Visit to Clare Priory

My dear Friends

It was with great delight and pleasure that I made my way down to Suffolk on Tuesday. Waiting at the other end for me was one of my favourite places: Clare Priory, an Augustinian foundation going back some 750 years.

Going on 2 buses was a bit of an adventure, but I no longer have the luxury of a car. But yes, there was a bus to Clare from Haverhill and that part of the journey only took me 20 minutes.

Clare is a lovely long village with quaint houses and shops, and a huge Anglican church (I met a lovely elderly lady doing the flowers there), high and spacious with a tremendous feeling of light.But my main objective was the Priory, where I was to spend one night. On the second bus I had met a fellow pilgrim, Michael, who was heading for the Priory too and on the way we stopped at the local hostelrie and had a drink and a chat.

Finally at the Priory we were made to feel very welcome and I felt especially privileged as they had given me a room in the Priory itself rather than in the guesthouse. My room, which had 3 beds in it(!) overlooked the front lawn with its beautiful trees all round with a short walk up to the river.The river is very special at this time of year, as 2 swans had just had a family of 6 grey fluffy cygnets and the ducklings were out in abundance too.

More tomorrow!

Shalom from
Sister Gila