A historic diocesan cope, which dates to the 1660s and boasts a dramatic history, is to feature in a new book detailing the treasures of the Isle of Wight’s Carisbrooke Castle Museum.
The cope’s origins and story thereafter narrate a fascinating 17th-century tale of Catholic persecution in England and abroad. The book – entitled ‘100 Treasures and Curiosities from the Collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum’ – will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the museum by sharing the history of the Isle of Wight through 100 treasures and curiosities.
The diocesan treasure, known as the St Dominic’s vestment, features embroidery created by religious sisters who lived in a Belgian community founded by Father Philip Thomas Howard. The community was established for English Roman Catholic women who had a vocation to religious life when religious orders and communities were still prohibited in England.
In 1794, the sisters were forced to escape Belgium due to the outbreak of the French Revolution and so buried the embroidery vestment in Brussels, which they recovered 2 years later and managed to smuggle back to the UK, eventually making their home at Carisbrooke in 1866 in St Dominic’s Priory, which was built for them by the Dowager Countess of Clare.
To raise money for the project, the team at Carisbrooke Museum are launching a sponsorship drive, with Medina Publishing, encouraging people to sponsor an artefact of their choice.
Dr Rachel Tait, Curator of Carisbrooke Castle Museum said:
“I’m excited that this book will be an opportunity to share with the public the museum’s collection of beautiful and significant as well as quirky and intriguing objects, dating from prehistory to the present day and collected over the last 125 years.’’
Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth said:
“I was delighted to learn that a priceless piece of our diocesan heritage has been selected for this inspired project.
“The St Dominic’s vestment is steeped in history, reminding us of the courage and endurance of faithful Catholics in centuries past. This historic item gives us pause for thought, reflection, and thanksgiving.”
The enclosed community who lived at St Dominic’s Priory were sisters of the Order of Preachers, founded in the 13th century by the Spanish Saint Dominic Guzman. The sisters were the last community of Dominican nuns in Britain and the priory closed in 1989.
