# Felicitas Corrigan

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**Dame** **Felicitas Corrigan** [OSB](/source/Order_of_Saint_Benedict) (6 March 1908 – 7 October 2003, **Kathleen Corrigan**) was a British [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) [nun](/source/Nun), author and humanitarian.[1]

## Biography

Corrigan was born in [Liverpool](/source/Liverpool) in 1908 to a large family. She learned to play the organ at an early age and by age 15 was working as an organist at a local church. She then won an organ scholarship from the [Archdiocese of Liverpool](/source/Archdiocese_of_liverpool). While studying Gregorian Chant at [Stanbrook Abbey](/source/Stanbrook_Abbey) in [Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire), she met [Dame Laurentia McLachan](/source/Laurentia_McLachlan), who would later inspire Corrigan to become a nun.[2] Corrigan read English at the [University of Liverpool](/source/University_of_Liverpool), delivering a dissertation on the poet [Coventry Patmore](/source/Coventry_Patmore).[2]

In 1934, the 25 year-old Corrigan entered Stanbrook Abbey as a novice. She became a nun and eventually the Abbey [choir director.](/source/Choir) One of her projects was to develop an English version of the office of [Compline](/source/Compline) for the abbey.

Corrigan wrote the book *The Nun, the Infidel, and the Superman* (1985). It was about the friendships between McLachlan and [George Bernard Shaw](/source/George_Bernard_Shaw) and the scholar [Sir Sydney Cockerell.](/source/Sydney_Cockerell) The book was adapted into [*The Best of Friends*](/source/The_Best_of_Friends_(play)), a [play](/source/The_Best_of_Friends_(play)) by [Hugh Whitemore](/source/Hugh_Whitemore) that was staged in the [West End](/source/West_End_theatre) of London.[2] It also became a [film for television](/source/The_Best_of_Friends_(play)) starring [Wendy Hiller](/source/Wendy_Hiller).[2] In the course of her career, Felicitas corresponded with poet [Siegfried Sassoon](/source/Siegfried_Sassoon), actor [Alec Guinness](/source/Alec_Guinness); and novelist [Rumer Godden](/source/Rumer_Godden).

Corrigan's [biography](/source/Biography) of [Helen Waddell](/source/Helen_Waddell) was awarded the 1986 [James Tait Black Memorial Prize](/source/James_Tait_Black_Memorial_Prize).[2] Corrigan also wrote about [Hildegard of Bingen](/source/Hildegard_of_Bingen) and edited publications for the Stanbrook Abbey Press. Her other works include:

- *In a Great Tradition: Tribute to Dame Laurentia McLachlan, Abbess of Stanbrook* (1956)

- *George Thomas of Soho* (1970)

- *Siegfried Sassoon: Poet's Pilgrimage* (1973)

- *Benedictine Tapestry* (1991)

Corrigan was Stanbrook Abbey's organist from 1933 until 1990. She died at [Cheltenham](/source/Cheltenham) on 7 October 2003.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [*Independent* obituary](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/dame-felicitas-corrigan-37286.html)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:0_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-:0_2-4) ["Obituary: Felicitas Corrigan"](https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/oct/23/guardianobituaries). *The Guardian*. 23 October 2003. Retrieved 15 November 2021.

## External links

- [*Guardian* obituary by Peter Stanford](https://www.theguardian.com/obituaries/story/0,3604,1068754,00.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Felicitas Corrigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicitas_Corrigan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicitas_Corrigan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.