THE
P RTAL
March 2019
Page 12
Our Lady
of the Assumption
and Saint Gregory,
Warwick Street, London
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Mother Church
of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
W e thought
it was about time we visited the Mother Church of the Personal Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham. For various reasons it had not been possible until now, so we turned up in good
time for the 10:30 Sung Mass one Sunday.
The Mass was lovely. The music (Stanford
and Howells) beautiful. Hymns were sung
with gusto. The Liturgy drew us all to
the very gates of heaven. The homily was
excellent. The fifty or so people present,
all devout. The congregation comprised of
elderly, middle-aged and at least one young
family with pre-school children. It was
Sunday, as Sunday should be,
a sense of religious occasion.
There were refreshments
afterwards, and that gave us
the opportunity to chat with
members of the congregation.
Mark Findell
Barbara works at Charing Cross Hospital.
She said, “I am seventy-five now, and a
Biomedical Scientist. David is a musician a,
bassoonist, and I played the violin. We met
through music working at Covent Garden.
Now we live in Newbury Park. Church
here is perfect, except for the travelling. My
husband is not well and so we are not
always able to get here. I like it
all, especially the music. It is real
Church!”
John Irish introduced himself
to us. Ronald asked, “Is there
a story about your surname?”
John replied, “Yes, I got it from
Mark Findell is a cradle
my father!” Well that told us.
Barbara and David Catchpole.
Catholic who has attended
It seems the family did come
Warwick Street since August. He likes
from Ireland, but arrived in England from
the liturgy and had been used to the
Wales. John is an Ordinariate member
Extraordinary Form. He likes Divine
from St Benet’s, Tottenham.
Worship because it is close to the 1962
Rite. He likes the music at Warwick Street.
The only people who joined the
Ordinariate from St Benet’s were himself
He does public affairs lobbying for a
and Mrs Davenport. Her husband had
property company and lives in Rotherhithe.
been the priest at St Benet’s until he died.
He finds the congregation at Warwick
John said, “I like it here. The thing about
John Irish
Street friendly and welcoming. He hopes to
the church that I was taught is that it is not
start serving at the altar soon. The Anglican Patrimony a democracy.
attracts him, especially the Anglican Chant used for
the psalms.
The people should not tell the church what to believe
and do. It is the church that tells the people what they
Barbara and David Catchpole are Ordinariate ought to believe and do. The C of E seemed to me to be
members formally from St Silas, Islington. Just six dictated to by the people.” John worked for Peter Jones
joined the Ordinariate from that church, the others department store before retirement. He is married to
now go to Most Precious Blood at London Bridge. Irene and they have two girls.
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