Mother Angelica, small town nun who created a global TV empire, dies aged 92

Mother Mary Angelica, a folksy Roman Catholic nun who used a monastery garage to begin a television ministry that grew into a global religious media empire, has died. She was 92. Known to millions of viewers simply as “Mother Angelica”, the founder of the Eternal Word Television Network died on Easter Sunday at the rural Alabama monastery where she lived. She set up a religious talk show with just $200 (£140) in the garage of the monastery in suburban Birmingham in 1981. That show grew to become the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), which has the blessing of the Vatican and now has 11 TV networks which broadcast to more than 258 million households.

In the face of sickness and long-suffering trials, mother’s example of joy and prayerful perseverance exemplified the Franciscan spirit she held so dear.

Michael Warsaw, chairman and chief executive of EWTN

Mother Angelica had been in declining health after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage on Christmas Eve 2001. She never regained her full speech and had other, less-severe strokes in more recent years. Alabama Governor Robert Bentley said in a statement that Mother Angelica will live on in those touched by her sermons. "On this Easter Sunday, it is only fitting that the Lord chose today to call home one of his humble servants, Mother Angelica. She devoted her life to ministry, converting untold numbers of people to the church. She left an indelible mark on Alabama, the Catholic Church and the world as a whole,“ Bentley said.

Mother Angelica