THE
P RTAL
February 2013
Page 4
Snow in Old Harlow
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Harlow Group
Pre-dating the
Domesday Book of 1086, Old Harlow in now a part of the West Essex town of
Harlow New Town. We drove south through falling snow. The news was full of reports of closed schools and
blocked roads. Were we daft even to attempt to fulfil our appointment with the Ordinariate Group there?
Catholics attended the Ordinariate
Services. Eric noted that “It is difficult to
grow as an Ordinariate Group without a
resident Ordinariate priest”.
Always people of adventure, we
carried on to our destination. Of course,
those of you who know Fr John Corbyn
and his “table” will realise that there are
worse places to be snowed in!
a bridge
warm and cosy
We had to park in a side street as the
Alice Cracknel and Fleur
Church Car Park was closed due to
adverse weather. However inside the Church
of the Assumption, Old Harlow, it was warm
and cosy. Like many churches we have visited
these past two years, outside the building is
uninspiring. Inside it is a different matter,
being beautiful and conducive to worship.
The welcome we received was warm and
we felt at home immediately. Fr Corbyn is
Patrick McGrattan
the Priest in Charge at Wickford some
forty-five minutes’ drive away. This
Group attends the Parish Mass at the
Assumption on Sunday mornings, but
celebrates Evensong and Benediction
on Sunday evenings.
welcome
The Assumption has a small, but
loyal, congregation; so the arrival of the
Ordinariate was very welcome.After
Mass we enjoyed a cup of coffee
with the Ordinariate members and
some Diocesan Catholics.
‘us’, not ‘them and us’
Eric and Chery Pittuck
We asked if this mattered. Molly
Atkinson was anxious to tell us that they
had held a very successful Carol Service
that had been well received. Everyone
thought it important that the Group was
seen as a bridge to bring people back to
the See of Peter. This entailed being true
to their Anglican Patrimony and keeping a
distinctive identity. The Diocesan Catholic
congregation looked to the Ordinariate
members for a lead in organising Social
events.
praying for growth
As to growth, the Group has already
produced one more member when
Lucy Bedford gave birth to her baby!
As to others joining, they felt it was a
“waiting game” so they are “praying
that others will join us”. Although all
acknowledged it was early days, they all
were firm that worship and social
events must go together if they
had any hope of welcoming new
members.
to explain the
Ordinariate
It was generally agreed that the
Group is close-knit and that it has
Alice Cracknell told us, “I attend
Eric,
Cheryl,
Patrick
and
Alice
been well received in the Catholic
a Catholic School. When I joined
Church. Simon Bedford said, “The welcome has been the Ordinariate it was good, and the other students
wonderful”. Eric Pittuck thought the welcome had thought it good too, although I had to explain about
been “Beautiful and without reservation” while Clare the Ordinariate to a few! We have Mass at School
Cracknell’s opinion was that, “We are not divided, it is so that is good.” Her sister Fleur who also attends a
just ‘us’, not ‘them and us’”.
Catholic School said, “The others at School were quite
interested in the Ordinariate. I am the only one if my
whether the Group would grow
Form who is Confirmed. That in itself is a cause of
As to whether the Group would grow, Paul Cracknell interest.” We wondered if the parish or the Ordinariate
felt is was “Important to remain distinctive and yet had a Youth policy. “Not really” the girls told us: “We
integrate as well”. Clare pointed out that Diocesan serve, sing and read at Mass.”