Ellen Hodge (Mother Judith)
The Convent of Our Lady of Sion School at Bayswater, London,was established between 1890 and 1892 through Mother Judith's persevering efforts and hard work.
Ellen Hodge was born on 30th March 1847 and died in 1932. She became a Catholic on 14th April 1865, entered Religious Life in September 1868 in Paris and was clothed as a novice in December of that same year. She made her profession in the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion on 15th August 1870. She was given the name of Mother Judith. At first she met with great opposition from her parents, later they become very proud of her work.
In August 1877 she returned to England as assistant superior at Powis Square, Bayswater, where the Convent school was at that time. She also helped with the teaching of music in the school. From the start Mother Judith had a good friend in Cardinal Manning. She was very pleased to have the sisters of Sion in Bayswater and he often visited the Convent in Powis Square.
A week before his death in an interview with mother Judith Cardinal Manning, recalling his journey from France to England in 1860 when he accompanied the first sisters of Sion who came to England, he said these words : 'I can assure you that since that time you have always had a faithful friend for I like your congregation very much.'
This shows how closely connected Cardinal Manning was with Sion from the start and therefore it was fitting that in 1968 circumstances brought about the coming together of Sion Convent School and Cardinal Manning Girl's School to form the present SION MANNING SCHOOL - Long may it last.