AN era came to an end at Rievaulx last week when sisters from the Order of the Holy Paraclete left the historic village and their Abbey House after more than 60 years - because of a shortage of nuns.

At a moving, atmospheric service in the ancient ruins of the abbey, the Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, paid tribute to the nuns who moved into the beauty spot 62 years ago to run the tiny village school with its 30 pupils. By 1962, the school had became unviable, when the pupil numbers had dropped to just nine, and it closed after being in existence since 1815.

However, the nuns decided to stay on in Rievaulx, living in the shadow of the majestic ruins of the abbey, at Abbey House, which became a centre for their ecumenical work and a retreat and holiday home.

Dr Hope said: "While there are tinges of regret at their leaving, the service is a celebration of thanksgiving of what has been achieved by the sisters."

He said the nuns had given much pleasure to those who had stayed at Abbey House over the years. But it was time to move on, he said, in a spirit of confidence - "It is too easy to look back."

Sister Muriel said: "We shall miss Rievaulx, the abbey, the countryside and the many friends we have made. The whole order has gained so much from our years at Rievaulx."

She added: "There are many memories to cherish - walking the four miles to Helmsley on a bright spring morning for a 7am communion service; Sister Helen Mary being caught on camera with her habit tucked up, digging in the garden and appearing in the local press; and hair-raising trips with Lady Marjorie Beckett, who never really mastered the art of driving - she was a great friend to us all."

The vicar of Helmsley, the Rev David Wilbourne, said that while the nuns had been in Rievaulx for six decades, their connection with the village went back further, to 1914, when Mother Margaret had her vision for founding the order, which has its headquarters at Sneaton Castle, Whitby.

He said he had worked with the sisters to explore how their presence could spill over into encountering visitors to the abbey. He held a weekly mass in the tiny chapel in the cottage grounds.

"I felt it would be good to build on what was obviously a marvellous resource, as well as reclaiming ground lost at the Reformation. But, sadly, at the end of the day, there just weren't enough nuns to go round."

Among the clergy taking part in the service was the Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Robert Ladds; the Abbot of Ampleforth, the Rt Rev Timothy Wright; Sister Judith, the prioress of the order; the Rev Susan Greenwood, together with ministers from the Methodist church and local parishes.

The Bilsdale Silver Band provided the music and the nuns formed the choir at the service which was attended by a large congregation.

The order has eight houses, five in England, three in Africa, with a total membership of 56 sisters. Half are based at St Hilda's Priory, Whitby.

It has for 76 years been involved in providing Christian education in Ghana.

The order ran St Hilda's School, at Whitby, from 1915 until its closure in 1997. The school and Sneaton castle have since became a leading conference and holiday centre run by the sisters.

Updated: 14:26 Wednesday, June 09, 2004