Mayfield Girls School: Nun buried in 1879 could be dug up

The Venerable Mother Cornelia Connelly, who died in 1879, was interned beneath the walls of a chapel at Mayfield Girls School in West Sussex - which she founded in 1872.

The nun, who is being considered for sainthood, was also the founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, which now wants part of her body removed so it can be kept in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia - the city where she was born in 1809.

But many catholics, including former pupils, have fought back against the plans which they have branded "unimaginable" and "grossly abhorrent".

The Society of the Holy Child Jesus, which has the backing of Cornelia Connelly's living relatives, intends to dig into the ground below the cathedral wall where she is buried - causing more fears the 14th century Grade-I listed structure will be damaged.

Plans from a new tomb on the Philadelphia cathedral's website

Distressed worshipers have also been angered by the publication of plans on the Philadelphia Cathedral's website before anyone at the school was informed about the idea.

Some also accuse the Society of the Holy Child Jesus of going against Cornelia Connelly's own wishes to be buried at Mayfield.

Catholic Historic Churches, which handles applications to alter places of worship which are exempt from normal planning rules because of their religious nature, has already received over 120 objections.

Meanwhile, a petition has garnered more than 1,300 signatures.

The petition's creator, Cesca Sims, said: “I, like thousands of girls and women before me, went to Mayfield and worshipped in that Chapel.

"I like many many others posted our private intercessions on tiny scraps of paper and placed them around Mother Connelly's effigy.

“I simply cannot see what is to be gained by this treating of a Venerable woman like a commodity.

"In an age when so many are struggling simply to survive, Cornelia herself, perhaps would feel that the colossal amount of money and effort needed would be best spent elsewhere.”

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In one letter of protest, a former pupil wrote: “Such a proposal blatantly contravenes Mother Connelly's wishes for her body to remain at Mayfield, as foundress of the School, which itself continues to stand as an active emblem of her life's work.

“Without Cornelia Connelly, the Mayfield Chapel - whose historical significance is acknowledged through a Grade 1-listing - would not exist today, as she was uniquely responsible for driving the building's architectural reconstruction forward from its previous state of dereliction.

"Her body is therefore now part of the intangible heritage of the building being part of the meaning of the Foundation which she created around the Chapel.

"It would seem that the proposal is highly incompatible with current times, where the long-term impact of Covid-19 continues to drive many Catholic organisations to prioritise supporting the needs of disadvantaged people all over the world - rather than focusing on unnecessary and expensive projects - something Cornelia Connelly would herself encouraged, as engendered in her motto: ‘Actions Not Words’.”

Protestors are joined by David Pinnegar, the restorer of Hammerwood Park near East Grinstead - also Grade 1 listed - which was built the same man who built the USA's first Roman Catholic Cathedral, Benjamin Henry Latrobe.

A petition has been started to try and challenge the decision

In a letter of protest, Mr Pinnegar wrote: “Whilst Our Lord himself defended Mary Magdalene's action in expenditure of expensive oil to anoint his feet in the light of the plight of the needy, in this Covid year history will not look kindly upon His Catholic followers expending significant sums digging up and robbing the grave of one of his devotees to fly across the pond unimaginable.

"Cornelia's bones, her body, her remains, are in the physical foundation of the building.

"As such they are part of the physical building and were so when the building was listed Grade 1. As such her body is part of the building as a matter of law and to which legal protection is appropriate as part of the heritage.

“For any part of her to be removed from her resting place in her Chapel would represent a change of character of the listed building as a matter of law, and be grossly abhorrent in terms of preservation of any historical site."

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But, despite backlash, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus has defended the plan.

A spokesperson said: “It is a practice of the Catholic Church that the body of a person being considered for sainthood should be moved to enable veneration by the faithful.

“It is hoped that her remains will provide an important focus for veneration at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, the place of her birth.

"Remains would also be retained at Mayfield School, continuing the long tradition of the veneration of the foundress by Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus, members of the school community and others who come to the chapel for prayer.

"We are saddened by any pain and upset this move causes. The society believes that by being in the cathedral, alongside Saint Katherine Drexel, another Philadelphia founder, Cornelia’s life, legacy and our charism will have the potential to be recognised, seen and shared by a larger number of people, allowing a greater spotlight on her work and cause for canonisation.”

Mayfield School is an independent day and boarding school for girls in East Sussex

Speaking on behalf of Cornelia’s family, Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi, great-grandson of her son Frank, said: “As descendants of Cornelia, we are humbled by the extraordinary legacy that she has left us and the international interest in progressing her work and her canonisation.

"We admire the impact that Mayfield and the Holy Child Jesus Schools have had for the last 175 years and are convinced these schools can provide much more to girls in the UK and around the globe.”

The society stated that the exhumation would be carried out “prayerfully with dignity and respect”, at a time that is appropriate to the life of the school, while ensuring the appropriate care is given both the remains of Cornelia Connelly and the fabric of the chapel.

A licence has already been granted by the Ministry of Justice and application has been lodged with Wealden District Council and Historic Catholic Churches for an opening to be made below ground level in the side wall chapel at Mayfield School, through which the coffin of Mother Cornelia would be extracted and returned.

Any objections have to be notified before 4 March.