THE
P RTAL
June 2016
Page 8
“In the Kent Pastoral Area, there are Fathers Stephen
Bould, Jamie Houghton, Paul Gibbons, Ed Tomlinson,
Nicholas Leviseur, Ivan Aquilina and me. Leaving aside
those who are in a different area of the Archdiocese
of Southwark, that’s six of us.
“I think that is really what we as a group of clergy are
interested in; building up the life of the Ordinariate in
the Kent area and also the important work of mission,
of evangelisation. That’s important but also difficult;
if it was easy you would just press a button and we’d
all know what to do. We are thinking of strategies,
“It’s a substantial number; probably the largest in any thinking of ways to reach out to people who seek
pastoral area. What have we achieved so far? We had communion, seek unity with the See of Peter. It is
a very successful pilgrimage to Aylesford Priory which always a conundrum that has to be engaged with.
was designed to build up the life of our Ordinariate
groups. It happened on St James’ day in 2015. It was a
“One size doesn’t fit all. Now, thinking in very local
great success and we would have built on that this year terms about the people who have joined us in the Deal
had it not been for the pilgrimage season connected Ordinariate Mission over the last number of years;
with Called to be Catholic. So that’s something we will they’ve all come from very disparate backgrounds. They
pick up next year. We do aim to work quite closely with were not people that we knew, would have known, or
Fr Neil Chatfield as our neighbour in the Sussex area, could have known back in the old days. The one thing
when he is able to he comes to our meetings.
they all seem to have in common is that, at least at
one point during the process of making contact with
“Now after the publication of that really important us, they found us on the Internet. I think that is an
report, Growing Up Growing Out, the job specification important piece of information to come upon and I
for co-ordinating pastors has been made a little think it’s something that we as a pastoral area will be
more concrete. The idea is that we should meet at least bending our minds to.”
three times a year and the Dean should come and see
We chatted on, but space is limited. Fr Christopher
us from time to time, as well as the Ordinary. Perhaps
the most important thing in that list of things to do is is obviously on the ball. The Kent Area of the
to formulate local missionary activities consistent with Ordinariate is in good hands. Thank you Father;
keep up the good work.
the work of the Ordinariate.
The Cardinal’s Musick: Thomas Tallis’
‘Lamentations and other sacred music’
Robert Macneil
This recording by The Cardinal’s Musick of ‘Lamentations and other sacred music’
brings to life in a spectacular way the words and music of Thomas Tallis. The recording mixes
Latin and English texts which reflect the development of Tallis’ compositions and the clarity of
The Cardinal’s Musick is superb.
Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585) lived and composed in a time of great change for English Church music. With
the introduction of Archbishop Cranmer’s first Book of Common Prayer in 1549, the services of the Church
of England were in English and came with clear instructions about the type of music that should be used.
Tallis, as one of the first composers to write liturgical music in English, followed Cranmer’s instruction
that there should be only one note for each syllable, thus breaking away from any hint of the previous
tradition of plainsong chant where a group of notes were often sung to one syllable of text.
In contrast to the English texts of the setting of the Communion Service, Tallis’ setting of the Lamentations
of Jeremiah is in Latin, looking back to the days of the church music of Henry VII and the early years of
Henry VIII, which contrasted with the move away from music for the Mass to be more in keeping with
Edward VI’s Protestant regime.
The performance by The Cardinal’s Musick under the direction of Andrew Carwood and recorded in
the magnificent 14th century Fitzalan Chapel in the western grounds of Arundel Castle in West Sussex, is
quite superb. The clarity and precision allows one to become immersed in the wonderful compositions of
Thomas Cranmer. This will be an excellent addition to your Tallis collection.
Thomas Tallis (c1505-1585): Lamentations & other sacred music
Hyperion Records - CDA68121 - www.hyperion-records.co.uk
contents page