Over fifty years ago, at the request of Bishop John Russell of Charleston, twelve Poor Clares came from their monastery in Jamica Plain, Massachusetts, to establish a praying presence at
a new monastery in South Carolina. Bishop Russell felt that the presence of a Poor Clare monastery would help this diocese in its work. For these past blessing-filled fifty plus years the Poor Clares in Greenville have been privileged to be that quiet, powerful, praying presence.

The Monastery of St. Clare, located at 1916 North Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, began on a rainy March 1st in 1955 when our founding Sisters arrived in Greenville to form the nucleus of the first contemplative community of women in the state of South Carolina and the diocese of Charleston.
The people of the diocese of Charleston, especially in the Greenville area welcomed the community and began to provide support, both by their requests for prayers and by their generosity in supplying necessary alms.

Although each monastery is autonomous in governance, we are bonded with over 18,000 Poor Clares in 900 monasteries throughout the world, including 46 monasteries in the United States. We are united in mutual support and caring and in our observance of the Rule of Clare and the General Constitutions approved for us.

Our Founding Members:
Mother Mary Silas Bouley
Sister Mary Maddalena Bartholomew
Sister Mary Laurentius Hickey
Sister Joan [Mary Leonard] Kimball
Sister Joyce [Mary Elizabeth] Munson
Sister Catherine Mary [Mary Rose] O’Hara
Sister Mary Lucy Reyonlds
Sister Marjorie [Mary Agatha] Riley
Sister Mary Augustine Scannell
Sister Jane [Mary Stella Wagner] Walker
Sister Mary Veronica Welch
Sister Mary St. Peter Zitta