THE P RTAL
May 2014
UK Pages - page 12
At the mouth of
the Channel Tunnel
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit Folkestone
UK Pages
Folkestone’s history
dates back to pre-Roman times. For all those years it has been
defined by being the place in England where the Channel is at its narrowest. Trading through Folkestone
goes back as long as people have traded. Even in pre-Roman times import and export went on through
Folkestone.
Maurice took up the
theme, “We took two thirds
of the church with us. No
one has gone back! We hope
it will grow. We don’t sit
together; but we mainly sit
Celia Dentten Sue Perry Jamie &Maureen Houghton
in the same area. We haven’t
heard any comments from anyone. When we
were admitted into full communion with the
Catholic Church, the place was packed. There
The Catholic Church of Our Lady Help
were two people from St Peter’s who came as
of Christians and Saint Aloysius opened on
well.”
Wednesday 17th July 1889. It is a large and
pleasing building and betrays Arts and Crafts
Ann said, “We are settled in now. It is our
influence,
Maurice Berry
home. There is an Ordinariate Mass each
cosmopolitan congregation
Tuesday evening, and most of us come to this
(11.00am) Mass on Sunday. It is just the same
On the Sunday we attended, the church was
as it was at St Peter’s.
nicely full with a cosmopolitan congregation.
Afterwards we, together with many members
My son Malcolm would come to Church
of the congregation, repaired to the Church
once a year. As soon as the Ordinariate was
hall for refreshments.
in place, he asked questions about it, was
received, and now he is at Mass every week.
Ann and Maurice Berry came from the Ann Berry
CofE parish of St Peter’s Folkestone and are
“There were some who wanted to come
members of the Ordinariate. Ann is a retired
but they had family problems. Mind you,
manager of Woolworths (and a former Mayor
some members of our own family were a bit
of Folkestone), whilst Maurice is a retired
disapproving and worried about our decision.”
Railway Fitter.
Today the Channel Tunnel
begins at Folkestone, and if
the Harbour is not what it
once was, the town is still
the place for export and
import, as well as for the
carriage of passengers to
France.
They told us that they were prepared for
full communion in the Catholic Church at Debra Jones
Our Lady Help of Christians and were made
very welcome. People said to them, “We need
you and your music, and your discipline.” We
settled down for a chat with their daughter
Debra, a housewife and mother.”
Three generations
Maurice said, “Three generations of our
family, that is seven of us in total, have become
Catholics. Fr Stephen has been asked to take
over the Parish by Archbishop Peter. One or
two may not like it, but the vast majority have
accepted it.
Debra added, “We have fallen on our feet.
She told us, “We had already decided to be
From time to time we have meal together. It
Catholic before the Ordinariate was on offer.
is the Ordinariate Fish and Chip Supper. We
When Benedict XVI announced it we went Jean Pape
along with the Ordinariate as a family to encourage invite everyone, so we are really integrated, but not
absorbed.
others to join.”
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