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In 1877, Nottingham was a bustling industrial town. In the courts and tenements of the city and within its outlying suburbs, workers struggled with the difficulties of 19th century life.’ Mary Potter’s journey to Nottingham was influenced by the need to find a Bishop who was willing to accept her into his Diocese, and who was prepared to believe in her vision of a religious order which would both pray for and care for the needs of the sick and the dying.
Bagshawe, a unique and somewhat dyspepsic member of the hierarchy welcomed her into his large and unruly diocese, and Mary began her community in a disused stocking factory in the suburb of Hyson Green.
From its early beginnings in the stocking factory, Mary Potter’s community expanded rapidly, and in 1882, she went to Rome. There she remained until her death in 1913, but Hyson Green remains an important part of our Little Company of Mary heritage - as does Nottingham itself, for in 1999, Mary Potter’s body was returned to the Cathedral in Nottingham, and she now rests in the company of those she loved most dearly, the men, women and children of her adopted home. From 1877 to the present day, there has been an unbroken service given to the community and her sisters still minister to the people of Nottingham. In 1970 a community Health Centre was established which proudly bears the name Hyson Green (Mary Potter) Health Centre. It became known simply as the Mary Potter Centre, and so it remains.
 Mary Potter’s vision was one of unity. She believed that the world could be knit together by the promotion of the Gospel values of faith, hope and love. She also believed that we could learn the way of Jesus by following the way of Mary, and was an unabashed promoter of a Marian spirituality. To learn more of her spirituality click here.
She also believed that the role of real Christian was to work for the good of those who did not recognize their own beauty as a people made in the image and likeness of God. Her missionary ideal was to bring the awareness of the grandeur of human life to all people. Today, that mission still focuses the work of the sisters, and is the focus of their work with those in greatest need - the dying. Care of the dying remains of fundamental importance, and through a ministry of physical care of the sick and dying, and through a ministry of prayer for the dying, the work of our founder continues. Join us in our prayer for the dying
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