The Leaven spent the year 2000 celebrating its Golden Jubilee. For on 1st November 1949, The Institute of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, The Leaven's official title, was founded at Aylesford.
At that time Father Kilian Lynch was the Prior General of the Carmelites and in founding the Institute he developed an idea which his brother, Fr. Malachy Lynch had conceived many years before - that of forming a group of consecrated lay women, living a secular life but working alongside the Carmelites. Initially it was thought that the Institute might start in Wales and the first member, Winifred Swingler, went to Llandeilo at the end of May 1949 to work at the school which was run there by the Carmelites. However as the friars were about to return to the property at Aylesford which had been taken from then at the Reformation, Fr. Kilian decided that Aylesford should be the birthplace of the new Institute. Three founder-members including Winifred Swingler and her sister Joan went there in October to help with the preparations for the return of the friars and on 1st November 1949, Fr. Kilian presented them with the Constitutions which were based on those used by an Austrian Institute. Fr. Malachy, who was appointed Prior of Aylesford, was put in charge of their theological and spiritual formation, giving almost daily conferences and instructions. In 1950 the three foundresses were given special permission to make their Final Vows.
The members initially lived in the gatehouse at Aylesford but numbers grew and when the Carmelites bought Allington Castle in 1951, they moved there. The Leaven members completely took over the running of the Castle (which had to be self-supporting) as a retreat-house and acted as guides to the many visitors who came to view the historic property. Major repairs, unfinished restoration, inadequate heating and lighting were problems which called for dedicated work and often hardship during the seven years the Institute lived at the castle.
Originally it was intended that, after their initial two-year formation, Institute members would go back as consecrated lay women to fully secular lives and professions, returning to base periodically for retreats and time of renewal. However as Aylesford and Allington developed, the work there became so time- and energy consuming that this plan had to be shelved. Sacristy work, cleaning, cooking, secretarial work, gardening, bee-keeping and pig-keeping had to be undertaken by members, while their spiritual formation continued under the guidance of the Carmelite friars. The members (called 'sisters' and described as 'nuns' in the press) were really living a form of monastic life. They were a community, reciting the Divine Office together and wearing habits while in the house - secular dress was worn outside the grounds.
Looking back from today's stance it is difficult to understand how a group founded as a Secular Institute could become what was virtually a form of religious life. Perhaps the solution lies in the unexpectedly rapid and extensive development of the apostolate at Aylesford and Allington, together with the lack of information at that time about the true nature of the Secular Institute vocation.
As time passed and members studied the papal documents concerning Secular Institutes they realised that the form of life they were living did not correspond with the ideas and directions in these documents. They seemed to be trying to 'put new wine into old wine-skins', and radical changes were indicated, although owing to circumstances they could only be made gradually.
In 1958 after much prayer and heart-searching the painful decision was made and the Institute left Allington Castle in order to live an authentic secular life. There were eight members and soon there were only five. Thoughts of amalgamating with another Institute became a definite option - however the love of the Carmelite charism was very strong; they would soldier on. It wasn't until 1968 that the first serious enquirer was considered. The little group felt they had worked through the difficulties and were ready to present the vocation as it should be lived.
Slowly but surely the Institute has grown since its 'new' beginning. We have members in 15 dioceses in England, Scotland and Wales and we are now ready to respond to any serious interest from any part of the world.
Our apostolate is 'low key'. We are a leaven and therefore hidden; however in a quiet way we infiltrate into many areas of life. At present we have members working in teaching of difference kinds, administration, psychotherapy, counselling, cleaning, information technology training, nursing and occupational therapy. We work in our parishes according to our time and abilities. As Carmelites we are called to a contemplative life in the midst of the world - this is not an impossibility but it is difficult and demands persevering fidelity in our prayer life and the recommendations of our Constitutions
We thank God for all the graces and blessings we have received over the last fifty years, we thank Him for the difficulties and disappointments we have suffered for through them we have grown strong. We thank God for our beloved Carmelite family and for all the friars past and present who have helped and encouraged us over the years. We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us so that we may be a leaven in the world to the glory of God's name.