29 October 2015, The Tablet

Called to the Bar

by Gemma Simmonds

 
Dazzling interactive displays in a new exhibition at England’s oldest living convent celebrate 400 years of struggle and achievement by the country’s unenclosed women Religious I t goes with the territory of being a Religious of the modern era, surrounded by family and friends with a quirky sense of humour, that I have a drawer full of nun jokes and paraphernalia. I have Nunzilla, dressed in a black-and-white habit similar to the one I once wore, furious frown on her face, ruler in hand and emitting sparks of anger as she marches towards her recalcitrant pupils. I have Racing Nuns, whom I once bowled down the stately marble corridors of our general headquarters in Rome, Flying Nun catapult figures, rag dolls, jigsaw puzzles and any number of funny nun cards.The thing about al
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