An order of Catholic nuns who have served schools, care homes and churches for the past half century are quitting their Macclesfield home.
The Sisters of Charity have maintained a convent in the town since the early 1960s.
But the convent’s remaining two nuns are now moving on to fresh challenges – closing a chapter in their order’s history.
Sisters Carmel McGowan and Jackie Doherty are past retirement age. But instead of taking things easy, they will be throwing themselves into more good work.
But Sister Carmel, a retired social worker and familiar face with St Edward’s parish, said she would be heartbroken to leave friends and neighbours.
"I’ve been here for 11 years, it’s the longest I’ve ever been in one place.
"I’ll miss the people the most, I have made so many friends, and I will miss Macclesfield, it’s a lovely area."
The Irish-born nun will now be based at a hospice for the terminally ill in Clydebank, near Glasgow.
London-born Sister Jackie is a nurse who has spent the past two years working with Cumberland House surgery.
She added: "We are very sad to be leaving Macclesfield. It has all happened very quickly in the end and we would like to thank all those people who have been so kind and so welcoming."
The Dublin-based religious order established a base in Macclesfield in 1961, after the nuns were offered the use of stately Sutton Hall by its owners, the Lomas family.
The nuns later moved to an unassuming five-bedroomed house on Prestbury Road, where they have carried on their community and religious work.
The sisters taught at primary and secondary schools in Macclesfield and Bollington, as well as working with young Catholics in local parishes.
Provincial Sister Jacinta Boland, who announced the closure, said the order was moving on to other places.
"Unfortunately there’s never a good time to move anywhere.
"It’s nothing to do with numbers of people in the parish or finance."
The convent has been sold to a private buyer.
The nuns will be given a proper farewell, with celebration masses at St Alban’s and St Edward’s parishes in Macclesfield. Parish priests will mark the departure with an evening Mass in the Convent Chapel on August 30.
