Margaret Radcliffe

Margaret Radcliffe, also known as Margaret Paul (1582–1654), was an English nun who briefly served as abbess of the English Convent of Poor Clares, Gravelines, and was the founding superior of English convents in Brussels and Aire.

Early life Radcliffe was born in the 1580s. Her parents were Isabel (née Grey) and Sir Francis Radcliffe (1563–1622) of Dilston near Corbridge in Northumberland, and Derwentwater in Cumberland. She was their second daughter, but the first of four to commit to religious life.

Religious career The Radcliffes were Catholics, which was illegal in England at the time. Elizabeth Tyldesley, Mother Clare Mary Ann, was elected as abbess in 1615.

In 1617, Radcliffe's sister Elizabeth joined her and two years later their other two of sisters, Dorothy and Ann, had entered the convent. She and Elizabeth, were sent to Brussels in 1622 to found a new Franciscan convent. She was abbess and her sister was to be her assistant. They lived there for four years. Radcliffe created a regime for the nuns although she later feared that it was too tough as it was based on her own training as a Poor Clare. However it went well and in time they could leave with a new abbess appointed.