THE P RTAL
January 2012 Page 10
The Right Reverend Keith Newton
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane meet the Ordinary of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
Mgr Keith Newton and his wife , Gill , live in a house that is just perfect for his job . House and Office have their own separate doors , and the Office part of the house is spacious and even has room for a Secretary and a small chapel . Fr Keith opened the door with a welcoming smile and a jolly greeting .
We were shown into a room that was his study , but looked more like a library . It was comfortable , warm and unintimidating . Coffee was brought and we settled down to business .
Fr Keith said he was “ Amazed ” when he heard about the Ordinariate . “ I had expected something ,” he said , “ a gesture from the Vatican towards Anglicans . Something like the Pastoral Provision in the U . S . A . under the authority of the local Bishop . I was surprised and amazed that it was to be an Ordinariate , rather like a Diocese .”
Jackie asked about those last months in the Church of England , and the first ones in the Catholic Church . Fr Keith said that the last days were very odd . He was thinking about 2011 , and what he would do . He was on Study leave , so really had nothing to do ! He was 58 years old and had been an Anglican all his life and had been Ordained thirty five years . It was large portion of his life . “ Leaving things behind is always difficult ,” he said , “ but full communion with the Holy See was exciting . I found the process of not receiving Holy Communion , not difficult , but important . It meant no Holy Communion on Christmas Day . I was delighted Gill decided to be a Catholic too .” He was received into full communion on January 1st . A local Catholic Parish Priest brought round champagne and a cake to welcome them !
Ronald mentioned the media frenzy at that time and wondered how Fr Keith coped . “ It is not where I feel most comfortable .” He said , “ The press wanted to talk to me . I gave some interviews . The Sunday Express wanted to interview Gill , It was important the wider society knew what was going on . The Church protected us on the Day of Ordination , but Fr Marcus Stock gave an excellent interview .” We reminisced about that wonderful day in Westminster Cathedral when the three of them were Ordained priest . We recalled the words of Archbishop Nichols , “ Church history being made ” and “ of all the many ordinations that have taken place in Westminster Cathedral , there has been none like these !”
We asked about the name of the Ordinariate , and where did it come from ? “ We didn ’ t decide ,” Fr Keith affirmed . He went on , “ We three thought Our Lady of Walsingham would be good , but unlikely . Cardinal Levada was important here . John Henry Newman was not possible because he is not canonised . It was the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith or the Congregation for Divine Worship I think who finally decided on Our lady of Walsingham under the Patronage of Blessed John Henry Newman .”
Continuing the theme of those early , and heady , days ; we asked about his thoughts on that wonderful day in Westminster Cathedral when the three were ordained . “ I never imagined it quite like that !” he chortled . “ I had thought it would be a smaller occasion . My sons were overwhelmed by all those cameras hanging out of the pulpit ! I was struck by the personal nature of the first part of the homily . It was directed to us . This was humbling and moving . A great responsibility was being placed upon us .”
Ronald took up this idea and asked about what a daunting task leading the Ordinariate must be and asked how he managed ? Fr Keith replied , “ I am not sure I do !” He continued , “ It is daunting . It is so new . There are no guidelines . I have no structure and unlike a Diocesan Bishop , no curia ; just a See ! I have Fr Kristian Paver as Chancellor ; he is very good . Fr Andrew and Fr John are Assistants to the Ordinary with particular responsibilities , and there is the Governing Council , although it is mostly advisory . I am learning as I go along . I am not sure I am coping really , ask my wife ! I just try to trust in the Lord and offer the problems to him .”