5 - Hic domus Dei est et

Hic domus Dei est et porta coeli

The mediaeval church of St Mary the Virgin Barnham stands in what was once the centre of the village.

A tidal creek ran within yards of the church until the Middle Ages and fishing, along with smuggling, would have been the main occupation of the villagers whose cottages clustered around the church. Over time the water receded and since the coming of the railway in 1864 the village has tended to spread north beyond the station leaving St Mary’s in comparative isolation surrounded by fields and farmland in what is known locally as ‘Old Barnham’.

Like all ancient churches, St Mary’s has been subject to a great deal of change over the centuries. The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book; however, twentieth century churchyard excavations revealed artefacts of Saxon origin, thus proving the antiquity of the site as a place of Christian worship. In the early thirteenth century a north aisle and chapel were added and included the Chantry of St James, founded in 1324. Other chantry altars would have existed but it is believed that priests of the Chantry of St James would have taken care of the spiritual needs of the village until the chantry and aisle were demolished at the Reformation. When the easternmost arch of the aisle was reopened in 1923 to accommodate the pipe organ and sacristy, fifteenth century

‘graffiti’ was discovered which reads ‘pray for the soul of my father who died at Agincourt’ (1415).

The once elaborately carved twelfth century font of Sussex marble was badly damaged during the desecrations of the Cromwellian period but is still in use to this day. Think of the number of babies who have been welcomed into Christ’s flock at that font!

The Anglo-Catholic tradition of the Church of England has existed at St Mary’s for over 100 years and historically there was a daily Mass, public Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer and a number of devotional organisations attached to

the parish. Following the amalgamation of parishes in the late 1970s, and with considerable development in Eastergate Parish (which encompasses the whole of the modern village of Barnham including Barnham railway station), church life at St Mary’s steadily declined and almost petered out. As recently as 2005 the congregation at the twice monthly Sunday service held at 8.00am was often in single figures and the threat of closure was never far away.

Thankfully, due to the determination of the small but deeply faithful congregation that kept the lamp of faith burning, St Mary’s was rescued from the brink of closure and the church gradually regained its confidence and now offers daily worship and a very strong social life. Key to this renewal has been the flourishing of the relationship between the Catholic and Anglican communities that came into existence on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, 11th February 2008, following the closure of St Philip Howard

St Philip Howard once offered three Sunday Masses each week, but in time this became unrealistic and Mass was offered only on Monday mornings for a small congregation, almost always in single figures. For that faithful group of worshippers the cessation of the Monday Mass came as a great disappointment and there followed some talk of holding an occasional ‘house Mass’ in order that Catholic worship in Barnham would not cease entirely. Having heard the news, the Anglican Rector, Fr Simon Holland, and the churchwardens of St Mary’s felt prompted to initiate a conversation with Fr Tony Churchill about the Catholic community using St Mary’s on Monday mornings. This was accepted as a trial and the rest, as they say, is history!

On February 11th 2008 the church bell, cast in 1348 and therefore one of the oldest in the county, once again called the Catholic faithful to Mass as it did for the first 200 years of its life. A very large congregation turned up on a cold Monday morning, far more than anyone had anticipated, including a number of Anglicans who were delighted that St Mary’s was to be part of such a significant ecumenical initiative. Hymns were sung and refreshments served afterwards, and this has continued ever since giving worshippers an opportunity to get to know each other.

Twelve years on, the Mass is still going strong and attracts worshippers from Bognor, Littlehampton and Chichester as well as a strong core from Barnham and surrounding villages. Everyone who comes to St Mary’s seems to really value the Monday morning gathering. Indeed it’s not unusual for regulars to say how much they missed it on the occasions they couldn’t be there. There is a great sense of togetherness and when it’s not possible to celebrate Mass there is instead a Prayer Service which includes the Scripture readings of the day, the Rosary and intercessions.

Around February 11th each year there is a celebration to mark the anniversary of the Monday Mass. In 2013 this happened to coincide with the announcement of Pope Benedict’s resignation which naturally gave the celebration a different focus. Bishop Richard came to celebrate Mass in July 2019 and each year we have a Christmas meal at the Spur in Slindon. Every Wednesday there is an ecumenical Rosary group and our two congregations come together for the annual Carol Service, Stations of the Cross during Lent and the Patronal Feast, the Assumption of Our Lady, in August.

Without question the flourishing of the relationship between our churches is the work of God’s Spirit and it has been a blessing to both communities. We give thanks for all that has happened over the past 12 years, we thank our priests and all who have supported the Monday Mass, including those who now rejoice with us ‘upon another shore and in a clearer light’ and we trust in the prayers of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, as we look towards the future.

Please come and join us one Monday at 9.30am; you can be assured of a very warm welcome.

Bradley Smith