The Society of St Francis

The Franciscan brothers who arrived in Cambridge in 1939 served at St Bene't's from 1945 until October 2005, and are members of The Society of St Francis, an Anglican religious order founded in Dorset early in the last century. They live under religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and follow the tradition of St Francis of Assisi, the Italian saint who lived at the end of the twelfth and the beginning of the thirteenth century.

In 2005, the brothers of the Society of St Francis decided to refocus their mission, and moved on from St Bene't's, opening new houses to help other communities. At Hilfield Friary in Dorset, they have established a project which brings together both a commitment to peace and justice between people and also a care for our natural environment. We were sad to lose them, but grateful for the love and support they and we have shared over the past several decades. More information on the Hilfield Project is available at www.hilfieldproject.co.uk, and if you would like to hear Brother Samuel talking about the Hilfield Project to BBC Dorset, click here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dorset/content/articles/2009/03/25/hilfield_project_feature.shtml

The Third Order of the Society of St Francis

Within the Anglican Church there are three related Franciscan orders that together form the Society of St Francis:

The First Order consists of men and women who live in community according to a Franciscan Rule based on the traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They give expression to their mission in a variety of ministries.
 
The Second Order is composed of women who feel called by God to an enclosed life of contemplative prayer.

The Third Order is made up of those who wish to follow the spirit of holy vows in the ordinary professions of life.
Its formation was encouraged by St Francis, who recognised that unlike the Friars Minor and the Sisters who followed St Clare, many of God’s children are called to serve him not in a literal acceptance of holy vows but in observance of their spirit.

The Third Order is open to men and women, ordained or lay, married or single, over the age of eighteen, who believe that God is calling them to live out their vocation in the world.

The members of the Third Order pledge themselves to live by a personal rule of life and undertake to have a spiritual director.

The members of the three orders are bound together in the one society by their prayer and a common purpose – to make our Lord known and loved everywhere, to spread a spirit of love and harmony, and to live simply.

Pamela Hill

The Companions of the Society of St Francis

The Companions of the Society of St Francis are women and men, children and teenagers, who wish to support the work and objectives of the Society of St Francis. Conversely, members of SSF desire to support Companions in their own personal journey with God.

Companions takes no vows, nor are expected to live under any rules of the three orders of the Society of St Francis. They simply promise to pray regularly for the Society of St Francis, and to support the Society and make its work and ideals known in whatever way they can. There is also no expectation that Companions will join one of the three orders of the Society. However, some do find that becoming a Companion is the first of many steps in discerning their vocation.

The relationship between Companions and members of SSF will depend greatly on the level of involvement that a Companion wishes to have. However, the fundamental basis of the relationship between Companions and SSF brothers and sisters is that of mutual prayer, friendship and support.

If you would like to know more about the Franciscan Way, or about any of the above please contact:

The Society of St Francis

If you would like to learn more please follow these links:

St. Clare of Assisi
First Order Brothers of St. Francis
Third Order Society of St. Francis