THE P RTAL
David and Margaret Banister
December 2013
Page 5
Fr David Skeoch
Next we spoke to more friends, David Banister,
After lunch - and still sober - we settled down with
a retired Primary School Head teacher and Group Fr David Skeoch. The Group is about sixteen strong
Organist, and his wife Margaret. It goes without and not self-supporting, but as he is retired this is of
saying, that their welcome was very
less importance. He gets on very well with
warm. David had, “always hoped for
his priestly colleagues.
growth. Various people have come from
all round. We have a good nucleus. There
He expresses Anglican Patrimony “by
are CofE people who are sympathetic,
trying to preach in a non-intellectual way,
but somehow cannot make the move. We
but giving people something to think
would like to start Evensong, but we just
about, and preaching scripturally. The
do not have the resources.”
Ordinariate has a lot of variation in it. Our
leaders have to stand up to the Catholic
need for vision
hierarchy. Sometimes it needs to be said,
Supporting two Ordinariate Groups for
‘We do this and you don’t!’ This is true of
a period was, he thought, “A good idea.
the Ukrainians, it is true of us. We need to
The site would be crucial. It would have
remember that Mgr Keith Newton is our
to be where there is already a Group and Jane Hamilton-Hunting
Boss, not the Bishop of the Diocese.”
where there is a chance others could
conference for the laity
join. We need some vision.” They
“We have been put in place by the
would like a National event if it was,
Holy Father; we need to encourage
“Accessible.”
our people. A conference for the laity,
Wilf and Lisbeth
now that would deli ght me! It would
Bennison
help if our leaders made a statement
Over lunch at the Bistro on the
about so-called same-sex marriage.”
Quay we chatted with old friends:
Wilf, a retired HR Director with
“It is difficult to know how this
Thomas Cook and Lisbeth, a retired
small, aging Group will develop. The
Medical Secretary, Bennison. They
CofE, women Bishops, who knows?
live over thirty five miles away and
I pray we will grow because being
find the Group, “Wonderful!” They Fred and Mary Houchill
Ordinariate is very important. It is
cannot see the Group growing,
slightly cheating to join the Catholic
“We need outreach to the local CofE,”
Church in the Ordinariate and then
said Lis, “The Ordinariate will grow by
be a Diocesan Catholic. We had our
attracting Anglican families with our
admission made very easy.”
Anglican patrimony.” Ronald suggested
that the Ordinariate might grow by
Fr Skeoch thought the financial support
attracting those who at the moment
of two Groups a “Good idea, but we
have no religious affiliation at all? Lis
need to be careful. Choosing the correct
admitted that “It had not crossed my
Groups would be important, as would
mind.”
having enough money.”
Wilf warmed to the idea of supporting
two Groups financially. “Good in
theory,” he said, “Location is very
important. Some areas are OK, others
struggle. The Portal every month ….
keeps us abreast of … the Ordinariate.”
“Clearly, let’s face it, our Group is so
small. But members must know people
of no faith. It must be possible, without
pushing it down their throats, to bring
Burt and Margaret Hudson
them along. It doesn’t matter of they
are ex-Anglicans or not. I am not sure about lapsed
Catholics though. Where do they stand with regard to
Since joining the Ordinariate they had had the Catholic Church, the Diocese and the Ordinariate?”
difficulties with some who are still CofE. Looking to
the future they told us they looked forward to reading
“Unless we start to grow, in ten years’ time we shall
The Portal every month. “It keeps us abreast of what all be in our graves!”
is happening in the Ordinariate,” they said. Go on flattery will get you everything!
It was a lovely visit to dear friends. Thank you.