QUOTE: HELEN GILMOUR was a civil servant in London when she spotted an advert in Private Eye. [Publication: Private Eye (fortnightly)
Location: London, England https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Eye ] It was publicising a magazine produced by The Church of the Goddess – linked with a cult known as the Lux Madriana or Light of the Mother, and later known as Rhennes, after the Welsh goddess Rhiannon. [The Coming Age Archive.zip (171M)
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vNUy39vQaeo6AiK23KyhtxPmQFhK0d0q ]
Intrigued, she sent for a copy. “It appealed to something in my imagination. I found it fascinating.”
She went to a gathering of cult members. She recalls: “I didn’t know what to expect. There were only five of us, but it was a moving ceremony. It had an impact on me. I was 29 and until then the only religious experience I’d had was as a child at the local Methodist church.” [1]
Religious name: Estelle Fia Moura (understudy to Madria – Priestess Moura). She visited the Oxford household and visited bookshops purchasing Roman Catholic theology books for the authors of The Coming Age periodicals. [2] [3]
Published by Ordo Lux Madriana
QUOTE: “Work – in – Progress
THE MARKET: A group of Madrians is running
a fund-raising stall at the Saturday Market
in Rochester, Kent. Any offers of help, to
serve on the stall or make items for sale
(home-made sweets, preserves, needlework,
carvings: any ideas welcome!) will be
gratefully received. Contact Estelle Gil-
mour, 01-839 7711, extension 472 (daytime).”
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QUOTE: “To the chagrin of her family, Helen, who lives in Great Horton, left her job with the Ministry of Agriculture and joined the 20-strong group full-time. She was initiated as a Lady of the Temple. She says: “It was like a confirmation and involved a 24-hour fast and all-night vigil.” [1]
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QUOTE: “The group settled in a rambling old house in Ireland, and practised a form of goddess worship based on a female creator and female dominance on earth. Says Helen: “It was an organised form of religion but it was in some respects very disorganised. It was stressful.”
She puts this down to the policy to reject modern machinery and technology. “It was supposed to be a traditional, rural farming community, but it didn’t work. There was not enough land to run a farm and none of us was competent enough. We had a donkey and poultry and we dug the ground, but we weren’t achieving anything.
“People had to appear busy, but had nothing to do. There was a spiritual malaise, a lack of discipline and organisation which ruined the community – it filtered down from the leadership. …Although disorganised, the cult was strictly hierarchial, with a mistress of the house as boss.” [1]
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The video by RTÉ 12th July 1983 named “A Matriarchal Society In Donegal 1983” here
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2018/0703/976011-the-silver-sisterhood-in-donegal/ & here
“Maids of the Silver Sisterhood Burtonport, Donegal Ireland – 1983” “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59KuV4tlk2I”
The maids work the land and grow their own crops. Sister Breca says the community plans to open a craft shop and tea rooms which will utilise produce from their cow and chickens, and salads from their gardens. Ultimately they would like to offer visitors a bed and breakfast.
… Although men are treated with kindness in the community there is a different order of things which they find difficult as they are used privilege and power in a patriarchal society.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 12 July 1983. The reporter is Tommie Gorman.
KEYWORDS: BURTONPORT
____________________________________________
Anne Helen Gilmour is possibly the 7th person in the video by RTE 19th November 1982 named “The Silver Sisterhood of Burtonport” here http://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/1116/920656-the-silver-sisterhood-of-burtonport/ & here “https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUKigKY0grs” See screen capture photos here: Schism of Ordo Lux Madriana 1983
Also photographed and mentioned in The Irish Press Monday May 9 1983
Pages 1 and 7, Inside Report by Tony O’Callaghan about The Silver Sisterhood
____________________________________________
QUOTE: “And when they opened a holiday “school” for women, offering the chance to re-live schoolgirl romps such as picnics, midnight feasts in the dorm and canings, the Press had a field day. Says Helen; “We needed to raise funds so we advertised the fantasy role-play holiday.” [1]
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“Teacher Helen Baird”
Publication: Irish Independent
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Issue Date: Tuesday April 3 1984
Page: 5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Independent
“School For Young Ladies 1984” An RTÉ News report broadcast on 4 May 1984. The reporter is Tommie Gorman. Which features only Headmistress Brighe Dachcolwyn and teacher Miss Helen Baird with possibly local women as school girls.
“https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/0319/1037244-saint-brides-school-donegal/”
____________________________________________
Artemis: For Women Who Love Women, issue 2, 1983
Artemis for Women Who Love Women issue 8, definately 1985.
QUOTE: “Our editor resigned. Unexpectedly, too.”
____________________________________________
QUOTE: “Helen claims she was not brainwashed, but adds: “There was something sinister at the heart if it. The founder was a remarkable person but was leading a fantasy life – we were living in someone else’s fantasy.
Helen left after two years.” [1] (So that would be September 1983 until September 1985)
Observation by Editor of Sacred Myths and Rites of the Madrians book Mr. Philip P Jackson: “I visited Burtonport twice and Helen (Estelle) Gilmour was there on both occasions. The religious function seemed to have disssolved by then.” [3]
Lux Madriana split off into two groups, according to Estelle fiaMoura:
QUOTE: “one based in Burtonport, Co Donegal (Ireland) and the other in Bristol (England).
The Burtonport group was known under a number of different names, and it also continued to publish in the same format as The Coming Age – magazines aimed at lesbians. These included ‘Artemis’, ‘The Romantic’, and another….
The Burtonport group finally left there in 1986/87, when the owners reclaimed the house. [Incorrect dating, it is docuented that 2 left in 1990 and 1 remained until the repossession in late December 1992.] When last I heard of them the 3 remaining members were living in South London.” [4]
Now 51, [born 1948] and a secretary at Leeds General Infirmary, she recalls her days in Ireland with affection. “I discovered a freedom, and talents that I didn’t know I had.”
She is a leading authority on cults and helps others through the Cultline, based at St Joseph’s RC Church, Pakington Street, off Manchester Road, Bradford, of which she is an active member.” [1]
Anne Helen Gilmour died on December 20, 2020 (aged 72) after a long illness (Alzheimers) at Pollard House, 68 Pollard Lane, Undercliffe, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 4RW. [5] [6] [7]
Notes:
[1] How I was drawn to life in a cult article by Helen Gilmour
Publication: Bradford Telegraph and Argus
Location: Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Issue Date: Tuesday, 16th February, 1999
Page: unknown
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/8068126.how-i-was-drawn-to-life-in-a-cult/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_%26_Argus
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[2] All information confirmed by a Madrian source who prefers to remain anonymous. Personal correspondence.
[3] Editor of Sacred Myths and Rites of the Madrians book Mr. Philip P Jackson https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1409295478?tag=vig-21 confirmed meeting Helen Gilmour a.k.a. religious name Estelle Fia Moura in Oxford. He also confirmed that Helen Gilmour was known as a teacher named Helen Baird in St. Bride’s school, Burtonport. Mr. Philip P Jackson visited Burtonport twice whilst Helen Gilmour resided there. Personal correspondence.
[4] Source: http://luxmadriana.multiply.com/journal/item/96/to-the-Group-moderator (X broken link X) on A History of Aristasia-in-Telluria by Miss Anthea Rosetti
[5] Announcements
Death Notices & Obituaries
Anne Helen Gilmour
GILMOUR Anne Helen Please pray for the soul of Helen, who died at Pollard House [6] [7] on December 20, 2020 after a long illness, fortified by the Rites of the Church, a much loved, sister, sister-in-law and aunt. May she rest in peace. Funeral service and cremation will be held at Scholemoor Crematorium tomorrow, Wednesday January 13 at 11:30 a.m.
Published in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus on 12th January 2021
Publication: Bradford Telegraph and Argus
Location: Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Issue Date: Tuesday, 12th January, 2021
Page: unknown
https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/announcements/deaths/deaths/19003769.Anne_Helen_GILMOUR/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telegraph_%26_Argus
Anne Helen Gilmour died December 20, 2020
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[6] https://www.caresourcer.com/uk/providers/cqc/1-130134864/pollard-house?
-
Claire Gilmour
a year agoWe have had over 7 yes of experience with this home
They are.the warmest kindest caring people you will find our sister is in and now her Alzheimer’s is taking over.they are taking great care of her even though she needs 24 hrs care these people have become our friends I would willing go in there. Unfortunately we live on in Bristol, that another thing I like we are always kept informed of any changes etc.,I would hope this helps anyone looking for care for a loved one.just one big thank you Claire and Steve[7] Photo of Pollard House, Residential Care Home: https://web.archive.org/web/20171010151631/http://www.pollardhouse.co.uk/
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Madrian Deanic Resources 
