St. Mary at the Cross

The object of the Order is to build up a body of men and women who, accepting Christ as their Lord and Master, will seek to follow him in the way of renunciation and sacrifice as an act of witness and for the loving service of his brothers and sisters in the world.

(From the Principles of the Society of Saint Francis).

We who live here at Glasshampton belong to the Society of Saint Francis, an Anglican community following a call to the service of God in the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi.

We commit ourselves to God by taking the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Poverty does not mean that we have nothing at all, but rather that we try to live in simplicity of life and openness of heart, sharing both material and spiritual gifts in detachment and without personal ownership.

Chastity means that we commit ourselves wholly to God, living in celibacy and not marrying, seeking to devote all our energy to our relationship with Christ.

Obedience means that we try to follow the will of God, being prepared to give up our own will when necessary, seeking the common good in community life. Although both men and women belong to our Order, the sisters and brothers usually live in separate houses, and Glasshampton is one of the houses where the brothers live.