Mary Charles Walker

Contents

Sr. Margaret Charles Magdalen Walker RSC (née Margaret Mary Angela Walker; 16 March 1881 – 27 February 1966), was an English religious sister, teacher, missionary and founder of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus in Calabar.[1][2][3]

Early life

Walker was born Margaret Mary Angela Walker on 16 March 1881 in Brighton, Sussex to Col Edward Walker, an Army Colonel, and Mary Josephine Walker (née Woodhead).[1][2] The fifth of six siblings, Walker was raised in a Catholic household and was educated at Mayfield School.[1][2]

On 21 November 1901, Walker entered the Dublin congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity (RSC) with the intention of serving a mission.[1][4] Taking the name "Sister Mary Charles" at her reception on 19 May 1902, Walker professed on 26 May 1904.[1][2][4] By the time of Walker's profession the RSC was no longer a missionary congregation, having severed ties with it's former Australian congregation.[4]

Career

Following her profession, Walker's first assignment was as a teacher in Dublin at St. James's Primary School.[1][4] During this period Walker studied teaching at St Mary's College in Dublin, graduating with honours in 1912.[1][4] Walker was subsequently transferred to St Vincent's Convent School in Cork in July 1912, and to a school in Foxford, County Mayo in September 1915.[1][4] In 1914, Bishop Joseph Shanahan appealed to the superior general, Mother Agnes Gertrude, for a foundation to be founded in southern Nigeria.[1][4] In a response to a circular letter written by Mother Agnes Gertrude about such a foundation, Walker was one of the first to volunteer for a mission.[1]

Whilst in Foxford, Walker authored The Catechism Notes which was subsequently used in schools across Ireland, Australia, England and Wales.[1][4] Walker also befriended Mother Mary Arsenius, to whom she confided her aspiration to serve a mission in Africa.[1][4]

On 11th June 1923, Walker received permission from Pope Pius XI to live outside her congregation and to work with Bishop Shanahan in Calabar, Nigeria.[1][4] Arriving in Calabar on 3 October 1923, Walker's primary apostolate was providing education.[1][5]

Legacy

The playwright James Ene Henshaw wrote A song to Mary Charles (Irish Sister of Charity): A play in five acts in 1984.[6] A centenary celebration marking Walker's arrival in Nigeria was held on 18 November 2023 by the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus.[3]

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5][1.6][1.7][1.8][1.9][1.10][1.11][1.12][1.13][1.14]O'Leary, Marie (October 2009). "Walker, Margaret". Dictionary of Irish Biography (online ed.). Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. doi:10.3318/dib.008847.v1. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3][2.4]Mbonu, Caroline N. (2010). "Mother Mary Charles Walker, RSC and the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus". Handmaid: The Power of Names in Theology and Society. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  3. 3.[3.2]"Sr. Mary Charles Walker RSC – Her Astounding Legacy". Religous Sisters of Charity. Dublin. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  4. 4.[4.2][4.3][4.4][4.5][4.6][4.7][4.8][4.9][4.10]"Biography of Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker". The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus. Ikot Ekpene: The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus Foundation. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  5. 5.Opara, Eucharia Ugochi (2024). "A Prophetic Women Religious in Nigeria: Mother Mary Charles Walker, RSC". AMAMIHE: Journal of Applied Philosophy. 22 (6). Owerri, Nigeria: Imo State University. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.30371.98087. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  6. 6.Henshaw, James Ene (1984). A Song to Mary Charles (Irish Sister of Charity): A Play in Five Acts. Etewa.