderly lady’s electric wheelchair, to the delight of the all the residents. There is no rule that forbids a moment’s happiness, and for many people, the opportunity to stroke a cat, to spend a moment playing with one of these graceful and quixotic creatures, is an opportunity to take a moment out of the rough and tumble of everyday life, be it in monastic or secular surroundings.
The sign on the library door at Alnmouth Priory
Finding the cats portrayed in this book wasn’t easy. By definition they were not well-known, and I am grateful to the many people who gave me leads and suggestions that sometimes did, and sometimes didn’t, lead to discovering a cloister cat. There are many others whose help with this book was invaluable, in particular my editors Ian Metcalfe and Fiona Tucker at Collins, and my wife Blanca, without whose encouragement, and patience with my frequent absences, I could not have completed Cloister Cats. Finally I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to all the communities featured, for the kind and warm hospitality that was invariably extended to me.
Brother Pascal, the Guardian of Alnmouth Friary, summed up the spirit of Cloister Cats, in his account of the two Friary cats Agnes and Clare:
‘For 35 years Alnmouth Friary has been giving food and shelter to homeless men, “wayfarers” as we still call them in the Order, so it was natural for us to welcome Clare and Agnes, two rejected homeless kittens, into our midst! These two sisters, half Siamese, were “rescued” from life “on the road”.’
Society of St Francis, Alnmouth Friary
‘May Thou be praised, my Lord, with all Thy creatures.’
From The Canticle of Brother Son, St Francis of Assisi
HISTORY
Alnmouth Friary was given to the Franciscan Friars in 1961. A rambling, late Victorian building set in extensive gardens, it overlooks Alnmouth village and the wild beauty of the Northumbrian coast. The surrounding area is steeped in early Christian history: St. Cuthbert was elected bishop here, and just up the coast lies the holy island of Lindisfarne.
The Northumberland coastline is dramatic and beautiful, but Brother Edward, who has been at the friary since its founding, told me that the climate varies from Mediterranean at best to Arctic rather too often – and he vividly remembers the bitter cold of the early days, when the friars slept on the floor in a house that had become near-derelict.
For many years the friary maintained the tradition of giving food and shelter to homeless men, known to the Franciscans as ‘wayfarers’; these days, the friars offer hospitality, retreats and day visits to those who want time out from the pressures of the outside world, and annually receive over a thousand staying guests, and many more who visit for the day. With such a tradition of hospitality and shelter-giving, it was only natural for the friars to welcome into their midst two homeless half-Siamese kittens. They were named after St Clare of Assisi and her sister, St Agnes of Assisi, two great followers of St Francis, who lived the contemplative life in the cloister of San Damiano in Assisi.
Clare, who died two years ago, was very much the ‘Abbess’ and had a very definite presence, but she was also very trusting and affectionate and would hop onto any lap, willing or unwilling. ‘Here I am,’ she would insist, ‘this is what you have been waiting for.’ But she was always appreciative of those who held doors open for her, and would show her thanks with little purrs and noises. Both brothers and guests would ‘melt’ in her presence and to tired and stressed retreatants her presence would help them unwind and relax.
Clare also had an appetite sufficient for both cats; cake was her abiding passion, and she’d turn seductive blue eyes on anyone who was about to tuck into a piece of homemade cake. The brothers took to warning guests that they had two options with a slice of cake: eat it quickly, or lose it. But above all she was good company, and would run to greet the brethren, tail hoisted and hooked in enthusiastic greeting, as they returned from work. Brother Paschal, the Guardian of the friary, found her a wonderful companion at times of stress or worry.
Agnes is a shyer cat, and the general opinion is that she was overshadowed by Clare. Clearly Clare was more energetic: she was a good soccer player, while Agnes likes extremes of comfort, lolling around on chairs, disappearing up the sleeves of brothers’ habits, making surprise appearances on guests’ beds. She also surprises guests and brothers alike, as she will often slip into a room, settle down to sleep unseen, then wake up the hapless occupant of the room at about 3am with an imperious tap of her paw in order that the door can be opened to let her out.
There are other possible causes for Agnes’s reticence, and one of them has to do with Dexter, a bouncing Norfolk terrier who belongs to Stephen, a volunteer and highly gifted gardener. Dexter normally keeps watch in the drive, placing himself in the centre of the driveway, wagging his tail wildly at cars that are vainly trying to get past. Dexter has a trick up his sleeve: he has discovered Agnes’s cat flap. Poor Agnes – no wonder she’s a bit reticent about using use her cat flap, as she often finds Dexter’s head poking through it, panting eagerly at her. Since Clare’s sad demise, Agnes has shown a desire to be more centre stage; one Easter Brother Paschal was drawing breath to sing the Magnificat, when Agnes hopped up beside him, and mewed loudly.
Like Clare before her, Agnes waits outside the kitchen, knowing never to cross the line with a paw, but she is much more picky with her food. And she follows the brothers around, sitting on their work when they are trying to write at the desk. Her disconcerting habit of walking on the phone, thus cutting people off mid-call, is the only habit that is vigorously discouraged. St Francis used to call all creatures his ‘Brother’ or ‘Sister’, and Brother Paschal reflects that ‘Here in this Franciscan Friary we know this to be a living reality, and Clare and Agnes have helped us to rejoice and delight in all God’s creatures’.
Clare does not like closed windows or doors
In the friary garden
Anglican Order of St Benedict, Alton Abbey
‘As cellarer of the monastery let there be chosen from the community one who is wise, of mature character, sober, not a great eater, not haughty, not excitable.’
From the Rule of St Benedict
HISTORY
Alton Abbey, an Anglican Benedictine monastery, is an architectural gem set discreetly amidst the beech woods of Hampshire. Originally its purpose was to care for retired merchant seamen – the community came about through the missionary work of Father Charles Hopkins among merchant seamen in foreign ports; its work is now centred on prayer, running retreats, giving lectures, baking bread and the manufacture of incense.
The