Michael Brooks
The nuns in Call the Midwife are not Catholic; they are Anglican and part of the Church of England. The series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with these nuns in Poplar, East London, in the 1950s. The real-life Nonnatus House is now in Birmingham, and the nuns are from the Community of St. John the Divine, founded in 1848 as a nursing sisterhood working with Florence Nightingale.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Religion | Anglican |
| Based on | Memoirs of Jennifer Worth |
| Real-life inspiration | Sisters of St. John the Divine |
| Location | London's East End, then Birmingham since 1976 |
| Year founded | 1848 |
| Type of order | Nursing sisterhood |
| Current location | Marston Green, Solihull, England |
| Sister Frances's background | Grew up in a Methodist family |
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What You'll Learn
The sisters are Anglican, not Catholic
The nuns in Call the Midwife are Anglican, not Catholic. The BBC television series, which first aired in 2012, 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. Worth's memoirs, known as the Call the Midwife trilogy, were inspired by her experiences with the Community of St. John the Divine, an Anglican religious order of nuns within the Church of England.
The Community of St. John the Divine was founded in London in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood" working with Florence Nightingale. The order was renamed the "Sisters of St. Raymond Nonnatus" in Worth's books and the subsequent television series. In the show, the nuns are based at Nonnatus House, and their outfits differ from those of Catholic nuns. For example, they wear white wimples and long tabards, which they tuck into their belts when riding their bikes or mopeds.
The Anglican order depicted in Call the Midwife is shown to have a significant amount of contact with non-religious midwives and nurses, reflecting the real-life experiences of the Community of St. John the Divine. The community was highly visible and well-known in Poplar due to their distinctive uniforms. The show also portrays the joy and hardship experienced by the nuns in their work, which is supported by the real-life nuns' accounts of their time in London's East End.
One of the characters in the series, Sister Frances, joins an Anglican order despite growing up in a Methodist family, causing a rift with her parents. This storyline reflects the real-life experiences of the nuns, as Sister Frances' character is inspired by Sister Teresa, one of the nuns from the Community of St. John the Divine.
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The show is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth
The popular BBC/PBS television series Call the Midwife is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth (nee Lee). Worth's trilogy of books describes her work as a district nurse and midwife in the East End of London during the 1950s.
Worth was inspired to write her memoirs after reading a 1998 article in the Midwives Journal, which suggested that someone should do for midwives what James Herriot’s All Creatures Great and Small had done for veterinarians. Worth's first volume of memoirs, Call the Midwife, was published in 2002. The book became a best-seller when it was reissued in 2007. Worth wrote the book by hand and sent it to Terri Coates, who later served as an advisor on the books and the TV adaptation.
The TV series, which first aired in 2012, is based on Worth's experiences in Poplar, London, in the late 1950s. 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. The show's premiere increased enrolment in midwifery training in the UK and boosted sales of Worth's books.
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Worth worked with the Community of St. John the Divine
The Community of St. John the Divine (CSJD) is an Anglican religious order of nuns within the Church of England. It was founded in London in 1848 and is now based in Marston Green, Solihull, England. The community was originally a nursing sisterhood that worked with Florence Nightingale in London's East End. In 1976, the community relocated to Birmingham.
The CSJD was the inspiration for the book and television series "Call the Midwife", written by Jennifer Worth (nee Lee). Worth worked with the community in the 1950s, and her experiences formed the basis for the stories in the book and television series. In the book, the community is named "Sisters of St. Raymond Nonnatus."
The nuns of the Community of St. John the Divine served as consultants for the "Call the Midwife" television series. They provided input on the accuracy of costumes, loaned their prayer books, and shared photographs to ensure the programme was as realistic as possible. Sister Margaret-Angela King, who joined the community in 1964, commented that the show is a realistic portrayal of how life used to be for them.
The community has offered space for prayer, contemplation, and retreat, hosting 1,600 people in 2014. However, in recent years, the number of full-time members has dwindled to five, making it challenging to maintain their community home financially.
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The sisters are from the Community of St. John the Divine
The nuns in the BBC television drama Call the Midwife are from the Community of St. John the Divine, an Anglican religious order of nuns within the Church of England. The community was founded in London in 1848 as a "nursing sisterhood" working with Florence Nightingale in London's East End. The nuns then moved to Birmingham in 1976, where they have been based since.
The Community of St. John the Divine was the inspiration for the nuns and the setting of Call the Midwife. The show is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with the nuns in Poplar, East London, over 60 years ago. Worth wrote about her work with the order in her Call the Midwife trilogy, in which the order was named "Sisters of St. Raymond Nonnatus".
The sisters from the Community of St. John the Divine who were consulted for the show include Sisters Margaret-Angela King, Christine Hoverd, Teresa French, Elaine Knight, Ivy Patten, Shirley Hart, and Ruth Cooper. These sisters loaned the production crew prayer books and shared photographs to ensure the programme was as realistic as possible.
Sister Christine Hoverd, who joined the Community of St. John the Divine in 1961, worked as a midwife, cycling to deliver babies in Poplar and Bow. She described her ministry as a midwife and trainer as a "wonderful vocation", although she also mentioned that it was a difficult time due to the lack of help available for women.
The Community of St. John the Divine has faced financial difficulties in recent years, with the remaining five sisters being forced to sell their community home in 2021 as they could no longer afford the repairs and upkeep.
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Sister Frances joins an Anglican order, upsetting her Methodist family
The nuns in the BBC television adaptation "Call the Midwife" are Anglican and not Catholic. The series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, a lay midwife who lived and worked with these nuns in Poplar, East London.
Sister Frances, a novice and newly qualified midwife in her early 20s, grew up in a Methodist family in Harrogate. Her parents were deeply saddened when she announced her decision to join an Anglican order at a young age, sparking a family rift. Her father, an insurance salesman, provided a comfortable life for the family. Despite the family turmoil, Sister Frances pursued her calling and attended a local grammar school. She then enrolled in a Nursing/Midwifery course upon graduating from high school.
Before joining Nonnatus House, Sister Frances worked in the orphanage at the Mother House. She is described as timid and naive, eager to please, and obedient to the Order. Despite her lack of confidence, Sister Frances finds her voice with the guidance of Sister Julienne, a caring and practical mentor who mediates between her fellow sisters.
Sister Frances joins Nonnatus House as a health visitor, working alongside Sister Julienne and the rest of the medical team. She brings happiness and heartbreak to the grimy streets of London's East End, capturing the imagination of millions of viewers. The real-life Nonnatus House is now in Birmingham, and the seven remaining nuns of this small Anglican order embrace their newfound fame.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the nuns in Call the Midwife are Anglican, within the Church of England. Sister Julienne confirms this in the first episode.
The Community of St. John the Divine (CSJD) is an Anglican religious order of nuns within the Church of England. It was founded in London in 1848 and is now based in Marston Green, Solihull, England.
The nuns from the Community of St. John the Divine in Alum Rock, Birmingham, inspired the BBC drama Call the Midwife. The nuns are Sisters Margaret-Angela King, Christine Hoverd, Teresa French, Elaine Knight, Ivy Patten, Shirley Hart, and Ruth Cooper.
Yes, there are Catholic characters in Call the Midwife. For example, Pupil Midwife Anne "Nancy" Noble is an Irish midwife in training from Cork delivered to Nonnatus House by two Catholic nuns. Additionally, Sister Hilda, a new nun at Nonnatus House, attended a Catholic boarding school.
