THE
P RTAL
December 2015
Page 12
All because the Holy Spirit
was at the bus stop!
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Torbay Group
“Iwas at
the ‘bus stop. A friend was in a nursing home and I caught the ‘bus every day to see her.
That particular day I got talking to another lady at the stop, as you do. I noticed that the Methodist
church by the ‘bus stop was advertising its last service before closing down. My fellow lady waiting at the
stop told me it would soon be up for sale. Well, I thought, I must tell Father David about this. He got on to a
mutual friend and found all the details. The rest is history!” It was Marcia Mitchell’s story. She is a housewife
with five grown-up children.
But it was history indeed. It turned out that
the local Methodist congregation wanted
to sell the property to another Christian
community if possible. They were delighted
to do business with the local Ordinariate
Group. So the Church of Our Lady of
Walsingham and Saint Cuthbert Mayne was
born. Whatever happened at that ‘bus stop Mima Canalda
that fateful day, it is certain is that the Holy
Spirit was there doing His holy work.
We had made our way to Torbay to see this
new venture. Indeed, it is a splendid church
with hall and kitchen too. The interior is
taking shape for Catholic worship. The
Sunday we were at mass was wonderful.
After mass, we all shared a lovely lunch in
the hall, during which we were able to chat
to members of the congregation.
Suzanne Taylor (51) sings in the choir. She
works at Export Logistics Administration.
She explained it means that she is responsible
for all the paperwork for a company shipping
merchandise all over the world.
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“As to the future: it is promising. I cannot
see it failing. We are a faithful community
who put in their all. We are a small number,
but everyone has a role to play, whatever it
may be. It is a wonderful place and I love
being here. It has not been easy, but it will
be worthwhile.”
Philip Luckham–Bulmer is one of the
Group’s servers. Head Sampler with
Sainsbury’s, he is 54. “I am Ordinariate
from the start. When I moved to Torbay, I
knew this building very well. My house is
at the end of the road. I often passed this
Methodist church. I thought that it looked
rather Anglican, with its stained glass
Philip Luckham-Bulmar windows and gothic architecture. It was as
if it were waiting. Everything we do fits the
building, and it is accepted and welcomed.
We are so blest that the Methodists were
keen to sell it to us.”
She told us, “I love my job. I have been in
the Ordinariate from the start in 2011. We
moved from St Marychurch to Holy Angels. Fr Colin Furness
This new church? It is amazing!
Absolutely lovely and wonderful! It
is a foot on the ladder. An amazing
building with so much potential.
“Our young people have moved on
to university or college and we see
them when term is over. There will
be others as we grow. We have new
members all the time. Our members
remain faithful and hospitable all the
time. It is an open door.
FrDavid with Mrs Liz & daughter
Martha with grandson Oscar
We wondered if the building were as asset
or a millstone. “It is a huge asset,” Philip
enthused. “a huge asset. From my work,
I know Torbay is talking about what is
taking place, about what we are doing here.
Not just Catholics, but the whole of
Torbay. There is much interest and
approval. People are keen to see the
old building taking on a new lease of
life. Together with our shop which is
just up the road, we are a real beacon.
“As to the future, well it is growth,
growth and more growth. I came
from St John’s, Bovey Tracey and
because of our new building, the