Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who lived in a caravan before passing away in 2018 at the age of 88, was a star in a number of BBC programs.
Sister Wendy Beckett, a nun who spent much of her life in seclusion in a caravan in Norfolk, unexpectedly became a BBC television sensation in the 1990s. Gaining global recognition through BBC art documentaries viewed by millions, Wendy Beckett generously donated all her earnings to charity when she died in 2018.
Wendy Mary Beckett, a doctor’s daughter, was born on February 25, 1930 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Before moving back to South Africa, she received a teaching degree from Liverpool’s Notre Dame College of Education in 1954.
She later lectured at the University of the Witwatersrand before returning to her native country to teach English and Latin at convents in Cape Town and Johannesburg. Unfortunately, due to health issues, Sister Wendy had to stop teaching by 1970.
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She left the Notre Dame order with the permission of the Pope, moving back to England, according to the Express, to become a consecrated virgin and hermit.
She initially lived in a caravan and later in a small mobile home on the grounds of the Carmelite Monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk, reports the Daily Record.
However, her life quickly changed as a result of a chance encounter. A film crew asked to record her talking about art after they overheard her comments at an exhibition.
In 1992, the BBC received her first program, Sister Wendy’s Odyssey. With her natural ability to appear in front of the camera, Sister Wendy surprised everyone, including herself.
In her follow-up show, Sister Wendy’s Grand Tour (1994), she traveled across Europe to admire the continent’s stunning galleries and artistic creations. By the late 1990s, Wendy was one of the most successful presenters on the BBC.
A 25% of British viewers watched her programs at the height of her fame. With Sister Wendy’s American Collection on PBS in 1997, she won over the American market and received the praise of “the most unlikely and famous art critic in the history of television.”
Beckett never gave up her solitary lifestyle despite being famous. She would travel to filming locations, but she always ended up staying in her caravan, where she was always present.
She kept her promise of poverty by praying for up to seven hours each day, rarely watched movies, or went to museums while working. The Carmelite order that gave her refuge received all of her earnings from the BBC and book deals.
Sister Wendy vanished from the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, on December 26, 2018, at the age of 88. She had lived on its grounds for almost 50 years, but never as a member of the Carmelite community itself, according to the order’s announcement.
Sister Wendy hosted a number of notable documentaries while writing an impressive 25 books that covered everything from spiritual reflections to art criticism. She gained notoriety for her open discussions about sexuality and nudity in art, which suggested that honoring the human body as a part of God’s creation was unethical.
Although her commentary is frequently unexpected and open-minded, reverence and admiration were always displayed.
Source: Mirror
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