Solemn High Requiem Mass for All Souls at Holy Cross, Bedminster

On the feast of All Souls a Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross church in Bedminster, Bristol. The celebrant was Fr Philip Thomas, the deacon was Fr Alexander Redman, and the sub-deacon was Fr Martin Queenan.

The St John’s Festival choir, led by Elizabeth Bates, sang the Missa de Profundis by Giovanni Anerio (1567-1630), a haunting early Baroque setting. Anerio was associated with the Oratory of St Philip Neri and became the maestro di cappella at the Basilica of St John Lateran.

The church of Holy Cross was built in 1922 in the Byzantine style. With its imposing High Altar and stately baldacchino, it was a fitting location for a most beautiful and moving Mass. We are extremely grateful to all the priests involved in celebrating the Mass, and to Fr Andrew Goodman for kindly hosting it. We also sincerely thank all the servers and the fantastic choir, who provided us with such outstanding music.

Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine.

A view of the church before the start of Mass: