The Bergh Family Records

AUGUSTA JANE BERGH born at Eastbourne 9 Jan 1842 was as a child nine years old received with her mother into the Catholic Church. She was educated in various Convent Schools principally in that of the Ursuline Nuns of Boulogne-sur-mer in France. Everywhere she was loved and esteemed, so much so that among the letters of condolence received at her death, these same Ursulines whom she had finally parted from forty years previously were among those most deeply affected, the aged ones among them never tiring in their praise of the good girl who was a favourite among them in their own earlier life.

When about eighteen years of age at her mother's desire, Augusta accepted a situation as governess to some children in Ireland. But recalled to England at her mother's death in 1865, and the family being definitely broken up, she effected a purpose which it appeared she had long cherished of herself taking the Veil.

At that time four or five young ladies of some fortune had conceived the design of themselves beginning a new Convent of Benedictine Nuns in Kent where none had lived since the Reformation. They devoted themselves to this arduous task and overcame many difficulties.

The work however had not the success anticipated for it by its well-wishers, There were deaths in the little band and few novices presented themselves. The Convent suffered great financial losses. In 1878 the Nuns were compelled to sell the handsome Abbey they had partly built near Ramsgate and to move into a small house at Minster in the same neighbourhood. The staying here too ultimately became impossible; and they made a final attempt at Tenby in South Wales.

Augusta Jane (Known in the Order as Dame Mechtilde) was ever patient and cheerful, chief support by her genial and wise ways of the Sisterhood, as she had always been to her brothers and sisters in her earlier life. In 1900 she was attacked by malignant cancer of the breast and notwithstanding all that the best available specialists could do, succumbed on June 28th of the same year.

Her death was providentially painless. She was bright and cheerful to the end. On her brother the Abbot speaking to her of the end that was nearing, and chancing to ask her, it being the custom of monks and nuns, what would be the text she would wish printed on memorial card and telling of her demise, she answered straightway, it must be the Psalm verse What shall I render to the Lord for all the good things He has given to me? - adding But put it in English, not in Latin, so that all may understand how happy my life has been.

She was buried in the Tenby Public Cemetery (later removed to Ramsgate F.R.B.) her brother the Abbot of Ramsgate and her nephew Frank Rattray (F.R.B.) assisting.

After her departure, the three or four Sisters remaining of the Community, lost heart and sought and obtained admission into a well established community of their Order at Fort Augustus in the Highlands of Scotland.

After the lapse of five years her brother the Abbot caused her remains to be brought to Ramsgate and to be reinterred in St Augustine's churchyard in the same grave with some of her religious sisters, and close to the spot where he himself hopes to wait a joyful resurrection.

Augusta was the authoress of some pious volumes, chief among which was a little work called Crown Jewels (Sketches of the lives of English Queens. Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria was pleased to accept a copy of this and to commend her Secretary to convey to the authoress the expression of her thanks and appreciation.

To Augusta's brothers and sisters dispersed over the world, she remained in her cloister a true and kindly centre. To all and of all she never said but what was kind and helpful. May Almighty God have her innocent soul for ever in His Holy Keeping.