Mary Lescher

Mary Adela Lescher SND known as Mary of St Wilfrid (1846 – 7 May 1927), was a British Mother Superior, a school founder and a college head in Glasgow. A window dedicated to her is in the National Museum of Ireland and the Notre Dame High School continues in Glasgow.

Early life and education Lescher was born in Hampstead. She was the middle child of five born to Sarah (born Harwood) and Joseph Sidney Lescher. Her father was a keen Catholic and after two years of their marriage her mother was too. Her father was a director of the medical supply company Evans, Lescher and Evans in London. Lescher opened the Notre Dame Training College in 1893 at Dowanhill and there were four sisters to assist. They began teaching in January 1895. Having a female head of a college was said to be the only occurrence at the time. The Chief Inspector of schools reported that her facility had "exceptional excellence".

In 1897 the Notre Dame High School was opened as a private secondary and Montessori school.