THE
P RTAL
January 2018
at Moreton most members are cradle
Catholics, although there are one or
two converts.
As to Fr Stephen Lambert, what
about him I asked. I was greeted with
a chorus of “We love him!” Anne
ventured, “It was a little strange at
first, our priest being married with a
wife, children and grandchildren, but Fr Stephen Lambert
only because it was so
unusual.” It appears
that Fr Brennan, the
Parish Priest, made
the move seamless.
He was so welcoming
to the ex-Anglicans.
Page 13
We each had a pot of Earl Grey tea. Fr
Stephen told me, “The Congregational
Church are so good to have us. They
do quite well themselves, and it is a
good arrangement. Last Sunday my
telephone rang at 0700. The question
was ‘Is there a mass?’ I said, ‘Yes!’ (this
was in the heavy snow just prior to
Christmas). I would get there, but I did
not expect anyone else. John and Anne
walked two miles to mass
that day. They walked
through the snow and
ice, to be present at Mass.
There were fifteen present
that day. Amazing in that
cold weather.
Lynn added that
their parish was
rather
widespread,
and it had been
difficult to take Holy
Communion to the
sick, but now the Anne Robertson and Lynn Bedford
problem had been
solved. The group had wondered about Fr Lambert’s
sermons when he arrived. “These worries were
quickly dispelled,” said Eileen. “His are interesting
and informative.” “I enjoy going to
Moreton because they
are such a responsive
congregation; a tight
community, but not at
all cliquey. Did you know
the comedian Kenneth
Horne was stationed at
Moreton RAF base? It is where the wireless programme
“Much Binding in the Marsh” came from. There is a
window in the Congregational Church that lists his
relations, and the organ is given in his memory.
Lynn told me a little of the history of the Catholic
Church in Moreton. “Sixty years ago the congregation
got together and built a church. It was a pre-fab, a hut
really. There was a good congregation then. Then we
had structural problems. The Diocese could not help
us, and we could not afford to keep it going. So, it went.
We could not agree a time with the Church of England,
so the Parish Church was out of the question. Then the
Congregational Church invited us to go there.” Eileen
said, “We have keys, and we have funerals there too. It
is nice to share. Each year we take it in turns to provide
the Advent Wreath.” “Like most churches we have a problem with a lack
of young people. But I feel that if we are to make
headway with young people, Moreton is the place. The
congregation would welcome them.
“Another field ready for cultivation is the Fire Service
College at the old RAF Station. They run residential
courses, and I believe some take place at the weekend.
At the very least, we ought to draw their attention to
Mass at Moreton. But perhaps there is a chance for
mass at the Fire Service College. I think I need to go
and talk to the person in charge. It ought to be part of
our outreach.
My coffee companions said they knew nothing of
the Ordinariate until Fr Lambert arrived, but they
“We were honoured that Mgr Keith Newton came to
would not change things. They are happy at the visit us last year. It was marvellous that he could come.
Congregational Church, and happy with their priest.
We are Ordinariate in Spirit.”
Coffee finished, I drove the short distance to Chipping
Campden, and made my way to the Campden Coffee
Company at their Café in the Old Silk Mill in Sheep
Street. Here I was served by two charming and efficient
young ladies. As they were involved in a local blog, we
had much to talk about until Fr Stephen arrived from
his duties at the Mass in Chipping Campden.
Fr Brennan, the Catholic Parish Priest at Chipping
Campden, told T he P ortal , “When they offered us
use of their building, the Congregational Church did
so on condition that there would be no contract or
any financial arrangements. Consequently, we make
an offering to them, usually at Christmas and Easter.
They are very generous to us.”