Arundel's singing nuns shocked by success

The singing Poor Clares of Arundel on the famous crossing outside Abbey Road Studios

A group of singing nuns from Sussex have said they are shocked by their "extraordinary" success.

The Poor Clares of Arundel have just released their second album My Peace I Give You.

Their first release Light for the World reached number five in the UK Official Album Chart in 2020.

The new recording "infuses Latin hymns and medieval texts with a unique 21st Century production", the nuns said.

The singing nuns' first album reached number five in the UK Official Album Chart

Recorded at the convent chapel in Arundel and mixed at London's Abbey Road Studios, the new album is described as "a message of peace for a fractured world and the importance of caring for the planet".

The nuns span ages from 50 to 96 and represent six different nationalities.

Sister Gabriel told BBC Radio Sussex: "It's been quite incredible the number of letters we've had from people all over the world saying they're not religious but that our music has touched them."

Sister Leo said: "The last thing you think about when you come here and devote your life to community living is to end up in the charts."

The Canticle of Creation, written by St Francis of Assisi in 1224, is at the core of the album, divided across seven songs.

He was a friend of St Clare who founded the order of nuns.

The Poor Clares of Arundel are donating the profits from sales of their albums to charity.

You can listen to a full interview with the nuns here.