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The Poor Clares first arrived in Arundel in 1886 at the request of Flora, Duchess of Norfolk, their benefactor. The 15th Duke, and duchess, met the sisters at Arundel Station and the party journeyed up the hill in six carriages to the new convent, where the priest and choir of St Philip’s (then the local Catholic church, now Arundel Cathedral) met them with thirty acolytes. After a short service of thanksgiving, the duchess showed the sisters around their new home and then left them to unpack.

Still in residence nearly 140 years later, the community live according to the form of life drawn up by St Clare of Assisi in 1253 – called to a life of prayer, they seek to live the Gospel in and for our world of today. They are also arguably unlikely chart-topping music sensations with their debut album released in 2020 streamed 60 million times – topping both Apple and Amazon's music charts internationally.

Four years on from their initial success, the sisters recently released a new album recorded at their chapel at Arundel and at London's iconic Abbey Road Studios. Their second album, My Peace I Give You centres on The Canticle of Creation, written by St Francis of Assisi in 1224, divided across seven songs. Speaking to BBC Radio Sussex last week Sister Gabriel said:

"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."

You can watch a trailer for the new album above.

Sources: BBC News & The Poor Clares