Sheena Govan
Encyclopedia
Sheena Govan was an informal spiritual teacher, and the daughter of evangelist
John George Govan
. Later in life she became an early influence on what would become the Findhorn Foundation
. Her career demonstrated some of the links between Evangelicalism
and early New Age thought.
, the youngest of the four children of evangelist John George Govan. Govan's unconventional spirituality
was something of a challenge to the Faith Mission
founded by her father in 1913 .
She met Dorothy Maclean
while the two were working as secretaries in London in the early 1940s ., and met Peter Caddy
on a train in England in 1947 and married 1948. By this time Sheena was living in Lupus Street, Pimlico
, London, apparently drawing on a family inheritance, and claiming to receive inner guidance on behalf of those around her.
Says Peter Caddy: “Her flat was like a magnet. Throughout the day people came for help and guidance. Sheena believed that at this time many people were going through an initiatory experience that she called the birth of the Christ
within. She was like a midwife helping them to go through that process.” Dorothy Maclean, now also living and working in London, says: “She’d know what stood between you and your divinity, what you put before the divine.” Eileen Caddy
, who had met Peter Caddy in 1952 at RAF Habbaniyah, joined them in London in 1953, soon Dorothy Maclean was to join in, thus at one point all the future founders of the Findhorn Foundation were part of her London group .
Sheena Govan claimed to teach her students to do everything perfectly and with great love, "unto the Lord." She was also, however, known to subject them to arbitrary orders, such as insisting that Maclean clean her rooms for her; later, she directed Peter Caddy to abandon Eileen and their baby and take a menial hotel job in Ireland, while Govan took personal custody of the baby herself. Peter Caddy later suggested that "she was beginning to become unhinged"..
Soon the group disbanded, as Peter and Eileen rebelled against her and came together, they were already living together with Sheena's approval, and had two sons. Sheena left for a remote country cottage near Glenfinnan
, and eventually moved to Isle of Mull
, near Iona
, West Scotland, where others followed her. As she became more directive of the lives of those around her, her informal group, received some coverage in the Scottish newspapers (Daily Record
, Sunday Mail
, Scottish Daily Express) in 1957, who dubbed it as the 'Nameless Ones', while Sheena was called "the woman Messiah" . Though by 1957, things changed irrevocably, and the other members had regrouped at Glasgow
by themselves, as Eileen and Caddy, now married, found jobs at Cluny Hill
Hotel near Forres
(four miles from Findhorn village), Maclean joined them as the hotel's secretary and soon all parted ways with Sheena.
Govan died of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1967, while living in relative poverty in the village of Dalry
in Kirkcudbrightshire
, estranged from her former associates and having been largely forgotten.
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
John George Govan
John George Govan
John George Govan was a Scottish businessman and evangelist who founded The Faith Mission.He was inspired on hearing accounts of the Holiness movement from friends who had attended the Keswick Convention of 1884. With the goal of leading a life wholly devoted to God, he then set about removing all...
. Later in life she became an early influence on what would become the Findhorn Foundation
Findhorn Foundation
The Findhorn Foundation is a Scottish charitable trust registered in 1972, formed by the spiritual community at the Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the largest intentional communities in Britain....
. Her career demonstrated some of the links between Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
and early New Age thought.
Biography
She was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, the youngest of the four children of evangelist John George Govan. Govan's unconventional spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
was something of a challenge to the Faith Mission
Faith mission
Faith mission is a term used most frequently among evangelical Christians to refer to a missionary organization with an approach to evangelism that encourages its missionaries to "trust in God to provide the necessary resources" These missionaries are said to "live by faith."Most faith...
founded by her father in 1913 .
She met Dorothy Maclean
Dorothy Maclean
Dorothy Maclean is a writer and educator on spiritual subjects who was one of the original three adults at what is now the Findhorn Foundation in northeast Scotland....
while the two were working as secretaries in London in the early 1940s ., and met Peter Caddy
Peter Caddy
Peter Caddy was a British caterer, hotelier, and founder of the Findhorn Foundation community.Educated at Harrow, he apprenticed as a director with J. Lyons and Company, and was a member of the Rosicrucian Order Crotona Fellowship...
on a train in England in 1947 and married 1948. By this time Sheena was living in Lupus Street, Pimlico
Pimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, London, apparently drawing on a family inheritance, and claiming to receive inner guidance on behalf of those around her.
Says Peter Caddy: “Her flat was like a magnet. Throughout the day people came for help and guidance. Sheena believed that at this time many people were going through an initiatory experience that she called the birth of the Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
within. She was like a midwife helping them to go through that process.” Dorothy Maclean, now also living and working in London, says: “She’d know what stood between you and your divinity, what you put before the divine.” Eileen Caddy
Eileen Caddy
Eileen Caddy MBE was a spiritual teacher and new age author, best known as one of the founders of the Findhorn Foundation community at the Findhorn Ecovillage, near the village of Findhorn, Moray Firth, in northeast Scotland...
, who had met Peter Caddy in 1952 at RAF Habbaniyah, joined them in London in 1953, soon Dorothy Maclean was to join in, thus at one point all the future founders of the Findhorn Foundation were part of her London group .
Sheena Govan claimed to teach her students to do everything perfectly and with great love, "unto the Lord." She was also, however, known to subject them to arbitrary orders, such as insisting that Maclean clean her rooms for her; later, she directed Peter Caddy to abandon Eileen and their baby and take a menial hotel job in Ireland, while Govan took personal custody of the baby herself. Peter Caddy later suggested that "she was beginning to become unhinged"..
Soon the group disbanded, as Peter and Eileen rebelled against her and came together, they were already living together with Sheena's approval, and had two sons. Sheena left for a remote country cottage near Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan is a village in Lochaber area of the Highlands of Scotland. It is located at the northern end of Loch Shiel, at the foot of Glenfinnan.- Glenfinnan Monument :...
, and eventually moved to Isle of Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
, near Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, West Scotland, where others followed her. As she became more directive of the lives of those around her, her informal group, received some coverage in the Scottish newspapers (Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
, Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail (Scotland)
The Sunday Mail is a Scottish tabloid newspaper published every Sunday. It is the sister paper of the Daily Record and is owned by Trinity Mirror and as such has a left-wing outlook which in turn tends to guide Scottish political debate in that direction.The Sunday Mail is read by over one million...
, Scottish Daily Express) in 1957, who dubbed it as the 'Nameless Ones', while Sheena was called "the woman Messiah" . Though by 1957, things changed irrevocably, and the other members had regrouped at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
by themselves, as Eileen and Caddy, now married, found jobs at Cluny Hill
Cluny Hill
Cluny Hill is a hill on south side of Forres, Scotland.At the top of Cluny Hill is Nelson's Tower, built in 1806 to commemorate Admiral Lord Nelson and his victory at Trafalgar. The Tower is open to the public....
Hotel near Forres
Forres
Forres , is a town and former royal burgh situated in the north of Scotland on the Moray coast, approximately 30 miles east of Inverness. Forres has been a winner of the Scotland in Bloom award on several occasions...
(four miles from Findhorn village), Maclean joined them as the hotel's secretary and soon all parted ways with Sheena.
Govan died of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1967, while living in relative poverty in the village of Dalry
St. John's Town of Dalry
St. John's Town of Dalry, usually referred to simply as Dalry, is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, formerly in Kirkcudbrightshire. It is located sixteen miles from Castle Douglas along the A713 road, and is at the southern terminus of the A702 road...
in Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire
The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire was a county of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
, estranged from her former associates and having been largely forgotten.