Requiem Mass at the Eyre Chantry, Bath

On 13^th November Fr Alexander Redman celebrated a Low Requiem Mass at the Eyre Chantry in Perrymead Cemetery, Bath.

This miniature jewel of a chapel was built by Charles Francis Hansom in the 1860s for John Lewis Eyre, as a burial place and chantry for the Eyre family. Hansom designed an elaborate French Gothic chapel, with a beautiful altar in the form of a sepulchre containing an alabaster figure of Christ. In the crypt are buried members of the Eyre family, Recusants who came originally from Derbyshire.

Fr Redman preached on the vital importance of praying, and offering Mass for the suffering souls in Purgatory. There are countless examples of chantry chapels, tombs and crypts in churches around the country, now no longer in Catholic hands, which were built in the confident expectation that Mass would be celebrated in perpetuity. The souls of these faithful departed no longer receive the benefit of Masses or intercessionary prayers. Fr Redman encouraged us to pray for these departed souls whenever we visit a church – particularly a pre-Reformation church – where Mass is no longer celebrated.

The Mass today was offered for the souls of all the departed Eyre family – many of whom entered the religious life and the priesthood. One member of the family, Charles Eyre, became the first post-Reformation Bishop of Glasgow.

The chapel is otherwise unused, and is closed to the public for most of the year. It was a most moving and beautiful sight to witness the Mass being celebrated here again, in the rite and for the purpose for which it was intended. The cold, dusty building was transformed into a place of light and prayer, ready once more to receive the presence of Our Lord.

The hope is that a monthly requiem Mass will be offered here all year round. Please check this website for further details.

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:

Missa Cantata and Juventutem Social - Wednesday 7 November 2012

'Renew your faith by attending Holy Mass. Keep your mind focused on the mystery that is unfolding before your eyes. In your mind's eye transport yourself to Calvary and meditate on the Victim who offers Himself to Divine Justice, paying the price of your redemption.' St Padre Pio 

Juventutem Bristol has organised a Missa Cantata on Wednesday 7 November 2012 (Feria) at 6.30pm at Holy Cross, Dean Lane, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 1DB which is followed by a Juventutem Social.

Furthermore, the Holy Mass is offered for the intentions of the Bristol Pro-Life Groups.

Confessions in the Traditional Rite is normally available from 6.00pm

Mass open to all

Social is reserved to those aged 18 - 35

Please support the Holy Mass and encourage other young orthodox Catholics to attend! Introduce someone to the beauty of the Traditional Latin Mass.

Masses in Clifton for All Saints and All Souls

All Saints Day – Thursday 1^st November

St Dominic’s, Dursley – 8am Low Mass

Prinknash Abbey – 8.15am Low Mass

Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare – 9 am Low Mass

Our Lady and St Kenelm, Stow-on-the-Wold – 11am Low Mass

Our Lady and St Alphege, Bath – 12 noon Low Mass

Our Lady of Glastonbury - 12.15pm Low Mass

Holy Cross, Bedminster – 12.45pm Low Mass

SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells – 7.30pm Low Mass

The Immaculate Conception, Devizes – 6pm Low Mass

All Souls Day – Friday 2^nd November

St Dominic’s, Dursley – 8 am THREE Low Masses in succession.

Our Lady and St Kenelm, Stow-on-the-Wold – 11 am Low Mass

Prinknash Abbey – 11 am Low Mass

Our Lady and St Alphege, Bath – 12 noon Low Mass

SS Joseph and Teresa, Wells – 12 noon Low Mass

The Immaculate Conception, Devizes – 6 pm Low Mass

Holy Cross, Bedminster – 7.30 pm Solemn High Requiem Mass

Mass at the Eyre Chantry, Bath

Low Mass will be celebrated at the Grade II* Eyre Chantry at the Perrymead cemetery in Bath, BA2 5AZ at 12.30pm on Tuesday 13^th November, and again at 12.30pm on Tuesday 11^th December.

The Eyre Chantry is a beautiful private chapel built by the Recusant Catholic Eyre family of Derbyshire in the 1860s. The architect was Charles Francis Hansom, the architect of St Gregory’s, Cheltenham and St John the Evangelist in Bath. It is an outstanding example of mid-19^th century Gothic Catholic Revival architecture, built in a style which Pevsner describes as ‘Frenchified Gothic’. You can read more about the chapel, and see photographs of it, here.

The chapel is closed almost all the year, and we are very fortunate to have been allowed to celebrate Mass here. It will be a wonderful chance not only to see the interior of the chapel, but to witness and participate in the Mass for which it was originally intended.

All are most welcome. Although it is a weekday, we hope that 12.30pm time slot will enable some who are working nearby to come in their lunch-break. There will be chairs provided, but no kneelers, so if you require something to kneel on, please bring your own cushion.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Solemn High Mass at Devizes, 14th September: report and photos.

On the evening of 14^th September a Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the church of the Immaculate Conception, Devizes for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

Father Andrew Goodman was the Celebrant, Father Philip Thomas the Deacon and Father Alexander Redman the Sub-Deacon. Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon sat in choir. The David Bates singers provided the beautiful music. The Mass setting was Orlande de Lassus’ Bell’Amfritit altera. The two motets were Crucifixus by Antonio Lotti and Adoramus Te, Christe by Gregor Aichinger.

Fr Goodman preached about the triumph of the Cross. He reminded us that when Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness to save his people it was a foreshadowing of Our Lord being lifted up on the Cross. He said that to accept and to embrace the Cross in our lives is a mark of a maturing faith. When we cease to fall back upon despair, blame and self-pity, and instead turn to Our Lord and take up our own Cross, we conform our will to His, and share in His work of salvation. It is then that the sign of the Cross becomes triumphant.

The great feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which in past times was also known as Roodmas, was observed in Rome before the end of the seventh century. It specifically commemorates the recovery of the Holy Cross, which had been placed on Mt. Calvary by St. Helena and preserved in Jerusalem, but which had fallen into the hands of Chosroes, King of the Persians. The precious relic was recovered and returned to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius in 629.

When Heraclius carried the Cross back to Jerusalem on his shoulders, he was clothed with costly garments and with ornaments of precious stones. But at the entrance to Mt. Calvary a strange incident occurred. Try as hard as he would, he could not go forward. Zacharias, the Bishop of Jerusalem said to the monarch: "Consider, O Emperor, that with these triumphal ornaments you are far from resembling Jesus carrying His Cross." The Emperor then put on a penitential garb and continued the journey.

We are most grateful to Fr Coulon for hosting the Mass, to Frs Goodman, Thomas and Redman for celebrating, and to the servers, choir members and organist for providing their support for what was a most beautiful and uplifting evening.

Mass for the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady at Glastonbury – report.

Fr Philip Thomas celebrated Mass for the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the crypt chapel at Glastonbury Abbey on Saturday 8^th September.

We were blessed with beautiful sunshine, and the largest congregation we have yet seen at this Mass.

Fr Philip preached on Our Lady as Stella Maris – the Morning Star, who precedes and lights the way to Our Lord.

Afterwards, many stayed to enjoy a picnic in the grounds of the ruined Abbey. This is now an annual LMS event - Glastonbury Abbey, with its strong Marian associations, is a wonderful place to celebrate Our Lady's birthday.

Mass at Glastonbury Abbey for Our Lady's Birthday, Saturday 8th September

A Low Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday 8th September for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the crypt chapel of the ruined Abbey of St Mary at Glastonbury.

Arrangements have been made with the Abbey authorities to admit anyone attending this Mass into the Abbey grounds free of charge. There is a car park next to the Abbey.

This year the LMS is not organising a full pilgrimage to Glastonbury, so do please come and support this Mass instead. The Abbey is a wonderful place to celebrate the feast of Our Blessed Lady's Birthday.

Feast of the Assumption – Mass at St Michael the Archangel, Shepton Mallet

The great feast of the Assumption was celebrated with dignity and beauty at a Solemn High Mass at the church of St Michael the Archangel, Shepton Mallet on the evening of

Wednesday 15^th August.

Fr Philip Thomas was the Celebrant, Fr Andrew Goodman was Deacon and Fr Alexander Redman Sub-deacon. Fr Bede Rowe acted as Master of Ceremonies.

Rupert Bevan led a choir of 18 singers, including several ex-Wells and ex-Exeter Cathedral choir members, and three former Westminster Cathedral choristers. The Mass setting was Palestrina’s Missa Assumpta est Maria, based on the motet of the same name, which was also sung at the Mass. The Communion motet was Lobo’s Ave Maria.

Fr Andrew Goodman preached the homily, and spoke about the striking parallels between Our Blessed Lady, Elizabeth her cousin, and Hannah the mother of Samuel. All three were ‘women of faith’, handmaids of the Lord, who put their lives into God’s hands and were richly rewarded. We too, said Fr Goodman, are called to be humble, faithful, trusting servants of God.

The small church was almost full, and there were well over 60 communicants. Grateful thanks to Fr Thomas for organising the Mass, and to Fr Goodman, Fr Redman and Fr Rowe. Sincere thanks too, to all the servers who took part in the Mass, and to Rupert Bevan and his splendid choir.

Mary Assumed into Heaven, pray for us.

The Feast of the Assumption, 15th August

The great feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is nearly upon us.

Here are details of all the Assumption Masses taking place in the diocese of Clifton on Wednesday 15th August:

St Dominic’s, Jubilee Road, DURSLEY, Gloucestershire GL11 4ES - 8.00am - Low Mass

Prinknash Abbey, CRANHAM, Gloucestershire GL4 8EX - 8.15am - Low Mass

Our Lady of Glastonbury, Magdalene Street, GLASTONBURY BA6 9EJ - 12.15pm - Low Mass

Holy Cross Church, Dean Lane, Bedminster, BRISTOL BS3 1DB - 12.45pm - Low Mass

St Michael's Church, SHEPTON MALLET, Somerset BA4 5HP - 7.30pm - Solemn High Mass

Mass for the Sacred Heart at Devizes, June 15th 2012

A Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the church of the Immaculate Conception, Devizes, 

on Friday 15^th June for the feast of the Sacred Heart.

Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon was the celebrant, Fr Alexander Redman was deacon and David Aron was sub-deacon.

The choir of nine, led by David Bates, sang Victoria’s Mass setting ‘Trahe me post te’. They also sang two motets: ‘Ave, Jesu Christe’ by the late 16^th century English Recusant priest and composer Peter Philips, and ‘O Quam amabilis es’ by Pierre Villette, a French composer who died in 1998.

l-r: David Aron, Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon and Fr Alexander Redman

In his homily, Fr Coulon gave an overview of the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart, from the 11^th century to the time of the great revelations to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in the late 17^th century. He ended by reading a beautiful meditation on the divine heart of Our Lord by St Francis de Sales.

Fr Coulon gave the homily. Note the stained glass windows 

depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Most of the congregation stayed to enjoy the refreshments kindly provided after the Mass.

Sincere thanks go to all involved in the celebration of this beautiful Mass, particularly the priests, the servers and the choir.

Mass of Corpus Christi, Weston-super-Mare, 7th June 2012.

A Solemn High Mass for the the Feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Weston-super-Mare, on Thursday 7^th June at 7.30pm.

The celebrant was Fr Martin Queenan. Fr Philip Thomas was Deacon and Fr Peter Clarke was Sub-deacon. Fr Andrew Goodman was also present.

The seven-strong choir, the Rupert Bevan singers, sang the ‘Missa Pontificalis’ by Don Lorenzo Perosi (1872-1956), a beautiful and rare setting which was last published in 1895. Perosi was a priest and friend of Puccini. His music was perfectly complemented by two motets from an earlier era, ‘Gloria tibi Domine’ by William Byrd and ‘Ego Sum Panis Vivus’ by Antonio Caldara.

Fr Philip Thomas delivered the homily, reflecting upon the fact that when we receive Our Lord at Communion, we become what we eat – a part of the mystical body of Christ – and we must manifest this when we leave the church and go out into the world.

Sincere thanks go to the four priests, the servers, the choir and organist, and all involved in the organization of this beautiful and uplifting Mass.

Missa Cantata at Cricklade, 29th May

On 29^th May, a perfect early summer’s evening, a Missa Cantata was celebrated  at the beautiful Norman church of St Mary’s in Cricklade, North Wilts, with the kind permission of Fr Philip Beisly the parish priest. The celebrant was Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon MSFS, who travelled from his parish in Devizes. Many thanks are due to Ailsa Burois and her choir for their lovely singing, and to all those who assisted in so many ways.

Solemn High Mass at Downside, 5th May

A Solemn High Mass was celebrated for the transferred feast of the Blessed Martyrs of England and Wales at Downside Abbey Church on Saturday 5^th May, 2012.

Dom Boniface Hill, OSB was the celebrant, Fr Andrew Goodman was Deacon and Fr Philip Thomas Sub-deacon.

The 25-strong St John’s Festival Choir sang Lobo’s ‘Missa O Rex Gloriae’, a wonderful early seventeenth-century setting. At the offertory the motet was ‘Ave Jesu Christe’ by the seventeenth-century English priest and composer Peter Phillips, and at Communion the choir sang ‘Ave Maria’ by Clemens non Papa. 

Dom Boniface preached on the Holy Martyrs of England and Wales. He quoted the great Benedictine scholar Dom Bede Camm, who did so much to promote knowledge of and devotion to the English martyrs in the early years of the twentieth century. 

According to Dom Bede, there are four things we ourselves can do to venerate the martyrs of this country: firstly, acquaint ourselves with the stories of their lives; secondly, visit their shrines and relics; thirdly, follow their example, sacrificing ourselves for the holy sacrifice of the Mass; and fourthly, help to promote knowledge and veneration of the martyrs in the wider world. If it wasn’t for the sacrifice and witness of these men and women, he said, the Catholic faith in this country would have been extinguished.

Around 90 people attended the Mass, and there was an opportunity afterwards to venerate and examine at close hand a collection of relics held at Downside Abbey, including remains of two martyrs of the Benedictine community of St Gregory – St John Roberts (d. 1610) and St Ambrose Barlow (d. 1641). There was also a relic of St Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armargh and Primate of all Ireland, who was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn in July 1681: the last Catholic martyr to die in England. 

For more information about the martyrs associated with the Downside community, please see: http://www.downside.co.uk/Abbey/about_us/downside_abbey_history_detail.php?our-martyrs-5

Pilgrimage to Holywell, Sunday 1st July.