Convent of Mercy Mother House

Since the 1850's, the site St Catherines Nursing Home occupies off Burngreave Road has been associated with serving the needs of the local community. The large detached properties surrounding St Catherines reflect a time of affluence, when the city's industrialists lived in Burngreave. In fact, one of the original buildings on the site was the family home of a local doctor who in the 1880’s bequested the house to the Sisters of Mercy religious order of nuns.

The Burngreave Convent was established in the building that we now call Carrigriffe. In 1883 this site was regarded as the Mother House, with other bases developed around the city. Many of the Sisters of Mercy worked as nurses in Claremount Hospital and St Lukes. However, it was in the field of education for which the Sisters are currently fondly remembered in the form of the Convent of Mercy High School. The school was renowned over the years for its academic success and dedication to the welfare and development of pupils.

With the inevitable ageing of the Sisters and declining number of young women wishing to enter a religious order, the school encountered problems and eventually closed. Financial and practical problems in maintaining the convent led to its closure in 1982, a century after it opened.

On the 11th October 1997 a school reunion was be held at the Grovenor House Hotel for past pupils of the Convent of Mercy High School, some 180 past pupils attended.

Past pupils of the Convent of Mercy High School 1959 - 1964

Maureen Fegan Tina Lee Theresa Vickers

Linda Cooper Jennifer Rigden

Barbara Holmes Elizabeth Southern Helen Gelgeley

The founder of the order of Sisters of Mercy was Catherine Mc Caully. When the property was purchased in 1982, out of respect for the good works of the Convent, the Sisters were invited to choose a name for a new residential home. Hence St Catherines Residential Home was founded.

Since 1982, St Catherines has seen on-going development and improvement. 1993 saw the opening of the new purpose designed St Catherines Nursing Home. In 2000 a specialist EMI Unit was opened. We continue in the tradition of the site for over a hundred years by offering the highest standards of care and staff training, still serving the people in our community.

Due to the site's historical connections, perhaps it is not surprising that we are asked this question from time to time. The simple answer is no, we have no formal connection to any religious body or association. The name St Catherines was chosen in 1982 out of respect for the Sisters of Mercy, the previous owners of the site.

Many of our residents continue to actively practice their personal faith, and we are pleased to help them in any way possible. We respect everyone’s personal wishes and beliefs in a supportive, but unobtrusive way.

Nursing care at St Catherines is available to everyone in our community. We continue in the tradition of the site for over a hundred years by offering the highest standards of care to our residents and training to our staff. We are still serving the people in our community.