THE
P RTAL
September 2012
Page 4
Sun, sea and history
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit Weston-super-Mare
One of the great joys of editing The Portal, is that we get to visit many of our friends. Never was this
more so, than on our recent visit to Weston-super-Mare. Here we met Fr Peter Clarke and his lovely wife
Ann. We have known and worked with them since the earliest days of Forward in Faith.
Saint Joseph’s
It was a joy to go to Saint Joseph’s
Catholic Church in Weston-super-
Mare. The tiny Victorian building
is as lovely as it is holy. Set in a
beautiful garden, it is the home of
the local Ordinariate. This meets on
the second Sunday of each month
with Mass at 12 Noon followed by
lunch and then Benediction. On
the Sunday we attended there were
a good forty people present.
Fr Peter describes this Group as a group
of people who realise that they could not
stay in the CofE. “They come from all
sections of society, but they all believe in
their catholicity. We meet every month,
but our members are all involved in their
local Diocesan Catholic Parish Church.
loving. The local Catholics call my
wife, Ann, Reverend Mother!
“Relations with the Church of
England are cool. Many Anglicans
feel we have let them down. Others
still value our friendship.
finances
“Our finances are sound because
I am retired, and everyone who can
Fr Peter and Ann Clarke Gift Aid their contribution does so.
Many pay by Standing Order.
“We shall develop through our liturgy.
When we have Evensong, we use the
English Hymnal. But it is the way we
celebrate the Mass and Benediction.
making progress
“We are making progress is so far as
they are conscious that if the Ordianriate
does not grow it will be most unfortunate.
I have asked them to keep a touch with
CofE friends. We have the CTS leaflet
‘What is the Ordinariate?’ to share with
others.
“Our membership is Twenty-three,
which includes three clergy. We have two
people being prepared for reception and
one being received in September.
marvellous
Ben Graham
“We have a small elected Committee
with Treasurer and Secretary. This meets
four times a year. It also acts as a Social
Committee.
growing gradually
“We are growing gradually. It is the
desire of all our members that the Group
does grow. I contribute to our local
Catholic magazine, as I do to the on in
Yeovil where I live.
Ellie Haynes
“It is early days, but we have talked about
our Mission and Evangelism. Recently we
took part in the Day on Evangelisation at
Buckfast. Of course the Ordinariate in the
South West produces the local magazine
‘Angelus’.
“The Bishop of Clifton has been
charming, although the Ordinariate is not
mentioned in the Diocesan Handbook.
“Our nearest Ordinaraite Group is in
This is worry to us as we know it is
Salisbury and I have done supply there.
mentioned in other Dioceses. The local
Really we are so scattered it is difficult.
Catholics are superb. The local priests and
new members
Deacon are marvellous and we are very
much part of the Catholic family. We have Chris Press
“We have to get new members. As
trouble getting them to accept a financial contribution to where the Group will be in ten years’ time, it is a
to the church plant. Our Parish Priest is so kind and difficult question. Most of our Group are retired. We