# Hildelith Cumming

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hildelith_Cumming
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hildelith_Cumming.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildelith_Cumming
> Source revision: 1308953869
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

British nun and musician (1909–1991)

Hildelith Cumming in 1976.

Dame **Hildelith Cumming** (1909 – 1991), born **Barbara Theresa Cumming**, was a British nun, printer and musician. Cumming converted to [Roman Catholicism](/source/Roman_Catholic) about the age of 30, joining [Stanbrook Abbey](/source/Stanbrook_Abbey), Worcestershire. There she took over management of the printing press for many years.

## Biography

Cumming was born in [Battersea](/source/Battersea) on 15 December 1909. Her father, Frederick Mann Cumming, was a civil engineer's assistant and her mother was Emma Georgina Love. She attended school in [Clapham](/source/Clapham), before studying at the [Royal Academy of Music](/source/Royal_Academy_of_Music). There she also gained teaching qualifications and was appointed a piano sub-professor in 1932, however, she moved on within a year to Wentworth's [Collegiate School for Girls](/source/Bournemouth_Collegiate_School)[1]

Around 1930, Cumming joined the [Oxford Group](/source/Oxford_Group), falling in love with one of the members, but was not given permission to marry by the group's leader. In 1940, the Collegiate School was evacuated to [Llangollen](/source/Llangollen), where she converted to [Roman Catholicism](/source/Roman_Catholic). On 18 December 1941, she took her vows as a [Benedictine](/source/Benedictine) nun at [Stanbrook Abbey](/source/Stanbrook_Abbey), [Worcestershire](/source/Worcestershire). She took the name Hildelith and would remain attached to the abbey for the remainder of her life. Cumming took on a number of musical roles within the abbey, including assistant organist, director of choir and director of music.[1][2] While at the abbey, she was bestowed the Benedictine honorific title of "Dame".[3]

Cumming took over management of the [Stanbrook Abbey Press](/source/Stanbrook_Abbey_Press) in 1952, after the press was recommended for closure.[4] She was taught the art of printing by [John Dreyfus](/source/John_Dreyfus) and [Jan van Krimpen](/source/Jan_van_Krimpen) and became renowned for her book designs and printing.[5][2] In 1976, the press celebrated its centenary, being referred to as one of the oldest functioning private printing presses in the country.[3]

She retired from printing projects in 1982, after suffering a heart attack and deteriorating health. Cumming died on 19 April 1991.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ODNB_1-2) "Cumming, Barbara Theresa [name in religion Hildelith Cumming]". *[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography](/source/Dictionary_of_National_Biography#Oxford_Dictionary_of_National_Biography)* (online ed.). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/ref:odnb/49617](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fref%3Aodnb%2F49617). (Subscription, [Wikipedia Library](https://wikipedialibrary.wmflabs.org/partners/88/) access or [UK public library membership](https://www.oxforddnb.com/help/subscribe#public) required.)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Obit_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Obit_2-1) "Sister Hildelith Cumming - Obituary". *The Times*. London, England. 8 May 1991.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:100_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:100_3-1) Gosling, Kenneth (11 November 1976). "Nuns' press celebrates 100 years". *The Times*. No. 59858. London, England. p. 5.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** "Yorkshire Post: Religious order contemplates Yorkshire move". *Yorkshire Post*. 5 April 2005.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Nuns' secret trip to polling booth". *Daily Telegraph*. London, England. 6 December 2005.

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Other SNAC Yale LUX

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