Ethan Walker
The nuns in the BBC drama 'Call the Midwife' are Anglican, not Catholic. The series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with the nuns in Poplar, East London, in the 1950s. The nuns in the show are from the Community of St John the Divine in Alum Rock, Birmingham, which was founded in 1848 as a 'nursing sisterhood' and worked with Florence Nightingale. The community loaned the BBC prayer books to add authenticity to the production.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religious denomination | Anglican |
| Based on | The experiences of the Anglican sisters of the Community of St John the Divine |
| Location | Alum Rock, Birmingham |
| Time period | 1950s |
| Uniform | White wimples and long tabards |
| Notable nuns | Sister Margaret-Angela, Sister Christine, Sister Elaine, Sister Teresa, Sister Ivy, Sister Shirley, Sister Ruth, Sister Frances, Sister Catherine, Sister Mary Cynthia, Sister Hilda |
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What You'll Learn
The nuns in 'Call the Midwife' are Anglican, not Catholic
The nuns in the BBC drama Call the Midwife are based on the real-life Anglican sisters of the Community of St John the Divine in Birmingham, UK. The series is based on the experiences and memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with these nuns in Poplar, East London, in the 1950s. Worth's books inspired the show, and the nuns even loaned the BBC producers some prayer books for authenticity.
The Community of St John the Divine was founded in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood" and sent nuns to the Crimea to work with Florence Nightingale. The community was based in London's East End and then moved to Birmingham in 1976. The nuns were highly visible in their uniforms of white wimples and long tabards, which they tucked into their belts when riding their bikes and, later, mopeds. They were seen as a comforting presence at the two greatest events in people's lives: birth and death.
The show's protagonist, Jenny Lee, is a nurse who adjusts to life as a single woman in a convent full of nuns. She is middle class and must adapt to living and working in a neighbourhood marked by poverty and struggle. The nuns in the show are Anglican, not Catholic, and they wear full habits.
Sister Frances, who joins the order in the show, comes from a Methodist family and experiences a family rift when she announces she wants to join the Anglican order. Sister Catherine, played by Molly Vevers, comes from a non-religious family and her relatives are confused when she starts attending church.
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The show is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth
The show Call the Midwife is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, née Lee. Worth worked as a midwife and district nurse in the East End of London during the 1950s. She worked with the Sisters of St John the Divine, an Anglican community of nuns, to aid the poor. Worth's memoir, Call the Midwife, was published in 2002 and became a bestseller when it was reissued in 2007. The book is a collection of true tales of large, poverty-stricken families living in post-war London. Worth's powers of description, authenticity of detail, and richness of characterisation evoke an unforgettable milieu of Poplar and the London docklands of the mid to late 1950s.
The first episode of the television series Call the Midwife is dedicated to Worth's memory. In the series, a fictionalised version of Worth is played by Jessica Raine during the first three seasons, with Vanessa Redgrave providing the voice of the older Worth through narration. Worth's memoirs, along with their BBC adaptation, have had a lasting impact on public awareness of midwifery. Following the show's premiere, some programmes in the UK reported increased enrolment in midwifery training.
The book is set in Poplar, in the East End of London, where "Jenny Lee" (Worth’s maiden name) works as a midwife and district nurse, attached to a convent, Nonnatus House (a pseudonym for the Community of St. John the Divine, where Worth actually worked). The story is split between chapters describing individual mothers and their often traumatic deliveries, and more light-hearted incidents back at the convent. As well as the name of the convent, the names of the characters are generally pseudonymous, with the exception of Cynthia, who remained a close friend of Jennifer Worth's in later life.
The success of Call the Midwife led publishers to release many similar real-life stories about nurses, midwives, and life in the East End of London in the 1950s. Some writers acknowledged the inspiration they took from Worth’s writing. Duncan Barrett and Nuala Calvi, authors of The Sugar Girls, wrote that their "aim was to capture a lost way of life, just as Jennifer Worth had done", describing the midwife books as their "touchstone".
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The real-life nuns of the Community of St John the Divine served as consultants
The nuns of the Community of St John the Divine served as consultants for the BBC show "Call the Midwife". The community was founded in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood" working with Florence Nightingale in London's East End. The group is made up of seven Anglican sisters: Sisters Margaret-Angela King, Christine Hoverd, Teresa French, Elaine Knight, Ivy Patten, Shirley Hart, and Ruth Cooper.
The nuns start their day with personal prayer at 5:30 am, followed by breakfast, and then a morning service in the chapel. Their days are busy with visitors, meetings, one-on-one spiritual guidance, administration, gardening, sewing, baking, and volunteering. Each nun has one day off per week.
The sisters were consulted during the filming of "Call the Midwife" and received urgent calls about questions of dress or conduct. They also offered feedback after the show aired. For example, Sister Christine Hoverd commented on the disparity between the nuns' circumstances and the BBC’s income from their life stories. She also mentioned that while the show is a good reflection of their earlier lives, it is not 100% accurate.
The Community of St John the Divine has faced financial difficulties in recent years, with only five full-time members remaining as of 2021. They were forced to sell their community home in Birmingham due to the high cost of repairs and upkeep.
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The show depicts the joy and hardship the nuns experienced
The show Call the Midwife is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who worked with the Anglican nuns of the Community of St John the Divine in the 1950s. The nuns of this community served as consultants on the show, and their experiences inspired the series.
For example, Sister Christine, who joined the community in 1961 and worked as a midwife until 1990, said: "It was wonderful from the day I walked into the maternity hospital. Every birth is unique and so is every child. It was the most wonderful vocation to have."
Sister Margaret-Angela, who joined the community in 1964, said: "The show is definitely a realistic look at how life used to be like for us." The show also explores the challenges the community faced, such as adapting to the growth of the NHS in 1948 and the eventual end of their work in Poplar in 1978 due to the government's absorption of nursing work.
The show also portrays the nuns' personal journeys, such as Sister Frances, who came from a Methodist family and caused a rift when she announced she was joining an Anglican order. Despite being timid and naive, with a severe lack of confidence, Sister Frances finds her voice with the help of Sister Julienne.
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The nuns are a comforting presence at birth and death
The nuns in "Call the Midwife" are based on the real-life Anglican sisters of the Community of St John the Divine in Alum Rock, Birmingham, in the 1950s. The series is based on the experiences of these Anglican sisters and the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with them.
The nuns in the show are depicted as a comforting presence at the two most significant events in people's lives: birth and death. Their work in midwifery and nursing brought them joy, and they were highly visible in their community due to their uniforms. They rode their bikes and later mopeds, with their long tabards tucked into their belts.
The show portrays the hard times experienced by the nuns, but also the satisfaction they derived from their vocation. One of the nuns, Sister Christine, who joined the community in 1961 and worked as a midwife until 1990, expressed the uniqueness of every birth and child she attended to. She also highlighted the progress made in supporting women in distress. Sister Margaret-Angela, who joined the community in 1964, affirmed the show's realistic portrayal of their past lives.
The Community of St John the Divine was founded in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood." They worked with Florence Nightingale in London's East End and Birmingham, where they have been based since 1976. The show depicts the challenges the community faced in finding a new Mother House in the post-war years, with their main work concentrated in Hastings, where they ran a nursing home. Their work in London continued but had to adapt alongside the growth of the NHS in 1948. Eventually, their work in Poplar ended in 1978 due to the increasing absorption of nursing work into the government.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the nuns in Call the Midwife are Anglican.
Call the Midwife is a TV drama about a midwife working with nuns in London's East End in the 1950s.
Yes, the series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who worked with the Anglican nuns of St John the Divine in Poplar, London.
The nuns in the show are from the Community of St John the Divine, founded in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood".
The nuns in the show are named Sister Margaret-Angela, Sister Christine, Sister Elaine, Sister Teresa, Sister Ivy, Sister Shirley, and Sister Ruth.
