大象传媒

"I don't have an output; I don't produce a widget," said Sister Victoria, one of the community of eight sisters at the Society of the Sacred Cross, the Anglican convent at Ty Mawr near Monmouth. There are no production targets here; instead the sisters are committed to the contemplative life - a daily round of services and silent prayer starting early in the morning and ending last thing at night with Compline. Although this is an enclosed order, the community feels connected to the outside world through prayer. But life at Ty Mawr is no cosy sinecure. As Mary Stallard discovers, this is a busy community with much else to do during the day, be it washing up, gardening or studying and reading.

During the programme we hear from all the sisters about the way of life they have chosen. We visit the chapel - the focal point for their communal worship and private prayer. We visit the garden - from where much of the produce for lunch is taken; a meal that's eaten in silence. We hear hymns and canticles sung to traditional plainchant. Sister Gillian Mary SSC reads some of her poetry taken from 'Tides of the Spirit' published by the convent.

This programme was first broadcast in September 2021.