We are delighted that the CMS has found a new (appropriately named) home at
St Mary’s University in Twickenham.
Since its foundation by Dr Sarah Jane Boss and others in 1995, the CMS has been building
up a library, running educational courses, supporting research, providing lecturers for outside organisations, helping to supervise students, and giving information
on Marian issues to the mass media and general public. Its book collection – which has been lovingly curated over the past twenty-six years – will now enhance the library at St Mary’s and be of particular interest to students taking the university’s postgraduate module in Mariology.
As the CMS has no religious affiliation and is open to members of any religious tradition or
none, it is fitting that the first international event that we are organising with the Institute of
Theology at St Mary’s University should be entitled “Bridges and Boundaries: the role of the Virgin Mary in faith and culture”. This online conference, running from 8th – 10th July 2021,
will focus on Mary’s roles in Christianity, Judaism, Islam and a range of literary and artistic
representations. It was originally intended for the delegates to meet at St Mary’s beautiful,
leafy campus, with its eighteenth-century Marian “Chapel in the Wood” built for Horace
Walpole, and the university chapel with its stained glass windows, inspired by the mysteries
of the Rosary, by Gabriel Loire. However, amidst the Covid-19 uncertainty (and given that
many of the speakers are based overseas in the US, Mexico, Ireland, Germany and Taiwan) it
is hoped that more people will join via Zoom than would have been able to attend in person.
For more information on the conference or to register for free if you have not already done
so, please click here.