Real-life nun consultant praises Call the Midwife's historical accuracy as series inspires prequel

Sister Margaret-Angela, a former midwife from the Anglican community of St John the Divine that inspired the BBC drama Call the Midwife, has commended the television program for its careful attention to detail. The nun, who began her work in London's Poplar district, served as a consultant for the production team, receiving frequent inquiries about historical accuracy regarding practices and attire. The fictional Order of St. Raymond Nonnatus in the series is modeled after the real St John the Divine community, which relocated from London's East End to Alum Rock in Birmingham in 1976. Sister Margaret-Angela recalled her initial surprise at the move but noted the community quickly adapted. The television show is adapted from Jennifer Worth's memoir of her experiences as a midwife with the sisters in Poplar; Worth previously worked in healthcare in Coventry and Warwick during the 1950s. Medical historian Dr. John Wilmot contextualized the hierarchical nature of nursing during that era. Sister Margaret-Angela remembered Worth's husband assisting with typing her dictated manuscript. Three sisters visited the program's set, where Sister Margaret-Angela met actress Miriam Margolyes. With the community's numbers declining, Sister Margaret-Angela views their involvement with the series as preserving their history, noting they have archived all DVDs. The praise comes as the fifteenth season concluded recently and a prequel to the drama enters development.