Four years ago, just before the COVID pandemic, the Poor Clare Sisters of Arundel in Crossbush, Arundel in the UK, decided to share their deeply spiritual lives through the universal language of music. The nuns say their music journey just started as a contemplative venture, and they never thought they would have such an impact worldwide.
Their first album, Light for the World, was released in 2020 at the height of lockdown. It consists of a collection of Latin hymns with a modern touch — and it was off the charts. Their classical music offered solace for many during a depressing time, and it quickly rose to no.5 in the UK album chart, making the choir the highest-charting nuns in history.
“It’s been quite incredible the number of letters we’ve had from people all over the world saying they’re not religious, but that our music has touched them,” Sister Gabriel told BBC Radio Sussex. She joined the order of enclosed nuns in 1994 at age 23.
Music with 800 years of history
The Poor Clares of Arundel are a choir of nuns aged 50 to 96. They represent six different nationalities and have dedicated their lives to community living.
According to their official website, they are Poor Clares who “share prayer, work, laugh, and struggles and live according to the form of life drawn up by St. Clare of Assisi in 1253.” A Poor Clare is any member of a Catholic religious order founded by St. Clare of Assisi in 1212. She was a noblewoman who took a vow of poverty and dedicated her life to service.
Similarly, the sisters have dedicated their lives to a simpler life, following the same routine that previous sisters at Arundel and other monastic orders have followed for centuries. Their days include meditation, restricted speaking, reading, manual work, and penance. Besides their spiritual lives at the convent, the sisters also run a small guesthouse in Arundel.
But if you think nuns of the silent order are a dull bunch, think again. The nuns say they know how to have a good time and unwind by watching movies, dancing to the tunes of legendary reggae artist Bob Marley, gardening, and baking.
“People expect us to be somber, whereas there’s a lot of fun and laughter in our lives. They think we’re not in touch with politics — they think we’re not ordinary women when we very much are,” Gabriel told the Guardian.
“People would be surprised to hear we fall out,” added Sister Aelred. “And they would also be surprised that we enjoy a glass of beer or wine from time to time.”
How the Poor Clares Sisters became a pandemic sensation
Though they love singing, the Poor Clares of Arundel never thought they would one day be among Britain’s top musicians. Sister Aelred said recording an album was “a bit of a joke.” Music producer James Morgan contacted them and asked if he would be able to join them for vespers and listen to their songs, and after that, they thought that was it.
“We were sure we wouldn’t be good enough,” says Sister Gabriel. “But then he got back in touch and said he wasn’t bothered about our mistakes — we could be trained not to do that.
It was a surprising turn of events, but the Poor Clares had surprising terms before signing a contract. “We said we don’t want auditions. You have to include everyone who wants to be included. The people who hear it will have to accept the ability of all of us — we’re not going to tell any of our sisters ‘You can’t sing, so you’re not in.'”
Environmental lessons from centuries ago
After becoming a hit with their first album, the sisters are back in 2024 with a second album titled My Peace I Give You. The main message of the seven songs in the album is derived from the Canticle of Creation, written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1224. The Catholic saint is a significant figure for the nuns because he was a great influence and friend to their founder, St. Claire of Assisi.
The Poor Clares say they are not in it for fame or money, but to serve others. Sister Gabriel said they should let people know “the essence of our lives, what we believe in, and what brings us joy.”
They donated all the profits from the first album’s sales to charity and food banks and plan to do the same with the second album. They also have a foundation in Bungoma, Kenya, supporting the local community. The nuns believe that, like St. Francis and St. Clare, people don’t need much to prosper, so they live almost self-sufficiently.
“They lived eight centuries ago,” said Sister Gabriel. “But they knew many things we still struggle with today, including how important it is to understand our relationship with the environment. So we live as sustainably as possible. We grow what we can — not everything, but lots of our vegetables. We’re very careful about waste — anything not eaten at lunch one day will be supper the next.”
“We’ve taken a vow of poverty, and we don’t own anything. And we believe that’s what needs to happen with the world. We all need to use less, so people with less can have more,” Sister Leo concluded in their interview with the Guardian.
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