Reports from around the country

DIOCESAN DIGEST

Mass of Ages quarterly round-up

Arundel & Brighton Huw Davies aandb@lms.org.uk 07954 253284

This summer saw the happy return of the LMS pilgrimage to Our Lady of Consolation and St Francis at West Grinstead, where around 60 people (of whom one-third were children) were pleased to join with Fr Thomas Kent for his first public Mass, a sung votive of Our Lady of Consolation. We were lucky with the weather to then share some refreshments outdoors, before the afternoon ended with the Rosary and Benediction. Thanks must go especially to Thomas More Hagger for organising a choir in fine voice, as well as those who travelled from afar to serve, and the parishioners of West Grinstead for their warm welcome. It is expected that the pilgrimage will return in 2022, but before then there will be Sung Masses at West Grinstead on both Remembrance Sunday and Advent Sunday at 3pm.

At St Hugh of Lincoln in Knaphill, the co-op of St Joseph for seven home-school families commenced in the parish in September with an inaugural Low Mass, and there is now weekly Adoration and Benediction for the children. Please keep this important new initiative in your prayers.

In Eastbourne, at Our Lady of Ransom, there is still the welcome provision of two weekly Masses offered by Fr Bruno Witchalls and Fr Tristan Cranfield, with the Saturday morning Mass now having moved to Friday evening at 6.30pm, preceded by Benediction. All other Masses in the diocese remain as per the usual schedule, but it is always advisable to check parish websites or social media in case of Masses on Holy Days.

Birmingham & Black Country Louis Maciel 0739 223 2225 birmingham@lms.org.uk birmingham-lms-rep.blogspot.co.uk/

This quarter’s highlight was probably the High Mass celebrated on 9 October for the Feast of St John Henry Newman at the Oratory he founded in Birmingham. Falling on a Saturday this year, it was celebrated at 11am, replacing the usual 9am Low Mass. This followed a High Mass on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, tinged with sadness this year given that it used to be celebrated in thanksgiving for the anniversary of the now abrogated Summorum Pontificum taking effect. At the time of writing, the Masses for All Saints and All Souls have not taken place, with the celebration of the former slightly complicated by the Feast being transferred to Sunday by the Bishops of England and Wales in the new calendar, coinciding with the Feast of Christ the King in the 1962 Missal, preventing the celebration of an external solemnity on Sunday.

The normal Mass schedule continues at the Oratory and at the other churches in the West Midlands area: 11.30am Sunday at St Mary-on-the-Hill in Wednesbury for the Walsall deanery, every Friday evening at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour in the Wolverhampton deanery, third Fridays at St Dunstan’s in the South Birmingham deanery, and first Friday at Acocks Green in the East Birmingham and Solihull deanery, although it was not possible to celebrate one in October. Please show your appreciation to the priests offering these Masses by attending them while you still can.

Birmingham (North Staffs) Alan Frost

A special Mass was held on 15 August as it is the patronal Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption, to whom the parish Church in Swynnerton is dedicated. Approaching the village, one sees a bold sign proclaiming its Royal Charter granted by Edward I, and Fr Chavasse informed us that the King authorised an annual fair as part of the Charter, to be held on this Feast, beginning 15 August 1307. The Catholic Church of the time still stands impressively in the village centre. Opposite is the delightful chapel of Our Lady built by the ancestors of the present titled Stafford Family: Maria Teresa Fitzherbert, in 1868, commissioned Gilbert Blount, a pupil of Pugin, to create the gothic style church near their seat of Swynnerton Hall in memory of her husband Francis. Her son Basil was very much involved in the planning. It was opened in 1869, and mercifully never reordered.

The weekend before, the first Saturday morning Mass (a fortnightly event now resumed) was celebrated since before the original lockdown. Elsewhere, after a short break in August, Fr Stefek resumed the weekly Wednesday Mass in Stoke-on-Trent at the beginning of September. The following week (on the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows) he celebrated the Mass as his first Missa Cantata, his second on the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, thanks to the help of the Scorey family and the singers.

A note about the Mass at Swynnerton on 14 November being Remembrance Sunday. It has special significance for parish priest Fr Paul Chavasse, Cong. Orat, as in the first World War the cousin of his grandfather, Noel Chavasse, was one of only three men ever, the only one in WWI, to be awarded the VC twice.

Birmingham (Oxford) Joseph Shaw oxford@lms.org.uk oxfordlmsrep.blogspot.com/

Regular Masses continue, with All Saints and All Souls being celebrated in the Oratory and in SS Gregory & Augustine's.

Of particular note is the Sung Votive Mass for the Unity of the Church at 6:30pm on Wednesday 3 November, over the diocesan boundary in English Martyrs, Didcot.

Birmingham (Worcestershire) Alastair J Tocher 01684 893332 malvern@lms.org.uk extraordinarymalvern.uk Facebook: Extraordinary Malvern

This quarter has seen the return of more former Masses in Worcestershire: September saw the return of 1st Sunday Missae Cantatae at St Ambrose’s, Kidderminster celebrated by Fr Douglas Lamb; and October saw the return of 1st Friday

The south of Worcestershire is still effectively provided for from just across the diocesan border at Most Holy Trinity, Ledbury in the Archdiocese of Cardiff. The past quarter has seen continued slow growth of the congregation attending Sunday Missae Cantatae there with recent Masses, celebrated by parish priest Fr Adrian Wiltshire, attracting double the precovid congregation that previously attended Sung Masses at St Wulstan’s, Little Malvern.

We are most grateful to all our priests for the additional effort that they expend providing these Masses and for their care for all those who attend; also to Archbishop Longley and Archbishop Stack for their formal permissions in accordance with Traditionis custodes enabling these Masses to continue.

Brentwood Mark Johnson

Many members will know Father Jean-Claude Selvini who retired in September 2021. Father Selvini was parish priest at The Assumption, Hainault, and celebrated the Mass on Monday evenings and Holy Days of Obligation in that church for many years. Father Selvini was also always willing to travel to celebrate the Mass and has been a tremendous help in supporting the Mass at Canning Town and elsewhere, including celebrating our annual Requiem Mass at St Patrick's Cemetery Chapel. I was delighted to present Father Selvini with a set of altar cards as a small gesture of our gratitude and appreciation for his considerable efforts on our behalf. I have included a photograph of Father Selvini, servers and choir at St Margaret's Canning Town at his last Mass (for the moment at least) on 22 August.

With Father Selvini's retirement the Mass previously celebrated in Hainault on Monday evenings has moved to St John Vianney, Clayhall and is being celebrated by parish priest, Father Rob Page. Our thanks go to him for taking on that commitment.

Members may know that Father Neil Brett has been unwell but is on the mend and is now back celebrating the Sunday Mass at SS Mary & Ethelburga, Barking. Please pray for his full recovery.

There are some significant events coming up in the next quarter in addition to our regular Masses.

Following the success of last year, there will be Sung Mass on Friday 24 December at 5.30pm, i.e. Midnight Mass, at St Margaret’s Convent Chapel, Bethel Avenue, Canning Town, London E16 4JU. I should stress that there is plenty of parking near the chapel and both West Ham and Canning Town stations are nearby. I hope readers will make every effort to support these Masses.

Father Selvini, servers and choir at St Margaret's Canning Town

Cardiff Andrew Butcher 07905 609770 cardiff@lms.org.uk www.lmscardiff.org.uk

At the time of writing, Archbishop Stack has allowed the Sunday Mass at Most Holy Trinity, Ledbury and the daily Mass at the Cardiff Oratory in Formation to continue. There are currently no other parishes offering the Traditional Mass.

Earlier in the year, on Sunday 20 June, a Pontifical High Mass was offered by the Abbot of Farnborough at the Cardiff Oratory in Formation on the external solemnity of St Alban, the patronal feast of the parish. Relics of Saint Alban were presented to the parish by the Abbot in a reliquary and placed in a new side chapel that was converted from an old confessional. To my knowledge this was the first Pontifical High Mass to take place in the Traditional Rite in the Archdiocese since the liturgical changes of 1969.

Please continue to remember the archbishop and priests who offer the Traditional Mass in your prayers and be assured that I remember you in my prayers.

East Anglia (West) Alisa and Gregor Dick 01954 780912 cambridge@lms.org.uk

Sunday Masses continue at Blackfriars in Cambridge. We report this fact this quarter with particular gratitude to Bishop Hopes for his generous response to the responsibilities placed on him by Traditionis custodes. We invite all readers to pray for the bishop and for the appointment in due course of his successor.

Hexham and Newcastle Keith McAllister 01325 308968 07966 235329 k_mcallister@ymail.com

Diocesan provision of Ancient Rite liturgies has continued as before, plus some additional Masses being introduced. Firstly we now have 1st Saturday TLMs with Rosary and Fatima devotions at Coxhoe with Fr Shaun Swales. A mid-month Mass commenced in September at Cheeseburn Grange estate private chapel, north west of Newcastle, by kind permission of the Riddell Family, its Catholic owners.

The estate history is most interesting, it having been part of the Augustinian Priory of Hexham prior to the Tudor regime confiscations by the Crown authorities. It was restored to Catholic ownership in 1752 and the chapel, dedicated to St Francis Xavier, was then built in 1820. It is in fine order and features, overlooking the traditional altar, a large painting of the descent of our Saviour from the cross, by Flemish artist J Verillin (a copy of the centre panel from the Rubens triptych in Antwerp Cathedral). The inaugural Mass (the first since 1969) was well attended, especially given the remote rural location, and we have a rota of priests able and willing to celebrate. We are very grateful to Bill McGawley, Sacristan and server at Cheeseburn, who invested much effort in enabling and organising this new venue.

The good news keeps coming - Bishop Robert Byrne is to offer a Missa Cantata at St Joseph’s Gateshead on the great Feast of OLJC the King on Sunday 31 October at noon. Deo Gratias!

Lancaster Bob & Jane Latin 01772 962387 lancaster@lms.org.uk latinmasslancaster.blogspot.com John Rogan 01524 858832 lancasterassistant@lms.org.uk

The very good news this quarter is that Fr Michael Docherty has started offering Masses, on behalf of the Lancaster deanery, at St Mary's, Hornby, on Saturdays at 11.00 am. We encourage all those who are able to get there to take advantage of this opportunity and we thank Fr Docherty for his support. This means that 50% of the deaneries in the Lancaster Diocese have some Traditional Mass provision.

Despite concerns that the Covid situation might deter people from coming, the two fund-raising events – the Summer Fair and the Organ Recital - at St Walburge's were a great success with good numbers of attendees and a very satisfactory sum in excess of £4,000 going towards the renovation fund. Both the Mayor of Preston and Bishop Paul Swarbrick attended the organ recital and the bishop enjoyed chatting with people afterwards. We are delighted to announce that the renovation fund has received a fantastic boost of a grant of £257,000 so the re-roofing will begin shortly. We look forward to being able to remove the buckets!! But fund-raising continues and you are invited to visit the new website www.saintwalburges.church for lots of news about ongoing projects and events, including a Carol Service on Thursday 9 December and a return visit by our guest organist, Sean Maxwell, on 22 December. If you wish to help the re-roofing fund go to saintwalburges. church/sponsor-a-slate/ where you can do just that, sponsor a slate for £10.

It has been a time of change in Preston. Canon Tanner has been appointed as Rector of Holy Angels, Chelston, Torquay and will be much missed. In his place we have welcomed Canon Ducret, ordained in July, as second curate. Abbé Juan Camilo has been transferred to the Institute's house at Sacred Heart, Gibraltar and in his place we welcomed Abbé Duarte from Portugal. Canon Tanner returned for a flying visit at the beginning of October to celebrate a Solemn High Mass with Abbé Duarte as Deacon and Canon Ducret as Sub-Deacon, and ten altar servers! Canon Montjean and Canon Cristofoli were in choir. After the Mass there was a festive farewell lunch and the presentation of a gift of a set of green vestments for his new ministry.

After spending some time at Gricigliano, the Institute's seminary in Italy, as the next step in his probationary period, Fr John Millar has been appointed to Sacred Heart, Limerick. Two new novices, Sister Venetia-Marie and Sister VictoireMarie have joined the Sisters Adorers' Preston house, bringing their number to five. During October we will again receive candidates at the House of Discernment; this year there will be six, from the Netherlands, Dublin, London, Norwich, York and Walsingham.

The Institute continues to promote programmes for the spiritual development of the laity: there have been two meetings of the Society of the Sacred Heart, and in September a new venture of fortnightly meetings of Guilds for adults, young people and children. These involve a mixture of catechesis and socialising and the first two were very well supported.

Lancaster (North) Nicholas Steven 07715 539395 warwickbridge@lms.org.uk

Here in Cumbria, we’ve rolled with the Traditionis custodes punch and are still standing our ground. As the old Winnebago Indian saying goes: "As you go on your way in life, the birds of the air will poop on your head. Don't even pause to brush it off."

Our regular Saturday 10 am Masses at St Margaret Mary's in Carlisle are well attended by a loyal and steadily growing band of mantilla-friendly prayer warriors, rosaries in hand. The recent arrival of Fr Daniel Etienne means that we now have two Usus Antiquior enabled priests in the Parish. Hope that this might presage the establishment of a Sunday Mass has not yet been realised, though this will surely happen sooner or later, as not only is the Old Rite a living treasure of the Church that can never die but it is the blood transfusion our ailing, Covid-consumed religion most needs these days.

Masses in Workington at 7 pm on the second Friday of each month are also continuing. Two of us from Carlisle joined half a dozen regulars for the October Mass at Our Lady and St Michael's, which Canon Watson celebrated with great devotion, ably served by Paul Briers. The Lady Chapel is simply beautiful and the stillness of the autumn night lent a special grace to our gathering. Your attendance on 10 December, 14 January and 11 February is recommended.

The Cumbrian Purgatorial Society is now up and running. Dedicated to Our Lady and the martyrs of Cumbria, more details can be found at www.prayforsouls.uk. Souls of the faithful departed can be enrolled here without charge but so can living souls - anyone who might benefit from the future Masses and prayers of the Society. Active participation through prayer or donation are also welcome. Masses for the intentions of the Society are being offered monthly, as shown on the website.

On Saturday 6 November, the Purgatorial Society will hold its first Sung Requiem Mass at St Margaret Mary's, 75 Scalegate Road, Carlisle at 10 am. Our Schola will chant the propers and the Brampton Chamber Consort will sing Victoria’s four part Missa Pro Defunctis plus Offertory and Communion motets by Victoria and Byrd. Singers will combine to chant the Dies Irae. The catafalque will be furnished by Sean Crilley Funeral Directors. The Mass will be followed by a talk and lunch in St Margaret Mary’s Social Club. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will close the proceedings.

Please watch this space for future exciting developments and keep us in your prayers.

Liverpool Neil Addison liverpool@lms.org.uk

The period since Traditionis custodes has been a sobering and saddening experience for Traditionalists in Liverpool Archdiocese. The Archbishop has granted faculties to two priests to say the Traditional Mass, Fr Simon Henry in Leyland and Fr Ian O’Shea in Wigan but has added that ‘No more requests for this faculty will be considered’ which is something he was certainly not required to do by TC. It means that there will be no other Diocesan Churches or Priests allowed to offer the Traditional Mass now or in the future. In addition the Archbishop has banned all Diocesan Clergy from using the Traditional Rite for a ‘private’ Mass. This ‘Gold plating’ of TC by adding extra restrictions has come as a nasty surprise and a disappointment coming from an Archbishop who was until now regarded as a friend of the Traditional Rite.

In addition the Archbishop wrote an article for the September issue of the Diocesan Magazine Catholic Pictorial where he accused Latin Mass followers of ‘hijacking’ the title ‘Traditionalist’ and then stated that actually the 1970 Missal represented the real Catholic tradition and not the Latin Mass of 2000 years. It was frankly a peculiar argument to understand and I certainly have not met anyone whether New Mass or old who understood what point he was trying to make.

One thing seems certain TC is not going to be imposed in Liverpool in a light or sympathetic manner which is very saddening for all of us.

Liverpool (Warrington) Alan Frost

At St Mary’s Shrine, things have steadily got back to normal. There are three Masses on a Sunday and Mass, with confessions available beforehand, is celebrated each mid-day after the Angelus. Each daily Mass is broadcast on-line, as is High Mass on Sunday. The great news is that in September, the Academy opened and children are being taught a curriculum that highlights the learning of the true teaching and practice of the Roman Catholic Church. The chaplain is the Rector, Fr de Malleray, and information about the professional staff is available online. Funding is eagerly welcome. Kindly donate to St Mary’s Warrington Educational Trust as several families are unable to meet the costs: email TheAcademyStMarys@gmail. com. The FSSP do much internationally to promote proper Catholic education, and there is a Continuous Rosary Project for the FSSP’s ministry and its members (www.fssp.de/rosarium).

While prayers are very much needed for the FSSP and every loyal Catholic attending the Traditional Latin Mass, no changes have occurred in Warrington. St Mary’s church, presbytery and Priory Court are legally owned by the FSSP and St Mary’s canonical status was changed six years ago from parish to shrine. The Archbishop of Liverpool publicly supported St Mary’s in the September issue of the archdiocesan magazine where he wrote: “In Warrington we are fortunate to have the Priestly Fraternity of St Peter which was founded by Pope St John Paul II. They conduct their liturgy according to the preconciliar rites and offer pastoral care to those who choose that way of worship.” Archbishop MacMahon knows well St Mary’s community whom he visits yearly.

Among the special events organised and contributed to by the clergy recently, Fr Stewart led a party of pilgrims to London to take part in the successful March for Life on 4 Sept. Fr de Malleray held a Juventutem meeting for young adults and presented a course at Stonyhurst. A Vocations Weekend is to be held in November for young men (18-29) possibly discerning a vocation, led by Fr de Malleray, assisted by Frs Ian Verrier and Alex Stewart, FSSP.

Fr de Malleray’s latest book is now available: Near Missed Masses, a light-hearted account of places and events across the globe nearly causing Mass not to be offered (aroucapress. com/near-missed-masses). The latest and special 50th issue of ‘Dowry’ has also been published. It is a pamphlet titled ‘The Sacred Liturgy as a Secret Garden’ presenting the traditional liturgy with recourse to literature and architecture (fssp.org. uk/category/dowry/). Lastly, a young student who lived at St Mary’s these past six months has just been admitted to the Fraternity’s seminary in Bavaria starting this autumn (one out of fifty First Year seminarians admitted worldwide), while now Deacon Gwilym Evans, FSSP is preparing for priestly ordination next summer and Warrington seminarian David will receive First Tonsure on 23 October, together with another 32 FSSP Second Year seminarians. Fr de Malleray asks our prayers for them.

Menevia Elaine Sharpling Meneviastabatmater.blogspot.com/

Thanks to His Grace, Archbishop George Stack, permission has been granted for Holy Mass to continue for the time being – although further clarification is being sought from Rome. The typical pattern continues with Holy Mass at Sacred Heart, Morriston on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays, St Therese Port Talbot on the 2nd Sunday and the 4th Sunday at St David and St Patrick in Haverfordwest

We continue to post information on our blogspot so please check here for the latest information: meneviastabatmater.blogspot.com/

In other news, Canon Jason Jones celebrated a baptism in the Traditional Rite and we send our congratulations to Gavin and Paula and their family. Furthermore, in an effort to support our priests a little more, Tom attended the servers’ training recently held by the LMS in London and recommends it to all – a very fruitful day. We plan to host a servers’ day at Sacred Heart Morriston in the near future so that the knowledge and skills can be shared more widely.

Middlesbrough Paul Waddington 01757 638026

A Sung Mass continues to be offered every Sunday at 12 noon in the Oratory Church in York. There is also daily Low Mass at 8.15am Mondays to Fridays and at 9.15am on Saturdays. On Holidays of Obligation and major Feast Days, the Oratory provides additional Sung Masses at 6pm. Vespers and Benediction in the traditional form are also celebrated on Sundays at 4pm.

Fr Massie continues to offer a Low Mass at the Church of Our Lady and St Peter Chanel in Hull on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm. Also on Thursdays, Fr Smith offers a Low Mass at the Church of St Joan of Arc at Catterick Garrison at 12.30pm.

The promulgation of Traditionis Custodes has made no difference to Latin Mass provision in the Diocese of Middlesbrough. Soon after its publication, Bishop Drainey contacted all the priests of the diocese that offer the Latin Mass, urging them to remain calm, and advising them to continue as before. We must be grateful to Bishop Drainey for adopting this policy.

Northampton North (Northamptonshire) Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 northampton@lms.org.uk

Sunday Mass attendance at St Brendan, Corby, has continued to improve. Masses also continue on Saturday mornings and first Fridays, and there have been several celebrations of Mass on feast days. The first sung Mass since last Christmas was celebrated on 29 September for the feast of St Michael, and a further sung Mass is planned for All Saints Day.

The Forty Hours devotion was kept in September, with Mass in the Traditional Form said each morning.

Northampton (South) Barbara Kay 01234 340759 mbky3@outlook.com

We had a very happy day at Christ the King, Bedford, on 14 August for the marriage of Francis Wanjiru and Celia Mendes from our parish – Celia even had a Latin inscription on the bottom of her veil! Fr Phipps, FSSP, celebrated a beautiful Nuptial Mass.

We continue to have two hours of Confessions each Saturday afternoon from 3pm to 5 pm, which is well attended. We also continue with our 8.30 am and 12.30 pm Masses with a total of 150 – 200 people each week. It has been good to be able to use the church hall again for refreshments after the 8.30 am Mass after some eighteen months of absence.

A very happy day at Christ the King, Bedford: the marriage of Francis Wanjiru and Celia Mendes

We had a small schola pre-Covid which remained silent for a year and a half, but which was back in action for a Sung Mass on Sunday 3 October. On this occasion it was all ladies and it would be lovely to have some men! If anybody, male or female, is within reach of Bedford and can commit to a practice on the Saturday before the 1st Sunday of the month from 3pm – 5pm and Sunday Mass at 8.30 am, please contact our schola leader, Katherine Smith, on 07985 214854 or katie.peddie@gmail.com. We are a friendly and welcoming group and previous experience is not required.

Our All Saints Low Mass and trinated All Souls Masses are scheduled for 1 and 2 November respectively, as is our Mass of Reparation for Abortion at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Brereton Road, Bedford, on Saturday 13 November at 12 noon. Monsignor Gordon Read, National Chaplain to the LMS, is our celebrant, with Fr Michael Cullinan as Deacon and Fr Gabriel Diaz as Subdeacon. We are looking forward to welcoming Dominic Bevan and a group of professional singers for the first time at this event.

Bedford Masses on Christmas Day are at midnight and 8.30 am, and on Boxing Day at 12.30 pm. At Chesham Bois, Mass will be at 8 am on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We start 2022 with the usual 8.30 am and 12.30 pm Bedford Masses on 2 January and an evening Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany at 7.30 pm on Thursday 6 January. At Chesham the Masses will be at 8 am on 2 January and 11 am on 6 January.

As always, please see our Facebook page: ww.facebook. com/bedfordlatinmass/ or the FSSP fssp.org.uk/bedford/ for updates or contact me as above.

Nottingham South (Leicestershire and Rutland) Paul Beardsmore 01858 434037 northampton@lms.org.uk

Happily there is now a public Sunday Mass again in Leicester at Blessed Sacrament Church, Braunstone, at 8.00 am. Grateful thanks are due to Canon Cahill for providing this Mass, and thus filling the gap left by the cessation of the Dominican Rite Mass at Holy Cross Priory.

Fr Gillham continues to offer a weekly Mass at Loughborough.

Plymouth (Cornwall) Stefano Mazzeo cornwall@lms.org.uk

Masses at Lanherne continue on Sundays at 8.30am Low Mass and at 10am Sung Mass, throughout the week Mass is at 8am and on Thursdays at 8am and 6.15pm. Confession is at 9.45 Mass on Sunday, 3pm on Saturdays. The sisters of Lanherne need to find various ways of supporting themselves and to continue the renovation work, you can help them by contacting Canon Smith at canon.smith@institute-christ-king. org or phone the Chaplain's house 01637 861752 . Once again, this year the sisters are making cider and the harvest is good. Cider is available and will make an excellent gift.

We have finally started filming the Message of Lourdes for EWTN, this had been much delayed due the Covid pandemic. I am pleased that this again has many Traditionalists involved, including the Director of Photography, Co-Producer and other actors. We did have to look outside the Catholic world to find our Bernadette and some other actors, however all are completely enthralled by the story of Bernadette and the message of Lourdes. There are also some younger members of the crew and cast who are Traditional Catholics, so it is such a pleasure to bring them on and should bode well for the future of Catholic TV and films. We are to film the grotto in late November on Dartmoor and are looking for volunteers as extras, so if you'd like to take part please contact me at my email address. This would be particularly suitable for West Country congregations.

We hope to have another episode of Christendom Rising video magazine up on YouTube before Christmas, in which we will continue to report on the restoration work at Lanherne, and Traditional Catholic life. We will also look at the new Institute of Christ the King mission at Holy Angels Torquay (please see Maurice Quinn’s Devon and Dorset's reports). Also, the Mass at Chideock and Pilgrimage, where Bishop Mark was present in choir and preached.

Plymouth (Devon) Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk

Once again excellent news from South Devon - the long-awaited arrival of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to the English Riviera has happened, and they are now in charge of the newly designated shrine of Holy Angels, Chelston, Torquay. The Prior of the Shrine, Canon Scott Tanner, along with the seminarian, Abbé Tanner Carlile, have made an immediate impression on the spiritual life of the area. Although present circumstances prevent them from accessing the adjacent presbytery (for the time being they reside at St Mary’s Abbey, Buckfast), a skeleton schedule of daily Holy Mass, Vespers, Adoration, Benediction and regular Confession has been put in place. To have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered every day at Holy Angels in the Traditional Rite is a great blessing, and we must thank Bishop Mark O’Toole for his pastoral concern by inviting the Institute to Torquay, and the Institute for taking up the offer. Canon Tanner celebrated the opening Sung Mass on the morning of Sunday 19 September, assisted by Abbé Carlile as MC, with a newly-formed serving team comprising of brothers Thomas, Raphael, and Joseph Oliver (it is thanks to Patrick Oliver and two of his sons – Thomas and Raphael – that their work making a temporary Footpace and steps ensured that ad orientem worship was made possible at the shrine). Canon Montjean, the Institute’s Superior from New Brighton, sat in choir and gave the opening address and homily. We have to thank Andrew Proctor for giving up his time in order to supply the organ music and to lead the choir, and thanks too for the excellent choir members Mary Coghill, Patrick Oliver, Michael Crawford and Andrew Beards, all of whom sang the Mass Propers with professional ease. Also deserving of thanks are Collette and Monica Oliver for producing cakes and goodies for consumption after Mass, along with Kitty Straghan, Margaret Carson, Pat Easton, Maria Lunn, Helen Brown, Angie Baldwin, and Theresa Mortimer, all of whom helped to put smiles on faces with tea and coffee or assisted in setting up beforehand. Please also note that this opening Mass was filmed by Stefano Mazzeo, and will appear in the second episode of Christendom Rising, and, like episode one, will be well worth viewing. More altar servers are required at Holy Angels, so if there are any men willing to help out, please attend Mass and speak to Canon Tanner, and, likewise, an organist and more singers for the 10.30am Sunday morning Sung Mass would be much appreciated. Do note that after the initial Sunday 8.30am Novus Ordo, all other Masses and services on Sundays and weekdays are in the Traditional Rite.

At St Edward the Confessor in Plymouth, Sunday Masses are as normal with no interruption to the weekend schedule, as, on occasions when Canon Smith was away, Fr Diaz celebrated the 3pm Sunday afternoon Mass there, as did Fr Martin Budge, the latter being resident at the cathedral. Elsewhere in Devon, however, our Mass schedule is on hold due to scaffolding in the chapel of St Cyprians, Ugbrooke House, Chudleigh (necessary remedial work), and the continuing strict virus regulations at Blessed Sacrament, Heavitree, Exeter, with which we are unable to comply at the present time. However, we hope to restart as soon as possible in the near future, but, as always, do contact me before travelling any distance to avoid disappointment.

Plymouth (Dorset) Maurice Quinn 07555 536579 devon@lms.org.uk

Although I was not able to attend some of the Dorset Latin Masses this last while, it was with greater pleasure that I could be present at Our Lady of Lourdes & St Cecilia, Blandford Forum, on the 7 October, Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. For this very special day, Mgr Francis Jamieson offered Holy Mass, then followed this with Rosary and Benediction. Please note that Mgr Francis celebrates a usus antiquior every Saturday morning at 9.30am, and will continue to celebrate an extra weekday Latin Mass once per month, and, after this latter, those present are welcome to join us for a free social lunch in the church amenity room or in the beautiful and extensive well-kept garden (and get some gardening tips from the excellent gardener). All the required information can be found in the Mass Listings, but if you have any relevant questions, I’ll be pleased to answer them. Now that Our Lady’s at Marnhull is lost to us as a Latin Mass venue due to the retirement of Fr Martin Budge, I would urge you to support what Mgr Francis at Blandford offers every week/month. As the Chideock pilgrimage was a Dorset event deserving of separate treatment, be sure to read the two-page article on pages 44-45 of this issue.

Portsmouth Peter Cullinane. pmcullinane@hotmail.com

Again we need more to attend the 8am Mass on Sundays at the Cathedral, served by the Marian Franciscan community.

I have not mentioned Holy Family parish in Southampton for some time but I am very pleased to report that the congregation is now some 60 or even more and is served by Fr Benjamin Theobald.

The Mass at 9am draws many families with children, together with members of the Polish and Malayalam community.

I am pleased to report that EF Masses are continuing as usual in the Portsmouth Diocese.

Portsmouth (Isle of Wight) Peter Clarke

Latin (E.F.) Masses have been offered on the Isle of Wight for the past 33 years. I am pleased to say that they will be continuing, mainly at St Thomas's, Cowes. This beautiful church (built in 1797) is probably one of the oldest in England where the EF Mass is celebrated.

The Mass is celebrated by the parish priest, Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris.

It is usually every Thursday at 12 noon; with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions from 11-15am.

EF Masses in St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Cowes, Isle of Wight, offered by Fr Jonathan Redvers Harris

Reading Adrian Dulston

Reading FSSP continue to provide Latin Masses at St William of York (St John Fisher Parish). The numbers have increased slightly and new faces, many young, provide some sense of a continuing community. Fr Goddard and Fr Phipps are called upon in different pastoral and geographical directions but still provide spiritual and moral support to a wide net of parishioners.

The men and women's groups thrive. Altar server training is regular.

There is an underlying optimism in the parish with vibrant activity, not least involvement in the 40 days for Life lead by one of the parishioners.

Salford Alison F. Kudlowski salford@lms.org.uk

The Traditional Latin Mass at 4.45 on Sundays continues to be celebrated by the Oratorian Community at St Chad, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester. This remains the sole parish in Salford diocese celebrating the TLM.

For additional events please check the website of the Manchester Oratorian Community, www.manchesteroratory.org

Shrewsbury (Wirral) Neil Addison liverpool@lms.org.uk

The past few months have seen the repainting of the Dome proceeding apace and, as the scaffolding has been removed week by week, our Church is re-emerging like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. The colour scheme is a simple combination of lighter and darker duck egg blue which has been chosen to match the marble in our stunning baroque Sanctuary. The Church is lighter and brighter than it was before and we hope to have a Solemn High Mass once the remaining scaffolding has been removed from the nave.

We are also engaged in an appeal to install new lighting and chandeliers, which will make this iconic building one of the most beautiful Catholic Churches in the North West. We have been given a grant for this by the LMS and we are truly grateful for it; we see it as an act of faith that despite everything the Traditional Rite will continue here on the Wirral. We are also back to holding open days for visitors and are holding monthly organ playing performances of religious music, with singing provided by the Sisters Adorers based in Preston.

We also have a new Abbé (Seminarian), Francois Jacquet, who is warmly welcomed. He will spend a year with us seeing how a Church is run on a day-to-day basis whilst continuing his Seminary studies. It is a pleasure for all of us as we meet the Seminarians in the Institute; they are our hope for the future both of the Traditional Rite and the Church as a whole.

Southwark (Kent) Marygold Turner

We continue with our Masses, which are all centred at St Andrew’s, Tenterden at 12 noon. Father Gabriel Diaz is the main celebrant and we are having two Sung Masses a month (thanks to the generosity of Dr Andrew Czaykowsky) with the singers from Ben Bevan’s wonderful Victoria Consort. Fr Behruz, the Parish Priest, is most supportive: our numbers are growing and it is good to see families with children at our Masses.

We have also had one or two old friends celebrating here recently when Fr Diaz was away – very many thanks to them for the considerable trouble they take to minister to us.

The main excitement has been the annual Mass at St Augustine’s at Snave, one of the churches on the Marsh. It is only used once a year for Harvest and The Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust very kindly allow us to celebrate a Sung Mass soon after. Last year we missed it due to the virus, and this year we were in fact the only celebration in the church. It is a very fine but simple church, and not ruined in any way.

It was a wonderful event with Fr Diaz the celebrant and Ben Bevan supplying a magnificent choir – the largest we’ve ever had in Snave. The acoustics are excellent and they sang the Mass by Sebastian da Fabriano, written in the 16th century for the Escorial and never performed since then. Ben has recorded this music, which he first performed in St Mary’s, Rye, on the Friday before Snave. The concert was at 4.30pm and afterwards the choir and many people walked in pilgrimage to Winchelsea, where the Victoria Consort sang again in the beautiful church.

It was a particular delight to have Fr Behruz and the Rev. Graham Halsall, the local Anglican minister, with us, as well as Mrs Elizabeth Marshall, Secretary of the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust and some of the members of the Trust.

We hope to repeat the annual Mass at Snave as it is a very special event. There are many excellent photos taken by Clare Bowskill, some of which can be seen elsewhere in this magazine.

Looking towards the end of the year, we are very much looking forward to welcoming back Fr Richard Whinder for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

With the turmoil in the Church, the Pope’s Motu Proprio and the new Vatican clampdowns, we are more than grateful to the Archbishop of Southwark and Cardinal Nichols for the ready permission they have given to keep the status quo.

Editor’s note: The Society is very grateful to Marygold and her helpers for organising the Mass in Snave, their efforts are greatly appreciated.

Southwark (St Bede’s, Clapham Park) Thomas Windsor claphampark@lms.org.uk

Not long after my last report was written we had the good news that our Archbishop, John Wilson, had given permission for our TLM schedule to continue. As a thank you we organised a spiritual bouquet that was presented to the Archbishop in August, I received a very nice letter in reply and I can report that he was 'extremely touched and grateful for our kindness;’ he wishes to pass on his ‘warm gratitude to all involved’. The archbishop was particularly moved by the separate bouquet from our altar servers.

I am also delighted to report we have had a series of weddings of members of our community, so congratulations to Tom and Eden, Ben and Annie, Charles and Jess and shortly we will have another wedding of two of our choir members Charles and Kitty.

Our daily Masses continue as normal with the new children’s choir singing Sunday Mass once a month. Our choir has continued to sing a mix of chant, polyphonic Masses and polyphonic Propers, and has gained several new members over the past few months.

The parish has also started various traditional catechetical programmes including special programmes for children and young adults. Our special Sundays and Friday evening talks, have also restarted with options to join some of these activities online. I would recommend those interested to check our parish website for further details, stbedesclaphampark. blogspot.com

Southwark (St Mary’s Chislehurst) Christopher Richardson

We continue our regular schedule with the Sunday Missa Cantata and two weekday Low Masses.

Now that Covid regulations have been relaxed our numbers are back up and it has been pleasing to note a number of new faces.

In August a Solemn Requiem Mass was held on the first anniversary of the death of Fr Charles Briggs, who was our parish priest.

Southwark (Thanet) Antonia Robinson 01843 845880 07961 153963 thanet@lms.org.uk

The traditional Catholic community in East Kent is immensely grateful to our Archbishop, the Most Reverend John Wilson, for his swift, decisive and pastoral response to the Motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, allowing all of our Traditional Latin Masses to continue. In a parish like Ramsgate and Minster, where four different forms of the liturgy are celebrated (the Novus Ordo - in English and Polish -, the Traditional Latin Mass, the Syro-Malabar Rite and the Ordinariate Usage), we are acutely aware of the plurality of Catholic worship: virtually all parishioners will have attended each of these forms of the Mass at some point and it would have been a great wound to the unity of the parish were one form singled out for restriction with the others left alone. As an entire parish community we thank our Archbishop.

Traditional Masses have continued with strong congregations since the last report. We have a new server - young Douglas who has just made his First Holy Communion and who has shown impressive abilities from day one (although he’s not quite tall enough to move the Missal - yet!). Hugo, our traditional MC has (grudgingly) been allowed to return to university in Durham where he is reading Classics, but Levin and Wolfgang his young apprentices have stepped up ably and are serving and MC-ing our Sung Masses with great precision. Ben Scott, the Shrine Director of Music, has enhanced the sacred music provision with the creation of a ladies’ choir that provided angelic music for the Solemn Mass on the Feast of the Assumption. Sadly, because of restrictions imposed by Traditionis Custodes, newly ordained priest Fr David Hunter was not able to celebrate his first High Mass that day as planned, but he was able to preach an excellent sermon to a rapt congregation. We thank God for the bounty of such good and holy young priests, and encourage you all to keep dear, faithful Father Hunter in your prayers.

Currently we have Sung Mass every Sunday at 12 noon at the Shrine Church of St Augustine, as well as a Low Mass on Wednesdays at 9.30am at St Ethelbert’s. On Holy Days of Obligation (as well as major feast days) we have Masses in the evening, usually at 7.30pm. These are usually Sung Masses, and are usually at St Augustine’s but occasionally at St Ethelbert’s. It is worth telephoning the parish in advance to confirm both the time and location.

It would be remiss not to thank our stalwart and hard-working priests: Father Christopher Basden, whose unfailing enthusiasm and love of the church has a contagious effect on his congregants; our valued and tenacious Shrine Rector the incomparable Father Simon Heans who celebrates three liturgical forms (the Novus Ordo in English, the Ordinariate Usage and the Traditional Latin Mass) and whose academic grounding as a historian gives a fascinating depth to his sermons; and longstanding friend of tradition Fr Bernard McNally who hears confessions and offers spiritual direction throughout the 12 noon Sunday Mass. Catholics attached to the Traditional Form of the Mass in East Kent are deeply indebted to these, our beloved clergy, for the contribution they make to our lives in Christ.

Southwark (Wandsworth) Julia Ashenden

Canon Edwards is deeply grateful to his Grace, Archbishop John Wilson for his immediate response to our parish request to continue our schedule of Traditional Masses.

On Sundays at 11 am there is always a Missa Cantata. On three Sundays of the month this is sung by members of the congregation under the leadership of Benedict Jennings, while once a month it is sung by David Guest’s professional choir and is usually a Mass by Mozart. The Coronation Mass is a favourite.

After these Masses there are drinks in the Church Hall, which can then develop into a light lunch. Many friendships are made within the church community and support given and received.

The weekday Masses are proving ever more popular. The new First Saturday Sung Mass at 10.30 is attracting a sizeable congregation and the Friday evening Mass at 7 is popular with many young people. Then there is the Tuesday 10.30 Mass followed by Benediction, which those not having to go into work make a point of attending. Once a month there is now a Juventutem Mass said by Father de Malleray which has a growing and sizeable following.

Looking towards Christmas: on Remembrance Sunday (14 November) David Guest’s Choir is to sing the sublime Requiem Mass by Mozart, while at the midnight Mass they will be singing La Messe de Minuit pour Noëlby Charpentier.

There will also be a Dawn Low Mass on Christmas Day at 8.30.

And for the Feast of The Epiphany there is scheduled a Missa Cantata at 7.30 pm.

There is a vibrant and faithful community at St Mary Magdalen’s which has attracted many new followers to add to those parishioners of many years, from all age groups and all walks of life. We are full of gratitude to the many who make this possible and especially to Canon Edwards, without whom it would not be possible.

Westminster Spanish Place Roger Wemyss Brooks

Gradually things are returning to normal and numbers at Mass are steadily rising to former levels at Spanish Place. I hope we may soon return to the breakfast after Mass, which I am sure will be welcomed by many.

We have been short of servers recently but thanks to a well-attended training day at the end of September we may soon have some new men in the sanctuary. Please pray for them. There is another training day on 29 November which I encourage many more to attend. Last month we had a visit from Deacon Gwilym Evans FSSP who served the Sunday Mass. He is among others of the Fraternity who hope to be ordained priest next year - they also need the support of our prayers.

The annual Corpus Christi procession organised by the Order of Malta was deferred from June to September due to the pandemic. Despite the threat of rain, it was well attended, tracing a magnificent route from Warwick Street via Farm Street and the Ukranian Cathedral to a splendid musical welcome at St James'. I was honoured to be invited to carry the umbrellino over the Blessed Sacrament.

Just recently I have been visiting family in France. On Sunday I attended Mass at the church of St Claire in nearby Geneva which is served by the Fraternity of St Peter. I was delighted to find our beloved Old Rite with Fr Nicolas du Chaxel giving the homily and hearing confessions. Some of you may remember him saying Mass here and at the Cathedral some years ago.

Please keep all our priests faithful to the Old Rite in your prayers.

Westminster (Willesden) Anna Grayson-Morley willesden@lms.org.uk 07710 472295

In the wake of Traditionis Custodes, Vincent Cardinal Nichols has granted that Our Lady of Willesden retain the faculty of continuing the Traditional Latin Mass. As far as we are aware, this will be indefinite.

Furthermore, I am pleased to report that our Assistant Priest, Father Andrew Jaxa-Chamiec, has now completed his study of the TLM and is actively celebrating it much to our great joy and with gratitude. He has conveyed to me that it was a privilege to learn and celebrate the old Mass and has given him a greater and more informed understanding of the liturgy. Interestingly, he says this has also given him a deeper understanding of the Novus Ordo.

Our new organ continues to be installed as the internal workings of this mighty instrument are painstakingly assembled.

Wrexham Kevin Jones wrexham@lms.org.uk lmswrexham.weebly.com

Masses have not resumed in the Diocese of Wrexham.

I wrote to the Bishop of Wrexham on the 20 July, shortly after the promulgation of the Moto Proprio Traditionis custodes. Acknowledging the critical shortage of clergy and drawing his attention to the small but stable pre-pandemic groups that had existed at Holywell and Llay together with our pilgrimages to Holywell and Wrexham, I sought to establish His Lordship’s position on provision of the Vetus Ordo in North Wales. As I compile this report, I have yet to receive a reply.

However, I am aware of a reply to an email sent to the Bishop by a fellow member. The initial communication had, so I understand, been a canvassing of the Bishop’s view of Traditionis Custodes. The reply was brief but said enough to subdue any notion that a resumption is imminent.

First Friday Low Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Redditch, celebrated by Fr Jason Mahoney