Easter Proclaimer 2024 - 14.4.24 Update

by Melinda Heatthcote Editor

Editor’s Note April 2024

Welcome to our Easter edition of the Cathedral Proclaimer which includes the input of the Friends of Arundel Cathedral (FAC), the Cornerstone Magazine which they produce and send to their members, and a report on the FAC Vespers held last December. Bryden has done his usual amazing work of putting the magazine together in a visually pleasing and professional way.

Changes are afoot as we know. We will be sad to say goodbye to Canon David who has been here for five years and been such a help and inspiration to us at the Cathedral.

We also need to welcome Fr Stephen Dingley who will serve both here and Our Lady of England at Storrington. He has kindly answered my request for some biographical notes which you will see below.

Very Happy Easter to all!

Melinda Heathcote (Editor)

Our Lady Of England at Storrington

Introduction from Canon David

I am writing this introduction reflecting on five years as Dean, knowing that I am due to take up a new appointment in Brighton in the early Summer period. I had begun at the Cathedral in October 2019 in what now seems to be a different time as in these five short years so much has happened. The Church continues on her pilgrimage path but walks along a terrain that is more unfamiliar and challenging than before. This must

be the case for many organisations and individuals as the recovery period from the pandemic has taken longer than expected. Our numbers at Mass have only just begun to recover fully. In some respects the weaknesses that were revealed during that period were exposed further by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the attack on Israel and her response in Gaza and the recovery of economies around the world. Some people wondered if Covid would make people more religious. It’s too early to say, but the signs are not evident yet. That’s all part of the larger picture. A period of change has also arrived for the Church with publication of the third edition of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan. This has brought the advent of parish communities joining together

creating larger moderated parishes. It is a difficult process, but we need to prune before we grow again, as we will, because the Holy Spirit brings growth. One thing that has remained the same is the proclamation of the Church at this time of year: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. In the early years of the Church that was the proclamation that changed everything. Can it still do the same for us all these years later? That is the challenge that is before us. Yes, we have had major shocks in recent years and yes, these have changed things for us, but the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead brings new life and a new way of looking at life. As Jesus says to his disciples; “A new commandment I

give you, love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13: 34 – 35). What also came with this new commandment was the Holy Spirit empowering this and the embryonic structures to support such a daring endeavour – the Christian Church. It is the highest calling and we have been invited to take part. What you have in these pages, and in those who put them together, is the expression of that calling, that daring endeavour. I have been part of that here for five years and I thank all those who have shared in that calling with me and supported me. I pray that we all never forget the great adventure to which Jesus calls us all: “love one another as I have loved you.” Nothing can compete and nothing compare!

Father Stephen Dingley

I was born in 1965 and grew up in Banstead, in the north of the diocese, a parish which has produced a good number of priests over the years. I attended the John Fisher School in Purley, which has also been the seed-ground of many vocations. However, my intentions at that stage in my life didn’t involve the priesthood. I was much more interested in science. At university I studied natural sciences and then did four years of research in radio astronomy, studying giant radio galaxies, before I finally gave in to the Lord’s patient but repeated call for me to be a priest.

Bishop Cormac asked me to study at the Venerable English College in Rome, where I specialised for my final two years in “fundamental theology”, studying how our Catholic faith relates to our gift of human reason, and how it makes authentic sense to be a believer—a subject that continues to fascinate me, especially the relationship between science and religion.

I was ordained in 1997 and worked for three years as assistant priest in Haywards Heath and four years in Bognor Regis. In 2004 I was appointed to the staff of St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, to teach theology to our students for the priesthood (where I was also librarian, and for several years had oversight of liturgical music). Helping to form future priests is an unusual form of priestly life, but a rare privilege. In 2018 I was appointed parish priest of Effingham and Fetcham in Surrey, but continued teaching part-time at Wonersh—including by zoom during the covid pandemic—until the seminary’s final closure in 2021.

Since 2019 I have also had responsibility for the ongoing formation of our diocesan clergy.

In July last year Bishop Richard asked me—very much to my surprise—to take up an appointment as dean of Arundel Cathedral, combining this with pastoral

Father Stephen Dingley

care of Storrington as well. Since January I have been resident in Storrington, getting to know the community there and hopefully building some bridges with the Arundel community too. I will finally move to Arundel some time shortly after Easter.

I am very much looking forward to working among and alongside all of you from both of these communities. There will be many challenges facing us in our very secularised and war-torn world, but it is also a time of great adventure and opportunity as we begin to implement Bishop Richard’s Pastoral Plan for the Diocese. We need to remain totally faithful to Christ and rely completely on His grace, especially in the Holy Eucharist. And we also need to engage wholeheartedly in the great task of evangelisation, sharing with our neighbours the surpassing wonder of knowing and loving our Lord Jesus Christ.

By Jo Briscoe

Peace

Pope Francis: “Let us entrust peace in the world to Mary”.

In these difficult times of violent war around the world, in the current devastating situations, it may support our concern and worry for all those who have to suffer directly, and the following extract from “Vatican News” may be some comfort and help to us all:

Pope Francis invites the faithful to join him in prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception: “Let us ask for peace, that hearts may be pacified, that there might be peace!”

Pope Francis

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Francis returned to the window of the Apostolic Palace for the Angelus. During remarks after the Marian prayer, the Pope looked ahead to his visit in the afternoon to Santa Maria Maggiore and then to Piazza di Spagna to pray to Our Lady and intercede for a world without war.

“I ask everyone, especially the faithful of Rome, to unite themselves spiritually to me in this act of entrustment to our Mother,” the Pope said.

The Heart of Mary by Leopold Kupelwieser - St Peter’s Church, Innere Stadt, Austria

By David Clifton

What do we mean by ‘the Church’?

This is a vast subject; seminarians will know it as ‘Ecclesiology’. A brief article such as this can only scratch the surface, but it may be helpful to set down some significant points.

What sort of thing is the Church?

The New Testament was written in Greek. The Greek word which is translated as ‘Church’ is ‘Ecclesia’. It means ‘an assembly’; not just a crowd of people brought together at random, but a properly constituted community with a common purpose, and in this case, a religious community. In the New Testament Christ is reported as using this word, when he declared that his Church will be founded on the ‘Rock’ of Simon Peter [1].

After the resurrection, when Christ was no longer physically present in this world, the disciples felt forsaken and leaderless. Even though they were convinced that Christ had risen from the dead, they still missed his presence. It

was only when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost that they felt the strength to continue his mission to carry his word out to the whole world. At that defining moment the disciples were transformed from a group of individuals into a spirit filled Church, a body so closely bound together and bound to God that St Paul refers to it as ‘The Body of Christ’. This is not just a pious metaphor but seeks to express the intimate union of Christ with his Church and the members of that Church to one another. The Church is thus not just a society of like-minded individuals who come together for mutual support and collective activity, like a musical society, or a gardening club. It is the means by which Christ acts in the world, to communicate his saving power to all mankind.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “It is in the Church that Christ fulfils and reveals his own mystery as the purpose of God’s plan: ‘to unite all things in him’ [Eph 1:10]”

[2]. This is in fulfilment of Christ’s promise to his disciples. The very last words of Christ recorded in the Gospel of St Matthew are: “And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.” By this statement Christ guaranteed his presence in the Church for all time. It was at Pentecost that he revealed how this was to be.

Mission of the Church.

Jesus instructed his apostles to ‘make disciples of all the nations’ and to ‘teach them to observe all the commands I gave

you’ [3], and he gave them the authority to make definitive decisions regarding this teaching [Mat 18: 18], and promised that the Holy Spirit would guide them in the making of such decisions [Jn 14: 26]. There are those who call for the Church to be more democratic; to consider the views of the ordinary churchgoer. In particular, they criticise the Church as being ‘outdated’ and call for its teaching to be more ‘in tune’ with modern ways of thinking. But the Church is not a democratic institution, it is a kingdom ruled by one to whom ‘all authority in heaven and on earth has been given’ [4]. And its mission is not to follow the current opinion of the majority, but to teach the truth of God’s kingdom as revealed in Christ. Pope Benedict XVI wrote: ‘Jesus did not come to seek the agreement of men and women but rather—as he was to say to Pilate in the end—to bear witness to the truth’. [5] St Paul urges Timothy, ‘proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable’ and warns that, ‘the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine … they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and turn away from listening to the truth’ [6].

In addition to teaching God’s revealed truth, the Church also has the task of shepherding Christ’s flock, chiefly by administering the Sacraments. These provide spiritual nourishment and strength, consolation in times of distress and healing for the spiritually wounded. They also provide those graces necessary at key moments in life. In addition the Church supports its mission by providing help and encouragement in many practical spheres; providing education to those unable to afford it; care of orphans, the sick and elderly; assistance to the homeless and displaced, etc. It also offers spiritual help to the faithful in pilgrimages, retreats etc. The Church has a structure. Any group of like-minded people with a common purpose will organise itself into some sort of structure.

There will be an individual or a committee which makes decisions about policy and procedure. There will be someone to look after the finances. There will be a secretary to deal with correspondence. There may be sub-committees to consider particular spheres of interest, and, depending on the nature of the organisation, there may well be other particular offices; medical staff, human resources, safeguarding etc, apart from the general membership.

Jesus himself introduced the initial stages of a structure to his Church. He appointed twelve Apostles to be the leaders [Mt 10: 1-4, Mk 3:13-19a, Lk 6: 12-16] giving them the authority to

Augustyn Kordecki's monstrance, Jasna Góra Monastery

proclaim the Kingdom of God, and the power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. He designated Peter to be their leader [Mt 16: 13-20, Jn 21: 15-17] to guide and support them [Lk 22: 32]. He selected seventy others [Lk 10: 1-12] to a special task of preparing the people to accept his teaching. Then there were the great number of disciples to whom no special task was allotted, but whose example and words will encourage others to follow Jesus [Mk 5: 19].

Following the ascension of Jesus, the apostles made the decision to appoint Matthias to the office made vacant by the death of Judas [Acts 1: 20-26]. And, after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they exercised their authority by establishing the order of Deacons [Acts 6: 1-7]. In the writings of Paul various offices are mentioned [Ro 12: 6-8] and, in particular, he refers to ‘episcopoi’ (supervisors), ‘presbyteroi’ (elders) and ‘diaconoi’ (servants). He even gives a description of the sort of person suitable for these offices [1 Tim 3: 1-3, Titus 1: 5-9]. Within a few decades these three positions had developed into the offices of bishop, priest and deacon, much as we know them today. Ignatius of Antioch (died c.107 AD) refers to these three offices in his writings, exhorting Christians to be obedient to their bishop, and respectful to presbyters and deacons [7].

Church Of The Nativity

But this organisation is not to be identified as the sole element constituting the Church. The

Catechism states that: ‘The Church is both visible and spiritual, a hierarchical society and the Mystical Body of Christ. She is one, yet formed of two components, human and divine’ [8] The visible component, being human, is not without its faults and failings, both individually and corporately, and is rightly subject to criticism. But the spiritual component is the ‘Body of Christ’. Although Christ is no longer with us as a physical presence, his words and gestures remain. These are the words and gestures of the Spirit-filled Body of Christ –his Church – and as such they retain and communicate the power of Christ. The Church is the means by which Christ acts in the world, to communicate his saving power to all mankind.

The work of the spirit is always to build up the Church. So we should not give just a grudging acceptance to the Church, which Jesus himself willed, but learn to love it, in spite of the sinfulness and human frailty of its members.

The Church is one.

There are those Protestants (those who follow the sixteenth century ‘protests’ against the

Solemn Mass at Santissima Trinita dei Pellegrini Rome

Church of Rome) who still claim to be part of the Catholic Church. This cannot be, if their teaching is different from that of the Catholic Church, and they do not accept the discipline and authority of the Catholic Church. Christ is the head of the Church which is his body. There is only one Christ, so there can be only one Church. There is only one truth, so there can be only one true teaching. There is an historical continuity between the Church founded by Christ and the Catholic Church, both in its organisation and its teaching.

Christmas

The Church teaches

The Lord Jesus, the only Saviour, did not just establish a simple community of disciples, but constituted the Church as a saving power in the world. He himself is in the Church and the Church is in him (cf. Jn 15:1ff.; Gal 3:28; Eph 4:15-16; Acts 9:5). Therefore, the fullness of Christ's saving mystery belongs also to the Church, inseparably united to her Lord. Indeed, Jesus Christ continues his presence and his work of salvation in the Church and by means of the Church (cf. Col 1:24-27), which is his body (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-13, 27; Col 1:18). So, just as the head and members of a living body, though not identical, are inseparable, so too Christ and the Church can neither be confused nor separated, and constitute a single “whole Christ”. [9]

But other churches and Christian communities are not to be ‘written off’. The Catholic Church affirms that:

Midnight Mass, St Sebastian Parish, Woodside New York

“… these separated Churches and communities as such, though we believe they suffer from defects, have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic Church” .[10]

1. Mt 16: 13-20

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church, para 772

3. Mat 28: 19-20

4. Mt 28: 18.

5. Angelus Address, 3 February 2013

6. 2 Tim 4: 2,4

7. Letter to Polycarp, Chap VI, Letter to the Trallians, Chap II, Letter to the Ephesians, Chap. III-XX, Letter to the Magnesians, Chap. III-VII.

8. Catechism of the Catholic Church para 779

9. Dominus Jesus, Declaration on The Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 6 Aug 2000. Ch IV, para 16

10. Second Vatican Council, decree Unitatis Redintegratio, 3. Disputation of the Holy Sacrament - by Raphael

By Sr Anne Marie

How I came to Faith and joined the Convent at Arundel

I came from a non practising Anglican family. I say Anglican though we never went to church or talked about religion as a family. My father was born in 1886 and had a normal Church of England upbringing. As a boy he was enrolled in Westminster Abbey’s choir school and, according to my mother, would kneel beside the bed to say his prayers each evening. However a very peripatetic life and a series of marriages meant that he no longer practised. My mother was his third wife, she was 20 years his junior. When 21 she was baptised and confirmed on the same day in Chichester Cathedral, having trained as a teacher at the nearby college. Her father who had been brought up a Baptist didn’t agree with infant Baptism. Her mother wished all the children to be baptised but an argument over the possibility of smallpox vaccination which she opposed meant that neither my mother nor her siblings received either baptism or

Sr Anne Marie

vaccination. However she taught me to say my prayers every evening, the Our Father, and the “Bless You” Bless Daddy, Mummy etc. It is one of my earliest memories. I must have been about three.

As our house in Somerset had a direct hit in 1940 we spent the war moving around and frequently going back to stay with my grandparents. During that time I went to several different schools, 10 by the time I was 10 including a year when I didn’t go to school at all which I much preferred. As a result, although there would have been some religious teaching I don’t remember any at all except that I went briefly to Sunday school when we were staying in Surbiton.

Finally as the war ended my mother was given the house by her grandfather in which her family had been brought up. Her parents had moved out to Middlesex and I imagine that the plan would have been to rent it out. However the roof had been blown off at the beginning of the war and after it had been replaced it was blown off again at the end of the war. Once it was on again and the place was habitable, we moved in, that is myself, my mother and my two younger sisters. At the time my father was in Scapa Flow working with the Admiralty as he had been for most of the war. We then stayed there until the house was sold in the 1960s. Our roving life was at an end and I went to my final school at the age of 11 where I stayed until I was 19. There we had solid Anglican teaching based on scripture, learning the Psalms by heart, had a religious Assembly every morning and went in procession to church as a school every Ascension Day, the rest of the day being free. However there was no actual teaching about the Church of England. My father was often ill and eventually it was decided by my parents that he would move out, finally settling in the Scilly Isles where he got a job working in a hotel on St Mary’s. The plan was for us all to join him in the summer holidays when he dropped dead in the hotel restaurant where he

Poor Clares

worked. It was his third major heart attack.

We often spent Sunday afternoons going for a walk together along the river towards Chiswick ending at an old Anglican Church, St. Nicholas. I decided that I would go to the early service there which was at 8 o’clock. It was Anglo Catholic with lots of

ceremony and beautiful music and an excellent choir. I was so ignorant that I thought Kyrie Eleison must mean Praise the Lord! I found it a place of peace and began a habit of going there every Sunday, even though it meant getting up earlier than everyone else. It was easier when I got a bike which made it much quicker. Then one day during the service the priest held up the host

and said the words, “This is my Body” and I knew that it was true in a way I can’t explain at all. Sometimes I joke that I was given the gift of believing in Transubstantiation in an Anglican Church. What I didn’t know was that it isn’t the actual teaching of the Church of England and that the 39 articles which Anglican priests are supposed to uphold specifically deny it. However I continued in my happy ignorance of this for some years. I was quite a shy girl and always hastened away after the service afraid someone might ask me who I was, or try to stop me, and anyway by the time the service finished I wanted to get back home and have breakfast and enjoy the rest of my day. Now I sometimes am surprised that no one ever made any attempt to speak to me.

When I began to study History for A level which included the period of the reformation I at last learned about the teaching of the Church which I had been

attending. I was puzzled but didn’t ask about it or query it except to myself. Then when I went to Oxford I decided that if I went to classes to prepare for confirmation I would surely get an explanation from the college chaplain. I was disappointed getting no explanation at all even though I asked him directly. Nevertheless I decided to go

forward to confirmation thinking that surely the Holy Spirit would enlighten me. So I was confirmed but no sudden enlightenment came. The main feeling I had was sadness as I now felt that as I had been confirmed I would have to go to the communion service even though I preferred the Morning service which preceeded it, as I loved the singing of the choristers.

When I left college and started looking for a job I applied and was accepted to teach history at Leeds Girls High School. There for the first time ever, after I had been accepted, just as the interview ended I was asked what my religion was. I was a bit taken aback as I didn’t see that it had any relevance but said I was Church of England and was then told that if I had said

Catholic, I would not have been appointed because they wouldn’t choose to have a Catholic teaching history!

I was on a steep learning curve in all sorts of ways since I found myself in what seemed like a foreign land. Yorkshire people seemed in some ways very unlike any I had ever known. Still I soon made friends some of whom remained so for all the rest of our lives and though they have died, a daughter remains part of my extended family. They were not church goers so I never found myself linked with a church in Yorkshire. I would frequently go home to London at weekends especially in

Our community at prayer

the winter at least partly to get warm as I found it decidedly colder than as a soft southerner I was used to. I was asked if I would like to help in the Sunday school at the Church nearby but I hastily explained that it wouldn’t be possible as I would often not be there.

Then God intervened. I moved to take rooms with a Catholic lady who I came to admire greatly. In fact, she wasn’t the first Catholic I had got to know since my family had become friendly with another Catholic family who we met on holiday. We had become accustomed to join them for a fortnight in the summer at Chideock in Dorset and it was there that I attended my first Catholic Mass. Very untypical as Chideock was part of the Welds’ estate and the local people had kept the faith through the centuries. The Catholic school was well supported and the church was simply built on the foundations of the barn where people had

worshipped during penal times. I went with our O’Sullivan friends. It was the only time I attended a pre Vatican council liturgy and was fascinated to see people saying the rosary all through the Mass.

Delia Ramsey with whom I lodged was herself a convert and someone who lived her faith in practical ways. I thought of her as really old, though I doubt whether she could have been more than in her late 50s. I remember her going out and stopping two bin men fighting by getting between them and telling them to behave themselves. She was all of five feet high! One

dark and really horrible winter evening she was going out to Adoration at the Cathedral. I said that I would go with her. We arrived late, it was almost finished, but the experience galvanised me to decide to take instruction. A day or two later I knocked at the door of the Cathedral House and was told that there was a meeting on one evening that week. I went and sat at the back of a large room with many people and listened to the priest. All that I can remember was that he told us to cross ourselves before we ate and say grace for the meal. I didn’t fancy doing this in the context of a school dinner where I sat at the head of the table with the pupils.

Preparation in the kitchen

When I told my mother what I was planning to do she was horrified and begged me not to do it. “Wait until I die,” she said. Her reaction really surprised me because she had always told us that it was up to us to choose what religion we should follow. I now realised that this meant that she expected us to choose the Church of England. So I agreed to put the idea aside. From then on, I continued to worship in the Anglican Church as I had before though I slowly found the practice of my religion more and more important.

Time passed and some 12 years later I found myself back in Leeds enjoying a sabbatical and studying for a diploma in Curriculum Studies. (I had moved from teaching in school to teaching in a college of education). On All Saints Day I was unable to attend the service at the Anglican Chaplaincy as it clashed with my seminar so I decided to attend the Mass at the Catholic Chaplaincy. It was the first time I had experienced the post Vatican Council Liturgy. I went back to

my flat and spent the rest of the day trying to find a good reason why I should not be a Catholic. I couldn’t find a single one. At that point I gave up the struggle but delayed doing anything much about it. Perhaps I should add that the main reason I was not really happy with the Anglican Church was that I could not see any logical religious reason for its existence except for the need of Henry VIII to obtain a divorce. I had also been considering the possibility of religious life and knew that it was not possible to follow this within a church whose existence I couldn’t justify.

One of the members of the course I was following was a sister who belonged to the Congregation of the Holy Child, Sr. Mary Hubbard. I asked her to introduce me to someone who could give me instruction. She was a friend of one of the Jesuits who taught in the school they ran, Fr. Tony Horan. It was agreed that I would begin instruction after Christmas. I was determined to tell my mother before I began and that I would delay breaking the news until after Christmas. To my complete surprise my mother said “Are you my dear?” and didn’t seem at all bothered, but my two sisters were totally opposed to the move especially Sarah the youngest, who was agnostic with no belief in God at all. My instruction began by being asked to read the documents of the Vatican Council. I returned a week later having read them, I think Father Horan was rather surprised at this but from then on my instruction continued in a more traditional manner.

I was received on Pentecost Sunday. The Mass was a private one in the sitting room of the Jesuit house with all the Jesuits in the house there and Mary Hubbard as my sponsor, or as she liked to say, my godmother though I didn’t need baptism. The housekeeper who had provided a magnificent celebratory dinner also joined us. Until then I had only attended Mass at the Cathedral and knew no other priests except Jesuits so I was told to go to the other churches around in order to become acquainted with others.

I waited to be confirmed because I hoped to have my family with me for that and so my confirmation occurred in St George’s Church in Taunton the following year and in spite of their disapproval, they all came to it except my mother who said she would stay behind and cook the dinner. When one Sunday we were told that the parish would say a novena for a parishioner with cancer, I turned to someone as we left and asked what a novena was. ‘’Who instructed you?” he asked. “A Jesuit,” I replied. “Ah well,” he said, “that explains it.”

I wanted to deepen my understanding of the Faith and began to go on weekend retreats at the Cenacle which were run by Dominicans. I was still feeling drawn to religious life and it was at one of these that I decided that I would like to be a Poor Clare. I was very attracted to the Franciscans. I liked their emphasis on poverty and simplicity and had no desire to continue my life of study and teaching as a religion. I felt strongly drawn to a life of prayer. So in the Christmas holidays I returned to Leeds and went and spoke to Father Tony. He asked me what made me think of this. I said that I’d attended a weekend retreat given by a Dominican. Far too short, was his reply. He told me to go on a longer retreat given by a Jesuit. So I did, I

Our Librarian

saw a 30 day retreat advertised in The Universe and was accepted. The next week the same advertisement appeared but with the addition of for religion only. I was the only lay person among the participants. It was a steep learning curve for me as while I had prayed regularly for many years it was entirely a matter of intercessory prayers. Now I was expected to pray for four or five hours a day always based on scripture texts which we were given. Initially seeing these sisters, many of whom were on home leave from working on the missions and giving up a month of this precious time to the retreat, made such an impression on me that I thought perhaps I should choose the active life. The idea put me in a complete turmoil. I don’t know what made me realise it

wasn’t what I was called to do. All I can do is say that I realised it wasn’t what God wanted for me and I regained peace of mind. We made a little pilgrimage to the Poor Clare house at Baddesley Clinton and spent the night in prayer there while we were on retreat but I didn’t speak to the sisters. Instead I wrote to the Convent in Lynton. Why Lynton?

My family lived in Somerset and I wanted it to be accessible for them and I knew the North Devon Coast and that it was a beautiful area. I received a letter back with some

booklets and suggesting I visit. When I opened the letter a pamphlet fell onto the floor with the word “Come” on it. So I went for a weekend stay and agreed that I would join them at the end of the next academic year. So I did at the age of 39 in 1975. My family were not at all happy about this but even my mother ultimately accepted that it was right for me. She told me that she had

opposed my being a Catholic so strongly when I first told her what I had planned it was because she had always been afraid that I would become a nun!! When I entered the Convent, I always felt that if it wasn’t right for me, then the Lord would make it clear. He hasn’t done so yet.

I came here to Arundel five years ago when our Convent at Lynton had to close for lack of sisters. I chose Arundel because I had often visited here and knew the sisters and had always felt that if I ever had to move it would be here that I would wish to be. From the very first day here as a member of the community I have felt at home and continue to enjoy life as a Poor

Clare among my sisters.

Suffolk Singers

Suffolk Singers in Recital Saturday 4th May at 3.00pm to 3.45pm

Suffolk Singers are pleased to invite you to a recital of joyful and soothing songs and sacred anthems in the magnificent setting of Arundel Cathedral. Under the leadership of Music Director, Claire Weston, Suffolk Singers has an established reputation for producing beautiful harmonious music, mostly sung a cappella. This SATB choir of 30+ singers has performed in many prestigious venues including cathedrals and many impressive churches across East Anglia as well as touring abroad to sing in cathedrals in Ireland and Belgium. The latter included the distinction of singing during the Last Post Ceremony conducted daily at the Menin Gate in Ypres. Admission to the concert is free with a retiring collection in aid of the Cathedral. www.suffolksingers.co.uk

Parish Groups

SVP/Tuesday Drop-In/Silver Sterlings - Maria Whitehouse/Adam Vernon/Joanna Hall

Rosary Group – Tuesdays after Mass/1st Saturday of the month 9.15am -– Maria

Whitehouse/Monica Clifton/Georgina Norfolk/Sally Phillips are all involved

Corpus Christi – Canon David Chairs

Holy Dusters – Lorraine Cranfield/Estelle Weatherley

Liturgy of the Word with Children – Emer Osborne

9.15am Choir – Monica Clifton

11.15am Choir – Elizabeth Stratford

First Communion – Betsy Vernon

Sunday Coffee – Betsy Vernon

Confirmation Group – Canon David

Ministry of Consolation Group – Betsy Vernon

By Mike Webber

Diocesan Parish Churches: St Catherine’s Church, Littlehampton

St Catherine’s was founded in 1862 with the cost of construction being borne by Augusta, Duchess of Norfolk, in memory of her late husband Henry Granville Fitzalan Howard, the 14th Duke. Duke Henry (or ‘Fitz’ as he was popularly known) had died in 1860 at the age of 45, after serving for only five years in his Ducal role. In adulthood he had become very devout, and devoted his short time as Duke to many works of charity. His widow, Minna (as she preferred to be known) continued his charitable work by founding five Sussex churches in his memory in honour of Christ’s Five Holy Wounds. The first of these, in nearby Littlehampton, was opened and blessed on 26th May 1863 by Thomas Grant, first Bishop of Southwark and dedicated to St Catherine. Fitz had died on 25th November, the feast day of St Catherine, though had he died a day earlier or later, the church might well have been dedicated to St John of the Cross or to St Peter, Martyr. (One wonders about the dedications of two other churches of the Five Holy

St Catherine’s Church

Wounds – St John’s in Horsham and St Peter’s in Shoreham. Are they named after apostles, or after other saints with November feast days?)

The architect of St Catherine’s was Matthew Ellison Hadfield from Sheffield, a builder of many Catholic churches as well as what are now Salford and Sheffield Catholic Cathedrals. Hadfield was an early follower of Augustus Pugin and the church was designed in the French Gothic Revival Style, having a chancel and nave with a high, open-timber roof, allowing for a wheel window, and an entrance porch with a deeply recessed doorway and a lean-to roof. The initial building (including the presbytery at the rear) cost £4,000 (£406,000 today). In 1883 the church was recast by Hadfield and Sons, and a second aisle and Lady Chapel were added, along with a gallery and a second wheel window.

Twenty years later the presbytery was demolished and the nave was further extended by two bays, together with the addition of a sanctuary of almost equal size. On one side a new St Joseph’s chapel was built, with a second church entrance to allow direct access to the local Catholic elementary school opposite. Two confessionals, built into the wall, were also added. The new crocketed and gilded marble high altar was carved by Messrs R L Boulton & Sons of Cheltenham at a cost of £340 (the equivalent of £33,000 today), along with a low stone pulpit of similar design. Similar altars for the Lady and St Joseph chapels were provided. A new presbytery was also built, connected to the church by a sacristy. The floor of each altar sanctuary was paved with ornamental tiles designed by the architects, Messrs. Pugin & Pugin. Mr Burrell of Littlehampton and Arundel was the contractor.

The church reopened in June 1904.

St Catherine’s was canonically established as a parish on 28th June 1920. Until then it was a Mission, initially serving a broad area from Bognor to Ferring and south of the South Coast railway line. For the first decade this Mission was led by Dominican clergy, including Fr Thomas Dixon who is credited with translating into English biographies of two famous members of his Order: St Albert the Great and St Vincent Ferrer.

Canon Neave

From 1876 the Mission was in the hands of Littlehampton’s longest-serving priest, Canon Richard Louis Irvine Neave, who was involved both with the 1883 rebuild and the 1904 extension. Rector of the Littlehampton Mission for 44 years, and then as parish priest for his last five years, Richard Neave was a convert, the grandson of an Anglican vicar, and a direct descendant of Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Chirbury. He died aged 73 on 8th June 1925 shortly after retiring to the Carmelite Convent, Chichester. A man of means, he left an estate valued at £10,787 (£530,000 at today’s prices). Canon Neave also served as a Littlehampton Town Councillor, and Irvine Road in Littlehampton was named after him. He regularly ‘advertised’ his Masses and services in Pigot’s Littlehampton Almanac. The 1911 edition detailed Sunday services: Masses at 8am & 11am, Rosary at 2.45pm with sermon & Benediction at 6.30pm.

About 1880 Canon Neave established an elementary school with the help of sisters Joanna and Ellen Walsh. Originally in

Beach Road, it later moved to premises in St. Catherine’s Road, opposite the church, remaining there until, as a Primary School, it transferred in 1973 to a new building in Highdown Drive, in the north of the town. In its early years, while Littlehampton was a two-priest parish, a children’s Mass was celebrated there on Sundays in the

Canon Neave

school hall. The proceeds from the eventual sale of the old school site were used to fund the building of the current Parish Centre.

Canon Neave was also responsible for the Franciscan Sisters coming to Littlehampton, asking a small group of them in 1890 to look after children here. They initially had a house in New Road, later moving to Clifton Road and then Pier Road as numbers increased. By 1898 they had moved to the former Jesuit Seminary in East Street, which they named St Joseph’s, and were looking after 43 boys and 9 girls.

When their mother house in Hampstead closed, Canon Neave supported them to become an independent Religious Congregation.

During World War 2, when the children were evacuated from St Joseph’s, the sisters began to nurse the local sick who needed

24-hour care. After the war, when the children returned, they opened a second house, St Francis in Church Street, as a Nursing Home. Later, after changes to Government legislation for children in care, the sisters ended their work with children and St Joseph’s also became a Nursing Home. A programme of rebuilding was begun, with a new chapel completed in 1971.

The Belfry

The convent has had Resident Chaplains since 1927.

The Twentieth Century

After World War I, a memorial was erected on the outside wall of the church facing Beach Road, listing the 14 parishioners who had lost their lives in the conflict. It originally consisted of a wooden plaque and a large crucifix. Both items have since been renewed several times.

Four of the fallen are now also commemorated by street names on the new housing estate of Kingley Gate: Battin Lane, Murray Rise and Tatlow Chase.

St Catherine’s Church 1869

Electric lighting was first installed in the church in 1926, a year after Canon Neave’s death and in his memory. At about the same time the wooden altar rails were replaced with white marble ones, with the pillars to the altar gates decorated with a blue Catherine Wheel motif. Numerous stained glass windows depicting saints, and a wheel window above the high altar depicting the Crucifixion (with St Catherine), were installed during the late 1930s and 1940s by Cox & Barnard of Hove. (The Fisher and More window can only have been installed after their canonisation in 1935, and the Lourdes window in the sanctuary was installed in thanksgiving for our deliverance in World War 2).

The church was consecrated on 8th May 1962 by Cyril Cowderoy, Bishop of Southwark Diocese (which at this time still included Sussex), a weekday daytime service attended by not many of the faithful. Pre-Vatican II, churches were only Consecrated (that is, dedicated solely for religious purposes) once the building was substantially debt-free. Three years later the parish and its church became part of the new diocese of Arundel and Brighton. after his visit to St Catherine’s (Orthodox) monastery in Sinai.

On 21st August 1975, St Catherine’s became a Grade II Listed Building, being recognised as a ‘Church of Historic Importance’ by English Heritage, because of its significance as an example of a mainstream Roman Catholic church of the mid-Victorian period. The adjacent presbytery was also Grade II Listed. In the mid-70s, the church was reorganised to reflect the new liturgy, introduced after the Second Vatican Council. After several attempts at re-

siting the altar, by the time of Mgr Paul Clark (1978-88), a final decision had been made. The decorated pulpit and the marble altar rails were removed and the sanctuary extended. Parts of the pulpit were used to create the ambo, and some of the marble altar rails were used in the new altar that now faced the people. This altar was consecrated by Bishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor on 7th November 1980, in the presence of Mgr Clark and other clergy.

The Parish Social Centre, a three-hall complex with a bar-room, was opened in the early 1980s and was linked to the aforementioned independent entrance to St Joseph’s chapel by a corridor that also led to toilets. At about the same time relief was also provided for motorists by the construction of car-parks at the sides of the church.

Fr Albert van der Most

From 1988 until 2011 the Church and parish were led by their second longest-serving priest, Fr Albert van der Most, a Dutchman who had worked in the African missions before joining the diocese.

The church had been badly affected by the October 1987 “hurricane”, and was in dire need of restoration. A Restoration Fund was established, which paid for a new slate roof, guttering, a new central heating system, an alarm system and the rubbing down and revarnishing of the benches – changing their colour from dark mahogany to light pine.

Partly to conserve heat, a narthex was created under the gallery by the erection of glass partitions. Wood panelling was also added to the walls when a second heating system was installed. The baptismal font was moved into the narthex to serve as a holy water stoup, while the baptistery was enclosed and re-designated as a repository. While much of this work took

place, Mass was said in the Parish Centre.

In Fr Albert’s time, baptisms took place once a month during Sunday Mass. Close contact was maintained also with St Catherine’s Primary School, with nativity and passion plays often being mounted by the school at the church before Sunday Mass.

For many years, Fr Albert undertook many tasks normally undertaken by parishioners. He managed the Social Centre himself, and could often be seen tending to the lawn. He opened the

Altar

vista from Beach Road by replacing the hedge that abutted the footpath with flowerbeds.

When the Centre was let to a preschool group, Fr Albert had the presbytery garden paved, so as to provide a play area for the children. This has now become additional car-parking space. As part of the roof renovations, the three-tonne bronze bell was removed from its bell-cote in 1991 and donated to Littlehampton Museum (recently relocated to the Manor House).

The bell had been installed at the turn of the twentieth century, and some parishioners can still remember it being rung before Sung Mass on Sundays. But it had not been used for two decades, and the professional advice was that its weight was putting an unnecessary stress on the roof timbers.

In 2002, perhaps in recognition of the church’s listed status, there was a move to return the bell to its original position. As it was found to be cracked, however, it still decorates the Museum Garden; and a lighter bell has been installed in its place (though without a bell rope attached).

St Dominia and St Catherine Wiindow

Our Link with Rustington

With the retirement of Fr Albert in 2011, Rustington Parish began to be served from Littlehampton, resulting in the surrender of the Ford Prison Chaplaincy – which Littlehampton had held since the prison opened in 1960, with Mass being said there each Sunday morning. Recently Littlehampton’s involvement with the prison has been restored, with its parish priest saying Mass there each Friday.

It was while Fr Dominic O’Hara was parish priest (2011-17) that the church’s name appears to have changed from St Catherine V M to St Catherine of Alexandria. On the 2013 Spring Bank

Holiday weekend, the sequicentenary of St Catherine’s was celebrated in the company of the Bishop Kieran and three previous priests of the parish: Fr Albert, Fr David Rae (1960-64), and Fr Chris Ingle (1987-88). In March 2014 relics of many saints, and one of the True Cross (together with their accompanying certificates dating from the 19th century) were unearthed in the sacristy, where they had undoubtedly lain hidden for over fifty years. It was at about this time that websites were created for both parishes.

Fr Dominic was succeeded by Fr Carl Davies (2017-21) who consulted the Historic Churches Committee with a view to learning what internal and external changes could be made to the Grade II Listed Buildings. His time in Littlehampton was marked by Covid. Unfortunately for a church of its size – despite previously Fr Dominic’s weekly homilies having been recorded and put up on-line – St Catherine’s had no permanent camera installed that would have allowed the live-streaming of Mass during the pandemic.

The current parish priest, Fr Boniface Kesiena Akpoigbe MSP, a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, continues to care for the fabric of the building as well as the welfare of the parishioners. The sanctuary lighting has been updated, while improvements to the church heating are already in hand. A freestanding church signboard has been erected too, while the priest’s accommodation has been refurbished for the first time in thirty years. Various steps have also been taken to rebuild the congregation post-Covid, with a wider variety of parishioners being encouraged to undertake church duties.

Since 2011 the parish has been blessed by the support of a deacon. Deacon Adrian Burnett performs a variety of roles in both Littlehampton and Rustington parishes.

Services

The Saturday Vigil Mass is now at 6.00pm and Sunday Mass is at 11.00am. There are Masses also at 10.00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place from 9.00am on Thursdays, while the Holy Rosary is recited each Sunday from 10.30am. For children who are below First Holy Communion age, a Children’s Liturgy is held every Sunday except the second one in each month. Confessions are by appointment.

The church is also regularly used by the Madeiran community, who have a Mass in Portuguese at 8.30am each Sunday, and by the Keralan community, who have a Liturgy in Malayalam at 2.00pm on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month.

The following prayer is always recited at the end of every Mass: Glorious St. Catherine, virgin

and martyr:

Help me to imitate your love of purity.

Give me strength and courage in fighting off the temptations of the world and evil desires.

Help me to love God with my whole heart and serve him faithfully.

Altar closeup

O St. Catherine, through your glorious martyrdom for the love of Christ, help me to be loyal to my faith and my God as long as I live.

Amen

The website of St Catherine’s church is www.stcatherineschurchlittlehampton.org

(Compiled by Mike Webber, parishioner and historian, with acknowledgement to the researches made by Mike Dunne in 2013.

Interior view of St Catherine’s church

Arundel Cathedral viewed from the Collector Earl's Gardens

By Nigel Corby

Catholic Education and the Catenians

Dr. Simon Uttley – Keynote Speaker

In the presence the Right Reverend Bishop Richard Moth and in a remarkably well received first for the local Circle and for Province 18 of the Catenian Association, the members of Arundel Circle played host last November to some 20 representative senior teachers and Chairs of Governors of ten schools in the broad catchment area of the beautifully set Arundel Cathedral.

The evening was a way of thanking our Catholic Teachers for all that they do for our young people in the Diocese – their efforts and focus on this task is exemplary. But it was far more than that!

To make the evening attractive, not only was a delicious finger buffet served, but a Keynote Speaker took to the floor in the shape Dr Simon Uttley, Head of Blessed Hugh Farringdon School in Reading and Professor in Catholic Education at the Centre for Research in Catholic Education

and Religious Literacy (CERRL) where he is involved in the supervision of research. He is also an Associate Professor at Notre Dame University’s London Global Gateway. He has contributed to scholarly and sector specific journals and his latest initiative is the formation of Koinonia – a consortium of schools in partnership with St. Mary’s University addressing research and CPD.

His topic focussed on “The importance of mission integrity in schools at a time of rapid change.”

There then was an opportunity for us to explore ways that the Catenian Association might be able to assist our Schools, and how it does so already. An explanation was

provided of the work we do with youth through the Catenian Bursary Fund, a National public speaking competition and through links with many world wide Universities.

Ms Natlie Carless, Headteacher St. Wilfred’s Catholic Primary School, Angmering with Membership Officer, Jim Edwards

There was also a brief update on the work of the Education Service from Diocesan Director, Julie Oldroyd, and on the recently constituted Bosco Catholic Education Trust, given by their CEO, Dave Carter, formerly Headteacher at the prestigious Catholic School and 6th Form College in Barnham, W Sussex.

In his address, Dr Uttley offered a series of mission integrity points, from the necessary delivery to both government, local authority and the Church’s educative mission, including setting priorities and spending decisions, – “rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is His!” – to the development of a symbiotic deep relationship with schools’ Parishes, their priest(s), deacon(s) and religious as well ensuring that parishioners are welcomed in the playground, the school Council and as part of its Governance. Those teachers and others interested in the full address may apply by email for a copy to the author of this article at : nigel. corby@outlook.com

Former Grand President of the Association, Philip Gidman of Crawley Catenian Circle, gave a brief history of the Catenian Association. It was particularly noted that many Chairs of Governing bodies, indeed the Chair of the Bosco Trust and present that evening, Tim Feast, are members of the Catenians.

Details of the Association’s Bursary Fund for young Catholics were delivered by Arundel Circle’s Michael Tudor, for 15 years a Director of the Fund. Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 inclusive are able to apply for grant aid towards overseas projects with which they are involved or they may seek financial assistance if involved with the Lourdes Pilgrimages as Red Shirts for example. To take advantage of such grants, review the Bursary fund web pages at https:// catenianbursary.com/

The Association runs a Public Speaking competition and the local Province hosted its regional round in February 2024, once again at Arundel’s Cathedral Centre. Province 18’s President Nigel Feast delivered the details of the now dozen schools who applied to take part and gave examples of some of the past key subject areas that past entrants had tackled. The national finals will be held in September 2024 in Manchester. Details of Province 18’s activities and this initiative may be viewed at : https://sussexcatenians.org/ Director of Province, Ed Murphy, gave a brief presentation detailing some of the UK and international aspects of the Association’s relationships with university educators and FE colleges, particularly some work conducted in South Africa and Australia.

Mr David Carter

Presentation of information packs was then made by Membership Officer, Jim Edwards, to participant Headteachers present for dissemination among their other senior staff and 6th form pupils where appropriate.

Rounding off the evening were two prominent educators in the Diocese. The Diocesan Director of education Ms Julie Olroyd addressed some of the challenging aspects of their mission to and on behalf of schools, offering some interesting statistics : 37, 800 pupils are enrolled in schools under the aegis of the Service along with nearly 3,000 teachers and almost 700 Governors. Just over 98% of the state funded schools are Ofsted rated at Good or Outstanding. The service is guided and informed in its work by Bishop Richard, Diocesan Trustees, the Education Committee and the Academies Partnership Committee.

Then the role of the Bosco Trust was explained in some interesting detail by Mr David Carter, the chief executive officer of the Trust. First and foremost, the Trust is a family of Catholic schools who are committed to one another’s success, working together to improve the lifechances of the children entrusted to our care. His job is simply to support, enable and facilitate the work of our wonderful schools. Together they are most definitely stronger and have already achieved things that we wouldn’t have thought possible on our own. Every Diocesan school from across Sussex who joins Bosco CET brings with them great talent, expertise and unique perspectives and experiences. The Trust’s collective responsibility to the children and their families is to continue to support one another in raising standards and to never settle for second-best. The Trust covers some eight schools currently and will increase its numbers next year. He emphasised that the Trust is not a ‘top-down’ organisation, but that they work together for each school community, centralising those services which enable each school to focus more rigorously on the day job of loving the children and teaching them well.

The evening’s MC was Nigel Corby, President of Arundel Circle, who thanked all for their presence. He trusted that as school teachers, responsible for so much of the formation of the Church’s future as students pass through their hands, they will feel free not only to call on Catenians for support as necessary –a positive response will be offered wherever possible – but also take time out to join the Catenians or tell of us to your husbands, fathers, sons and grandchildren. “We encourage you and them to join us– we are a quiet haven of peaceful development for our faith through lifelong friendships and a lot of fun! We need each other!”, he said.

Bishop Richard kindly closed the session with an affirmative speech congratulating the Diocesan teachers for their leadership and effective support of the church’s mission in schools .He thanked the Arundel Circle and Province 18 Brothers of the Association for staging and attending this splendid evening. His final messages and blessing was much appreciated by all.

Bishop Richard and Nigel Corby

Background information on the Catenian Association

Province 18 of the Catenian Association, comprises Circles based in the county of Sussex and is served by the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, led by Bishop Richard Moth.

The Catenian Association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet at least once a month in local units called Circles, to enjoy each other's company and thereby strengthen their family life and faith through friendship. It is open to practising Catholic laymen from the age of 21 years.

The Catenian Association is non-political and is not a Catholic Action organisation, but it is an organisation for active Catholics. Many members of the Association are involved with the Church, particularly as Readers and Eucharistic Ministers and also as governors of Catholic schools, or are involved with Diocesan education committees. Members are drawn from a wide range of experience. Many have a business or professional background, some are self-employed, while others have a teaching, health service or other public service background. Many have no formal qualifications.

The Catenians raise funds to support a wide span of charities and interests, at a local, national or international level raising in excess of £250,000 each year. The Association has two charities: “The Benevolent and Children’s Fund” for its own members and their dependents, and the “Bursary Fund” which helps young Catholics aged 16 to 24 who are to take part in community-based projects at home and abroad, which have a clear benefit for others as well as for the participant. Applicants for grants from the Bursary Fund do not need to have any connection to a member of the Catenian Association. In addition, Presidents of Circles and Provinces usually raise funds for a nominated charity during their term of office.

Our many Social Events involve our families and build long lasting friendships. Widows and their families are also actively involved.

By Barbara Isbister

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling in English Martyrs Church, Goring-by-Sea

If you come from Australia or the Americas and have travelled to the UK, it is possible that you may have visited the reproduction of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling in the English Martyrs Church in Sussex. Paradoxically, many who live in the UK may be unaware of what is on their doorstep.

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel Ceiling - Creation

The only known reproduction of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling in the world

Michelangelo’s original painting of the famous ceiling in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican was commissioned by Pope Julius II. A reluctant Michelangelo, who had no experience with frescoes, considered himself first and foremost, a sculptor. A claim which is supported by his outstanding sculptures, including ‘La Pieta’ (1500) and ‘David’ (1504). He was nevertheless persuaded to undertake the commission, designing and frescoing the vault in May 1508. It was completed over four years later in October 1512.

Contrary to popular belief that the artist and his assistants painted the ceiling lying down, they did in fact work in an upright position, standing on platforms and scaffolding which Michelangelo himself had also designed. They were able to reach the ceiling above their heads. In 1509 he wrote a poem which he sent to his friend Giovanni da Pistoia. It reveals some of the agony:

I’ve already grown a goitre from this torture, hunched up here like a cat in Lombardy (or anywhere else where the stagnant water’s poison).

My stomach’s squashed under my chin, my beard’s pointing at heaven, my brain’s crushed in a casket, my breast twists like a harpy’s. My brush, above me all the time, dribbles paint so my face makes a fine floor for droppings! My haunches are grinding into my guts, my poor ass strains to work as a counterweight, every gesture I make is blind and aimless. My skin hangs loose below me, my spine’s all knotted from folding over itself.

I’m bent taut as a Syrian bow.

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel CeilingSeparation of Land and Water

Because I’m stuck like this, my thoughts are crazy, perfidious tripe: anyone shoots badly through a crooked blowpipe.

My painting is dead.

Defend it for me, Giovanni, protect my honour.

I am not in the right place—I am not a painter.

The world can only look in wonder and amazement at the remarkable Renaissance achievement and give thanks to God that it was completed.

Almost five hundred years later, in 1987, Gary Bevans, a parishioner from the English Martyrs Church in Sussex went on a parish pilgrimage to Rome for the Beatification of eighty-five English Martyrs. Bevans was a sign painter by trade. He

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel Ceiling - The Flood

had no formal art training but was clearly talented. He had painted signs for pubs, shops and vans, in the days when these were done by hand. He loved Renaissance Art and considered it the very best form of art.

When he saw the Sistine Chapel in Rome, he was overwhelmed, as indeed many are. But Bevans felt so strongly that he was inspired to reproduce the Sistine Chapel paintings. It was an amazing coincidence that the ceiling in English Martyrs was the same width as the Sistine Chapel, which he was quick to realise. It was however shorter in length. Like Michelangelo, Bevans was thirty-three when he began his work. He mapped out the copy, to fit it all in, to two-thirds of the original size. This, in itself, was an extraordinary mathematical feat. It took five and a half years, between 1987 and 1993, to hand paint the

finished copy. Like Michelangelo, he stood on a platform and bent his head back. At first, he could only manage twenty minutes at a time, but this increased to hours, eventually working from eight or nine in the evening, through the night until morning.

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel Ceiling (top) - Creation of the Sun, Moon and Planets

He received the Papal cross, ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifical’ for his work. ‘It was a ‘spiritual journey,’ said Bevans. ‘It increased and deepened my faith because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. Every night I would kneel and pray. Every bit is done for the glory of God.’

Gary Bevans became a Deacon in June, 2009.

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel Ceiling

In January 2024 a drone video of the ceiling in Sussex was produced by James and Bryden Isbister. It is available to view on the Arundel Cathedral website at: www.arundelcathedral.uk or directly on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyjhujQkZDs

The drone video had over 1,000 views in the first month from all over the world.

English Martyrs Catholic Church, Goring Way, Goring-by-Sea, Worthing, West Sussex

BN12 4UH

Tel: 01903 50689

Open for visits:

Easter - End of October

Mon: 10-1pm

Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri: 10-4pm

Admission Free

Proclaimer Magazine: Home Page - 56 -

English Martyrs Sistine Chapel Ceiling

By Lucy Horne, Headteacher

St Philip’s School, Arundel

St Philip’s School

It has been a busy term so far with many community events, trips and extra-curricular activities.

Here are just a few highlights:

Community

Year 4 visited Arundel Cathedral as part of their topic on ‘Community’. They spent time in the cathedral finding objects and information and discussed what it is like to be part of a wider community. Some children from our School Council walked over to Priory Road allotments to plant trees as part of the community tree warden project. It is great for the children to take part in community events especially ones linked to ‘Stewardship’ and looking after our planet.

We are fortunate to be involved in a project about the English Civil War. Chris Hare, from Arundel Museum, is working with our Year 5 class, exploring why the war happened and what the ramifications were. The children are interested in hearing how King Charles 1’s beliefs were different to those of Parliament and the uprising and divisiveness this caused. There are several more sessions to follow and it will end with a joint school event singing songs of that time.

Events

Some of our children successfully qualified to get through to the Southern Area Cross Country finals in Windlesham House. During this event, our Year 6 girls team came second and will now go on to represent the Southern Area in the South of England event. We had some individual runners who qualified too – Chloe, Ines, Hope, Harry and Edward.

Our Year 5 and 6 netball teams formed in September and train weekly. They had their first netball friendly against a local school and played exceptionally well, winning by a large margin. They then went to Dorset House to play in an U11 tournament against seven other teams. They all played very well and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There have been many sporting events since the start of the year. Recently our

Our Year 6 Cross Country Girls Team at the Southern Area Cross Country Finals

Year 4 girls football team won gold at a Locality tournament with no goals conceded. They now go on to represent the Locality in the next tournament.

As part of their topic on The Rainforest, a local company brought in reptiles and insects from that part of the world. The children were able to learn about each creature. Tom brought with him a stick insect called Pickett, a tortoise called Harry, a Gecko lizard called Oaken and two pythons called Whistler and Shay. Tom was very knowledgeable; the children found out lots of interesting facts about the animals and were able to touch and hold them. Some of the children were very nervous to touch the animals at first, but they all managed to overcome their nerves and then felt proud of what they had achieved.

Cali said, "It (the snake) was very heavy. I was a bit worried at first but then I was happy I’d held it.”

Jonah added, "I was kind of worried

because the snake wrapped his tail around my leg. I loved the gecko, the eyes looked like a snake. I might get one for my birthday."

The first netball match this year for our netball team was a friendly match at Summerlea.

Children visiting the Christmas Grotto in Arundel Lido

Trips

Year 4 visited Fishbourne Roman Palace as part of their learning on ‘The Romans’. They travelled by coach and were amazed at the beautiful mosaics. The ‘Boy and the Dolphin’ was one of their favourites. They were able to dress like Romans, learn about the artefacts linked to Roman times and even try their hand at Roman cooking. Year 5 went on a school trip to Chichester Planetarium as part of their topic on Planets and the Solar System. They learned about the planet constellations and the Artemis Mission.

Here

They ended the session with a quiz about their learning.

The children are now looking forward to Summer events to include Sports Day and transition days.

are some of our wonderful Singing Superstars, bringing Christmas joy to some of the residents of St Wilfrid's.

St Philip Howard's Feast Day Assembly

By Elizabeth Stratford

Arundel Cathedral Choir Visit To See “Grease”

Leaving for the trip to London

At the end of the 2023 summer term, some of the choristers and probationers travelled to London to see “Grease” the musical at the Dominion Theatre in the West End. We caught the train from Arundel station and, arriving early, visited The Spaces In-Between. Created by Pixel Artworks, this is a light display which responds to body movements. The digital screens move and change and the choristers found this fascinating and particularly enjoyed the flamingos!

The Dominion Theatre was very impressive. After heading to the gift shop we found our seats which were in the Stalls so we had an excellent view of the stage. The production was very energetic with all the cast dancing and singing and sometimes climbing and swinging from staircases which were part of the set. The costumes were fifties style dresses with flared skirts for the girls and jeans and leather jackets for the boys. Everything was very slick and well-timed and

the theatre was full of people. After Act 1 there was time for a quick refuel (with ice cream) before Act 2 began. The part of Johnny Casino was played by Liam McHugh, who began his career as a chorister in Arundel Cathedral Choir and he sang at the start of Act 2 as well as performing as part of the ensemble throughout the show. At the end, during the “Grease Megamix” the audience were invited to dance and sing along with all their favourite songs. After the show, the choristers were able to meet Liam and ask him questions about the show and his career. He said he has to perform in eight shows every week! Once we had made it back to Victoria Station, everyone was feeling a bit hungry so we had burgers for tea before catching the train home again.

The choristers write:

“I really loved watching the teenaged boys wearing black leather jackets. They were so cool! I liked going on the train by myself and chatting to Theo.” – Max, aged 6

“I loved that we could all stand up at the end and sing along and that I got to do it with some of my friends!” – Amelia, aged 12

“I adored it, especially the part where they sang “summer loving”. In the end Sandy’s costume was really cool!” Leela, aged 8 “What an amazing show! It gave me a feeling of complete joy, especially singing along with my friends. The actors were amazing, the story made me feel like I was in high school with them. Meeting Liam made the experience even better. He was an inspiration to me.” Amelie, aged 12

“Going to see Grease the musical was the best day ever. I loved the songs. It made me feel really happy. All the characters sang great. Thank you Liam for meeting us!” Theo, aged 8

“I liked when we got a chance to meet Liam who was in it. My favourite bits were the songs and singing along to them.” Phaedra, aged 8

“I liked the songs and the acting with all the dancing. It was very upbeat and I enjoyed watching it.” Francesca, aged 10

“The show really made me feel like I was in a school in the olden days. The music was amazing.” Florence, aged 8

“My favourite part was listening to the song Summer Loving. We sang all the way home on the train! “Grace, aged 8

By Alwyn Dow

SVP Clarinet Magic and Singalong

Celebrating this 150th year of the Cathedral, I have been pleased to play clarinet with my band at various functions around the Cathedral and Castle. With Christmas approaching I had also been asked to play a solo set of hymns and spirituals and others for the St Vincent de Paul Society event on Tuesday 5th December at the Cathedral Centre.

I began by researching songs that have a special resonance with me as a clarinet player, including Acker Bilk’s “Stranger on the Shore”. I attended his funeral back in 2014 and noted that the service included “Morning Has Broken”, so naturally I added this to my repertoire.

I also observed that a poem written by Acker himself was included. It was called “The River”, so I planned to read this on 5th December as well. (See below). I would also like to have added an

orchestral backing and I think that George Butterworth’s “The Banks of Green Willow” would have been perfect. He was killed in action on the Somme in 1916 aged 21.

The singalong songs were:

“Joshua fit the battle of Jericho”

“What a friend we have in Jesus”

“This little light of mine”

“Down by the riverside”

“When the saints go marching in”

The River - by Acker Bilk

Although not a big river, ‘twas endless to me. We dived in it, swam in it, fished it with glee. We floated log rafts on it, watched all the while by herons and kingfishers, ducks, single file.

Martins dipping and diving, the swifts flying free, Water rats dunking like biscuits in tea.

Reeds full of moorhens and a bit further out, where the current flowed swifter those gold bellied trout.

The trees on the banks were there just to be climbed.

Elbows and knees skinned but we didn’t mind. A thousand and one things to see and to do, a magical place was the old River Chew

The Days of my youth not numbered or planned. I go back to the river whenever I can.

Acker Bilk

By Oliver Hawkins

The Fisherman

What is loss? Do we mean simply not having something we had before, or do we mean something more profound, like the diminishing of ourselves?

When I was thirteen we lost our boat. My father and grandfather had been out fishing in deep water and were caught in a freak storm. They managed somehow to get themselves ashore, clinging to fragments of wreckage, but the boat and most of our gear went down. We thought the loss was a catastrophe; our livelihood snatched away. We thought we’d starve. But it turned out differently. Neighbours brought round food. Other fishing boats found jobs for us. The whole village seemed to be taking care of us, but in a way that was so practical and unsentimental that we were able to accept their kindness without embarrassment.

Looking back to that period I realise it was actually one of the happiest times of my life, making new friends and finding my feet in a wider world.

Christ Calling the Apostles James and JohnEdward Armitage, 1869

But when Barnabas the money-changer was caught out cheating it was different. Although he kept his house, and probably quite a hoard of money, he lost not just his job but all the respect that attached to it. He effectively became a lesser person. His loss was total. I still feel sorry for him, but I can’t help him in the way our neighbours helped us all those years ago.

I’m thinking about loss because my two sons have just walked away. We were mending nets. It’s a job you think boring when you’re young, and then as you get older, and more skilled at it, and less impatient, you can get to enjoy it. We were sitting in the boat, near the beach, working away at the nets and it seemed to me that life had been kind to me. The boys were waving to a group coming along the sand, and someone shouted across to us, and the next I knew James and then John were jumping into the water and heading for the shore.

James gave me a kind of pat on the shoulder as he left, and John turned and said ‘It’s okay, dad’. But that was it. They joined the group and I had the sense that we would never work together again.

I should be feeling bereft, but the strange thing is that I am not. It makes no sense at all, but I feel absolutely certain that wherever it is that they are going, it is the right place for them. They clearly had no doubts, and whatever it was that the stranger had been telling them on the shore, I know they were right to have listened. I wonder what it is they’ve been called for; perhaps one day I’ll find out. Perhaps one day I’ll hear of James and John, my sons, the sons of Zebedee.

Jesus calls James and John from their boat; their father Zebedee stands behind them. Woodcut - Wellcome Foundation

The Easter Vigil

By Richard France

No sound is heard, and all has stopped within

The silent church, for in there it is night.

As if surrounded by the dark of sin,

The people stand, all waiting for the light.

And now it comes – still no more than a glow –

Enough to light up all those standing near;

The Easter fire slowly starts to grow, And soon all see a tiny flame appear.

And, still in silence, from this holy flame

Is lit the Easter candle, which will burn, To be a sign of life in Jesus’ name. Then from this candle other ones in turn

Are lit, as if all can new life expect; So faces now begin to glow as they From candles now aflame, that life reflect –And dark to light, and sin to grace, gives way.

But then the light of Christ is borne on high, And carried through the church, that all may draw New hope, from that light which will never die, The light that will be with us evermore.

And always this tradition will go on, Though sin and darkness try to have their way; The conquering light is still the same that shone When Christ arose on that first Easter Day.

Easter Vigil - Chartes Cathedral

By Joanna Hall

Money Changers in the Temple!

We are all familiar with the episode in the Gospels when Jesus cleared the Temple, where merchants and consumers alike were accused of turning the Temple into a 'den of thieves'. His righteous anger was directed at the pursuit of money for its own sake in the house of God.

So it poses the question 'Is there a place for a shop in our Cathedral?' Before answering that question certain factors need to be considered:

1. Firstly and, it could be argued most importantly, does it interfere with worship in the Cathedral? In terms of location it is well tucked away by the St Philip Howard altar in the old porch, used by the Dukes of Norfolk and their families, so much so that some people are unaware of its presence! It is never open when Mass is in progress.

2. Does it operate to make a profit? Yes, it would make no economic sense to operate at a loss and incur additional expenses to the Cathedral. Rather it makes a useful contribution to the Cathedral's finances, helping to support the endeavours in the parish and beyond. How any profit is administered is in the domain of the Cathedral Dean for there are many areas of need.

3. What service does it provide? It caters for both physical and spiritual needs, which may be surprising. Physical, in that the stock that we carry, be it rosaries, crucifixes, prayer cards and so much more, meets a physical demand. These items adorn a home, travel in a car, lorry or even a motor bike, they are tucked into a wallet or purse, sent to the sick and lonely, they are given to children and teenagers. They may be taken home as a memory of a visit, an aid to devotion and given as gifts to friends serving perhaps as a gentle nudge to a lapsed catholic, a comfort in times of sadness opening a train of thought. They spread the Word!

Spiritually, more difficult to measure, but nonetheless the shop provides very important support in this area. It is a welcoming space open to anyone looking for comfort, information or just a listening ear. Welcome, to both parishioners and visitors alike, for often we are the only

people in the Cathedral and so are representatives of our church. Acting as unofficial guides we can provide answers or if we don't know the answers can point people in the right direction. It is not uncommon for people to find their way to the shop in search of company and simple human contact. Some people haven't set foot in a church for many years and it can open in them a desire to talk, releasing memories long hidden that they want to share; we are not counsellors in any way but we can listen!

Service is the main focus of the shop; its customers are so much more than mere consumers.

4. Who runs the shop and how much does it cost? The shop is run entirely by volunteers who give their time freely. We work as a team with a very competent leader (who wishes to remain anonymous, but we all know who she is!) who oversees the shop duties and the demanding, behind the scenes, work. Working with volunteers requires very

fluid management allowing for busy lives and with commitments of their own. Stock control is another very important aspect of the shop's smooth running, keeping pace with current trends and satisfying the seasonal demands of Christmas

and Easter and, in our Cathedral more specifically, Corpus Christi. Team work is key to all of this.

5. Is it rewarding for the volunteers? Yes, on so many levels, none of them financial! It's an opportunity to meet people from far and wide, it's fun and always unexpected; it can be busy, it can be slow. The team get together regularly and enjoy each other's company and compare notes on the ups and downs, the many funny incidents and the occasional irritations.

6 Common criticisms? There will always be critics and one of the most common ones relates to the nature of the stock. Well perhaps there might be items that you do not like, but everybody's taste is different. The gaudy beads can appeal greatly to a small girl whose first introduction it may be to the rosary. Equally, bright colours can be a cultural reflection of someone's religious devotion. Not all the stock is 'religious' but none is irreverent. Sometimes the messages may seem a little trite but so often they can speak to a need for reassurance and hope. As regards the quality there is a balance to be met; the standard is good and importantly affordable. We cater for our parishioners as well as those from other

parishes. The Cathedral attracts many visitors from the UK and abroad.

7. Corpus Christi stalls? The stalls around the Cathedral at Corpus Christi: certainly some of them are stocked with items from the shop but by no means all. The Friends of the Cathedral, the Catenians, the Ministry of Consolation, the SVP Group and, very importantly, a stall catering for Mass intentions and the lighting of candles (that can't be done, for safety reasons, when the Cathedral is dressed for Corpus Christi) and of course the Poor Clares all have stalls. The flow of people coming to see the Carpet and the flowers is often quite slow. The stalls

offer opportunities to talk and share stories and, yes, buy items for family and friends. There are very few such outlets in the Diocese now. The income derived from sales is a welcome boost to the substantial costs of such an important feast.

Having given consideration to all these factors the answer to the question 'Is there a place for a shop in our Cathedral? has to be a resounding YES!!

You may now like to consider volunteering yourself. Just a few hours a week is not very demanding, rather very rewarding and FUN. Also, at another level, it is an important avenue of

Evangelisation. What have you got to lose?

We currently have vacancies so if you're interested in joining our team please contact Louise or Jenny to have a chat and find out more.

By Jo Briscoe

Mission to be disciples of Christ (Christifideles Laici)

Our Bishop Richard, as well as our Priests, have brought us to attention recently by highlighting and explaining the current situation of our church, together with the future prospects within our own Diocese, which will affect us all, as we move into that future with fewer Priests. Every single member of our Diocese has a responsibility within this plan. As we know, and as is always the case, God is with us – it is his Will we are following and expanding.

We are the people of God – we are needed in equal standing. As Matthew’s Gospel states “For the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.” ‘This situation sets before our eyes the Lord’s vast vineyard and the multitude of persons, both women and men, who are called and sent forth by him to labour in it. The vineyard

Bishop Richard - Advent Vespers Service at Arundel Cathedral

is the whole world which is to be transformed according to the plan of God in view of the final coming of the Kingdom of God’. Following on with the story – “the owner of the vineyard, after about three hours, went outside again and saw others standing idle in the marketplace. He said to them, “You too go into my vineyard” These words “You go too” is a concern not only of pastors, clergy, and men and women religious, the call is addressed to everyone: lay people as well are personally called by the Lord from whom they receive a mission on behalf of the Church and the world’. This simile is taken from the Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness John Paul II – all those years ago, yet it is so very relevant to our situation within our own Diocese currently and in the future!

It is quite ironic that the following words were spoken by Pope John Paul II within the topic of the 1987 Synod of Bishops “Christifideles Laici” : (The lay members of Christ’s Faithful People)“A new state of affairs today both in the Church and in social, economic, political and cultural life, calls with a particular urgency for the action of the lay faithful. If lack of commitment is always unacceptable, the present time renders it even more so. It is not permissible for anyone to remain idle.”

Pope John Paull II at Luzembourg Cathedral

‘The lay faithful have an essential and irreplaceable role in this announcement and in this testimony: through them the Church of Christ is made present in the various sectors of the world as a sign and source of hope and of love.’

Currently, as our Bishop Richard is pointing out, the Church’s mission is essential in its current and future positions. We all have one dignity flowing from Baptism – ‘each member of the lay faithful, together with ordained ministers and men and women religious, shares a responsibility for the Church’s mission. For the lay faithful, this one baptismal dignity takes on a manner of life which sets a person apart without, however, bringing about a separation from the ministerial priesthood or from men and women religious. The Second Vatican Council has described this manner of life as the “secular character”: ‘The secular character is properly and particularly that of the lay faithful. They live in the world, that is, in every one of the secular professions and occupations.

They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very fabric of their existence is woven. They are persons who live an ordinary life in the world: they study, they work, they form relationships as friends, professionals,

Canon David - Advent Vespers Service at Arundel Cathedral

members of society, cultures, etc.

However, the Council (Second Vatican) considers their condition not simply an external and environmental framework, but as a reality destined to find in Jesus Christ the fullness of its meaning.

‘The “World” thus becomes the place and the means for the lay faithful to fulfil their Christian vocation because the world itself is destined to glorify God the Father in Christ. The Council is able then to indicate the proper and special

sense of the divine vocation which is directed to the lay faithful. They are not called to abandon the position that they have in the world. Baptism does not take them from the world at all, as the Apostle Paul points out: “So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God.”’

In our current Mission, we must support and assist our overworked Priests, whose values are indescribable. They can, by universal law, entrust to the lay faithful certain offices and roles that are connected

Second Vatican Council in session

to their pastoral ministry but do not require the character of Orders. The Code of Canon Law states: “When the necessity of the Church warrants it and when ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply for certain of their offices, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer Baptism, and to distribute Holy Communion in accord with the prescriptions of the law.”

However, the exercise of such tasks does not make the lay faithful pastors; in fact, a person is not a minister simply in performing a task, but through sacramental ordination. Only the sacrament of Orders gives the ordained minister a particular participation in the office of

Christ, the Shepherd and Head, and in his Eternal Priesthood. The task exercised in virtue of supply takes its legitimacy formally and immediately from the official deputation given by the pastors, as well as from its concrete exercise under the guidance of ecclesiastical authority.

We are all capable of some form of help. As Pope John Paul II clearly states: “Do not be afraid! Open, indeed open wide the doors to Christ! Open to his saving power the confines of states and systems political and economic, as well as the vast fields of culture, civilisation, and development. Do not be afraid! Christ knows ‘what is inside a person.’ Only he knows! Today too often people do not know what they carry inside, in the deepest recesses of their soul, in their heart. Too often

Ordination of Fr. Tristan Cranfield by Bishop Richard

people are uncertain about a sense of life on earth. Invaded by doubts they are led into despair. Therefore – with humility and trust, I beg and implore you, allow Christ to speak to the person in you. Only he has the words of life, yes, eternal life.” ‘Opening wide the doors to Christ, accepting him into humanity itself poses absolutely no threat to persons, indeed it is the only road to take to arrive at the total truth and the exalted value of the human individual.’

Therefore, in the life of each member of the lay faithful, there are particularly significant and decisive moments for discerning God’s call and embracing the mission entrusted by him. No one must

forget that the Lord, as the master of the labourers in the vineyard, calls at every hour of life so as to make his holy will more precisely and explicitly known. Therefore, the fundamental and continuous attitude of the disciple should be one of vigilance and a conscious attentiveness to the voice of God.

It is not a question of simply knowing what God wants from each of us in the various

Parishioners preparing the Corpus Christi Carpet of Flowers

Pope Francis

situations of life. The individual must do what God wants, as we are reminded in the words that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, addressed to the servants at Cana: “Do whatever he tells you”.

However, to act in fidelity to God’s will requires a capability for acting and the developing of that capability. We can rest assured that this is possible through the free and responsible collaboration of each of us with the grace of the Lord which is never lacking. St. Leo the Great says: “The one who confers the dignity will give the strength!”.

Remember the invitation: “You too go into my vineyard.” This is a call of the Lord which he addresses to everyone, yet in a particular way to the lay faithful, both women and men.

With deep emotion and gratitude, we again hear the words of John the Evangelist: “See what the love of the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 Jn. 3:1).

The whole Church ought to feel more strongly the Church’s responsibility to obey the command of Christ, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16: 15).

Shrine of St Philip Howard at Arundel Cathedral

By Margaret Bamford OBE

Friends Of Arundel Cathedral Advent Vespers 2023

Celebrating the new ecclesiastical year is always a special event in the liturgical calendar. This year The Friends of the Cathedral held their traditional celebration in the Cathedral on Advent Sunday - the first Sunday in December. The service was celebrated by Bishop Richard leading a special service of Pontifical Vespers. It is a splendid occasion of joyous worship and choral music, warming hearts and lifting spirits - truly a celebration full of optimism and hope for the future. The presence of civic leaders from across the Diocese added an extra sense of gravitas and dignity to the occasion, while the installation by the Bishop of a new Chapter Canon – Fr Peter Newsam – reinforced the profound spirituality of new beginnings.

Attendance was excellent and included Georgina, Duchess of Norfolk, the High Sheriffs of East and West Sussex Andrew Bliss QPM, and Richard Bickersteth, Timothy Waites DL from Surrey,

and the Under Sheriff, Kevin Smyth. It was also an honour to welcome the recently retired Lord Lieutenant from West Sussex Dame Susan Pyper and her husband Jonathan, long standing, loyal supporters of Friends’ events.

The choral music, always a highlight of the occasion, was again sublime under the direction of Elizabeth Stratford. It included the opening introit People Look East, a rousing exhortation for Advent. During the collection, O Thou The Central Orb (Charles Wood) showed off the Cathedral's mighty Hill organ in all its glory, the choir rising above the varied accompaniment building to a dramatic Amen. Amelia Howard, aged 12, who reached the finals of the Young Chorister of the Year in December, took centre stage as the soloist in Stanford's Magnificat in G. With its long phrases and soaring high notes, Amelia excelled herself, demonstrating a natural musicality and vocal maturity beyond her years. Charles Wood’s anthem, Never Weather Beaten Sail was pensive and gentle, bringing the service to a peaceful close.

The Bishop’s homily, aways accessible and relevant, began with how he could have started by wishing everyone a Happy New Year – the traditional way of expressing optimism for the coming year – but, ‘what

St Paul wants’, said the Bishop, from the reading in the service is “your happiness”….. “A deep and profound happiness that comes from knowing in the very core of our being that we are loved”. Unconditional love is the cornerstone of Christianity.

Referring to the need for prayers for people throughout the world, he said, “All of us in this Cathedral church this evening, have in our minds and hearts those suffering across our world as a result of conflict, be that Ukraine, Russia, the West Bank, Israel, Gaza … the Yemen. Wherever it may be those thoughts are very much in our minds and hearts at this time”, he said. “Prayers are needed for peace; for politicians internationally to lead their countries to a political accommodation of differences between warring communities and to give thanks when that is achieved”. No-one was under any illusion about the degree to which ‘accommodation of differences’ would involve faith and belief in the ultimate good this would bring to a troubled and increasingly unstable world. The Bishop continued, “There is also need to pray for publicly elected

local leaders, of whom many representatives are present tonight from across the Diocese, who have made the commitment to lead community efforts for better futures. They all work tirelessly in public and voluntary service”.

Similarly, he said, “there are priests who are respected for their experience, and wisdom and contribution to the life of the Cathedral and church.” He congratulated Canon Peter on taking up the new appointment. “There is something very fitting

Canon David Parmiter lighting the first of four Advent Candles

Dame Susan Pyper, Margaret Bamford OBE, Kevin Smyth & Joanathan Pyper

about welcoming a new Canon into the Chapter at this point in the church’s year”, he said. “They are priests to whom we can look for their experience, wisdom and an example of priestly life.” The Bishop thanked all those who serve in the life of Cathedral and how much he will value Canon Peter’s contribution as he ‘brings a particularly rich background and experience to his new role’. [He has been Parish Priest in the parishes of Petworth & Midhurst, an Assistant priest at Chichester for four years and before that

was in Bognor for eighteen months. He was previously an Anglican priest and is married with two adult children].

The Bishop concluded with a heartfelt prayer for peace throughout the world as preparation for the New Year ahead.

To find out more about becoming a member of The Friends please go to www.arundelcathfriends@btconnect.

Bishop Richard delivering his Advent address

Fr. Peter Newsam being received as a canon

Provost William Davern, Canon

Peter Newsam, and Bishop Richard

Deacon Jon Harman

Bishop Richard with Canon Colin Wolczak

Cllr David Skip and Mrs Skip (Horsham District Council)

3 High Sheriffs with Chairman, Patrick Burgess, Margaret Bamboard OBE and trustee Dr James Walsh

Dr. Maggie Burgess, trustee, with her dog, Mo

A corner of the exhibition of vestments, showing a purple cope of around 1870, with three humeral veils. We were most grateful to the Trustees of Arundel Castle for the loan of the fine Cardinal Morton Cope, to add to the display of pieces from the Cathedral’s own collection.

Dear Friends

Those who attended this year’s AGM will have seen the small but impressive exhibition (opposite) of Cathedral vestments, mounted for the occasion and in honour of the 150th anniversary of our Cathedral church. It was only while working with the senior sacristan Graham Monet, selecting items for display, that I began to grasp just how magnificent is the collection of vestments in the Cathedral’s possession.

Some were commissioned specially by Duke Henry, some were bought as antique examples; some have been bequeathed, some are on permanent loan from other parishes. Altogether there must be over one thousand items, in sets ranging from a single to a dozen pieces. We were greatly assisted in our task by the comprehensive, illustrated catalogue produced over many years by the previous sacristan Michael Rycroft. Nor is his work complete, as a whole new batch from the former seminary at Wonersh, closed in July 2021, is in the process of being recorded.

The form of liturgical vestments, developed over the early centuries of the Church, became more or less standardised by the middle ages. Principal items are the tunic-like chasuble (for priests) or dalmatic (for deacons), worn over a plain white, gown-like alb, with a long scarf-like stole, and a great cope for solemn functions and processions. Within these forms is the potential for a great range of colour, cloth and decoration, appropriate for different seasons and occasions. The selection displayed in the following pages can give only an indication of the richness of the designs and consummate skill of the needlework.

Some items are too delicate for everyday use, but most can be seen, worn by Bishop Richard, Canon David, or other priests and deacons during services at the Cathedral.

Oliver Hawkins Editor

A green cope from around 1870, on permanent loan from St Pancras Church, Lewes. The cope is covered in gold decoration, with a detachable green velvet hood displaying a floral cross in light gold.

Green is the liturgical colour of renewal and life, and is appropriate for vestments in everyday use.

A white High Mass chasuble, one of a set of eleven pieces. The highly ornate French brocade fabric was rescued from a costumier in Paris in the 1870s, who intended to use it for furniture fittings. Duke Henry acquired the fabric and had it made into vestments for Arundel.

White symbolises light and life, and for this reason is worn on the occasions of Baptism, at Christmas and at Easter.

A Rose-coloured Roman style chasuble from a High Mass set originally of thirteen pieces. The set is of pink fabric covered with floral decoration and bordered in gold braid. In 1985 pieces from other items in the set were used by parishioners Olive and Kathleen Harrison to repair the chasuble.

Rose-coloured vestments, representing joy, are used on only two occasions during the liturgical year: Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, and Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent.

A chasuble in deep purple velvet surrounded by gold edging. The back displays a pelican surmounted by a cross with a pearl at the centre, all in gold on a white background. The motif is in a large cross of light purple edged in gold, and covered with silver and gold flowers against a background of green.

Purple is the liturgical colour of hope and expectation, and is used Advent, Lent, and the liturgy of the dead.

A red silk cope, with a red velvet hood displaying a white dove surrounded by pink flowers.

The cope has been on permanent loan since 1997 from the Parish of Petworth. Red represents the Holy Spirit, and the colour of the blood of the martyrs. Red vestments are used on Good Friday, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, and the festivals of martyred saints.

A

The liturgical use of black is principally for funerals and commemorations of the dead, as in the back cover image of the requiem mass for Duke Henry’s young wife, Duchess Flora.

French black velvet chasuble with silver bullion cross, decorated with the letters IHS, leaves and thistles. Purchased by Canon Tim Madeley, and on loan to the Cathedral.

Canon Anthony Whale

The 150 years of Arundel Cathedral has been the major anniversary celebrated this year, but another was marked at the Friends’ AGM in October. Forty years ago, in 1983, Fr Anthony Whale was appointed to the Arundel parish. Canon Tony had been a late vocation, following a successful career in the City. This meant that he brought to the role of parish priest and Dean of the Cathedral a high level of financial competence, as well as a practical willingness to get to grips with things. Prior to his ordination Tony had also been an enthusiastic sportsman, and his experience on the playing fields may well have given him the easy manner he showed in dealing with people from all walks of life. Arundel was exceptionally fortunate in having him at the helm for eighteen years, during which time he became greatly loved by his parishioners and greatly liked and respected across the whole community of Arundel.

But it is not just as a parish priest that Tony Whale is remembered. Recognising the great financial challenge of maintaining a large church in a small community, he set about establishing a charitable enterprise to raise funds, and in October 1985, just two years after taking up his post, he launched The Friends of Arundel Cathedral. Working with Bishop Cormac and Duke Miles he was able not only to set up the structure of The Friends, but also to raise a very substantial capital sum for investment. The Friends have been well served by its Council and members ever since, and have been able to make significant contributions each year to the maintenance costs of the Cathedral.

In addition to financial assistance The Friends have been increasingly active in encouraging visits and pilgrimages to the Cathedral; enhancing the experience of worship, in for example their support for the Cathedral’s Choral Scholars; and encouraging a wider appreciation of the Cathedral’s architectural and decorative splendour. With your help their work will continue.

Details of three Humeral Veils - Such veils consist of oblong pieces of material usually richly ornamented or embroidered, worn over the shoulders and covering the hands of the priest when holding the monstrance at Benediction.

Fitzalan Chapel window, showing a priest in a black chasuble, assisted by Duke Henry and his son Philip, at the requiem mass for Duchess Flora.

EVENTS AT ARUNDEL CATHEDRAL Spring - Autumn 2024

MARCH

Sunday 24th PALM SUNDAY

Wednesday 27th 6.00pm Diocesan Chrism Mass

Thursday 28th HOLY THURSDAY 8.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Cathedral followed by waiting to midnight at the altar of repose. 11.50pm Compline

Friday 29th GOOD FRIDAY 10.00am Stations of the Cross 3.00pm The Passion – Collection for Holy Places

Saturday 30th HOLY SATURDAY 8.00pm The Easter Vigil and First Mass of the Resurrection

Sunday 31st EASTER SUNDAY Masses at 9.15am and 11.15am

APRIL

Saturday 6th 11.30am East Surrey Organists Association visit 2.00pm Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Redshirts Mass

Saturday 13th 7.30pm The Angmering Chorale Concert, for tickets see: www.theangmeringchorale.org.uk

Sunday 14th 9.15am Mass with baptism

Saturday 20th 2.30pm Wedding

Sunday 21st 2.30pm Scouting St George’s Day Parade & Service

Saturday 27th 12 noon Union of Catholic Mothers Annual Mass 2.30pm SVP Mass with Anointing of the Sick

MAY

Saturday 4th 3.00pm The Suffolk Singers Recital – free entry, retiring Collection

Thursday 9th ASCENSION DAY

Masses at 10am & 7pm

Saturday 11th 7.00pm

The Leconfield Singers Concert, for details see www.leconfieldsingers.co.uk

Sunday 12th 3.00pm Worthing Deanery Confirmations

Wednesday 15th 10.00am – 12 Silver Sterlings – Cathedral polishing and cleaning group. Join together for a coffee, a chat as well as help with the cleaning.

Saturday 18th 1.00pm Lunchtime recital Croydon Male Voice Choir – free entry, retiring collection

Sunday 19th 9.15am First Communion Mass

Thursday 23rd 12 noon Mass for Jubilarian Priests of the Diocese

Sunday 26th pm Carpet of Flowers preparations begin

Monday 27th all day Carpet of Flowers preparations

Tuesday 28th all day Carpet of Flowers preparations

Wednesday 29th 9.30am – 7pm Corpus Christi Carpet of Flowers on view

Thursday 30th 9.30am – 5.30pm Corpus Christi Carpet of Flowers on view 5.30pm Mass

c. 6.30pm Procession to the Castle and back to the Cathedral

JUNE

Sunday 2nd 3.00pm Cathedral Deanery Confirmations

Saturday 15th 3.30pm Diocesan Deacons Mass

Saturday 22nd June 2.30pm Ordination to the priesthood of Gustavo Campanello & Edward Hopkins

Sunday 23rd 7.00pm London Concertante Concert – Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ see www.londonconcertante.com

Saturday 29th All Day

A Day with Mary, see www.adaywithmary.org for details

Sunday 30th 3.00pm Brighton Deanery Confirmations

JULY

Friday 5th 7.00pm Diocesan Mass for Engaged Couples

Saturday 6th 2.00pm Diocesan Faith in Action Mass

Sunday 7th 3.00pm Guildford Deanery Confirmations

Sunday 14th 3.00pm Guildford Deanery Confirmations

Saturday 20th 12.30pm Wedding

3.00pm

Diocesan Mass of St Joachim & St Anne, for Grandparents

Sunday 21st 7.00pm Sussex Festival Choir Concert See Sussex Festival Choir (google.com) for details

AUGUST

Thursday 15th

THE ASSUMPTION

Mass times to be confirmed

Saturday 17th - Mon 26th Arundel Festival of the Arts commences: art displays in the Cathedral and Cathedral Centre. For full events listing see: www.arundelfestival.co.uk

Monday 19th

Monday 26th

SEPTEMBER

12 noon Bexley Phoenix Choir Recital (free entry, retiring collection)

12 noon Festival Organ Recital (free entry, retiring collection)

Saturday 7th TBC Concert

Saturday 28th TBC Wedding

Photo Credits