Vicar General is investigation the Attleborough "savings". The Bishop is looking into the relationship between Attleborough and Wymondham. He advises not taking on extra Masses from Fr Peters and overburdening himself.

Thanking Fr Brown for his "care" during the Visitation on 7/8 September. The Bishop finds that he has not yet replaced his "reserves" and will have to pace himself for some time. His heart went out to the orphans at Attleborough.
Resolution to Attleborough depends on (1) linking Swaffham to Watton, (2) re-establishing Attleborough to Wymondham parish. Thanks Fr Brown for the generous offering to the "kitty".

Valuable & vigorous time on a programme which at first seemed daunting but was fully vindicated. Bishop did visit the whole of the parish. Very much liked what he encountered and thanked Fr Brown and Sister Alies for their time & energy. Attleborough has no immediate answer; building there is still thought of, but the Bishop favours the Methodist Church as a good venue. Suggests Fr Brown should programme in some painting. The hall may still provide adequate service but for how long? Wymondham is a happy and well organised parish.

Endorses Fr Browns plan for Attleborough - even if "keeping Brendan happy" is not an overriding priority. Use of Methodist Church is our way ahead for some time.

Fr Brown agrees that Watton should be the priority if ever in the position to buy/build a church. However, the puts forward an argument to have a presence in Attleborough with a resident minster. So, no funds for Attleborough Drop-in Centre? meanwhile hope the RAF remain and support Watton.

Bishop know that Attleborough must realistically be part of Wymondham Parish. Encourages Fr Brown to get on the committee and listen to the grievances. The Terms of Reference for the Vicar-General will will ensure that Attleborough is once again served by Fr Brown.

Three large market towns and only one church. Watton seems to have priority, so long as the RAF do not pull out. Attleborough though, does it need a permanent church? The community there is small and we should be open to co-operation with other Christian churches if it is offered. He doubts that they are in the position to invest real money in the suggested venture. Instinct then is for Watton. Right? Please guide.

The Bishop insists that Fr Brown "cannot do the morally impossible". Note Dereham was erected as a parish to enable Mass at Hethersett. Attleborough should be discussed between Fr Brown and the Vicar-General or Dean to see what is possible. It is sensitive with Fr Brendan Peters only 80% well. Bishop is thinking out loud on paper. Watton: the Bishop has a candidate in mind, but will consult with Fr Brown.
"It is no 'theological nicety' that we will need (structural ) laity involvement on a deeper scale than ever before...", Bishop is uneasy if pastoral responsibility is seen as exclusively pertaining to the Parish priest.

Bishop considers the points raised by Fr Brown. Setting aside the Diocese's "penury", it is important to have a goal in mind - permanent church (small such as in Blakeney) or church centre? Bishop tends to the latter with a view to ecumenical sharing. although the Anglicans are currently building their own. What about the Methodist Church and its buildings?
Re Sr. Alies, provision for her will be largely at Wymondham's expense. but the idea is worth exploring.

Vicar General has spoken to Fr Brown about the Attleborough and Wymondham relationship. Whilst money sparked off this matter Fr Brown is concerned for the parishioners of Attleborough. They consider themselves rather neglected having had a series of priests with mixed levels of interest. Having a priest to say Mass is not enough there is more to being a Catholic than Sunday Mass.

Since receiving the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom cheque for £500 (paid into the Wymondham account) , Fr Brown has been "trying to penetrate the mystery of the Attleborough accounts". They do not exist. Quidenham and Attleborough collections are placed in a bank account to which neither Fr Brown nor the parish priest for Diss have access. It seems that Fr O'Brien claimed to have authority from the Vicar-General to set up an "Autonomous Area" - Quidenham, Attleborough and surrounding villages. The Bishop seems not to know of this since the Ransom money was stated by him as not for Quidenham. At a recent parish meeting an Attleborough parishioner want to know what as happened to their money (£2,500 to £3,000 gathered at Wymondham's Christmas Bazaar). Fr Brown asks the Bishop to sort this out - money from two parishes in different deaneries going into one back account over which neither parish priest has control.

Setting out the timetable for the Visitation on 7/8 September.

Further to the Bishops letter on Attleborough and in the light of Alies' recovery/non-recovery. Methodist Minister wants to explore sharing via the Shared Churches Act. Also, Fr Bredon Peters wants to reschedule Mass to 9 am from 4pm - he won't have to drive in the dark, and, better timing to help build up the congregation. Mgr Wace considers that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages - especially keeping Brendon happy. Methodist minister is happy with the proposal - less heating required.

Methodist minister tell Fr Brown that a newly-built, but unoccupied, DHSS building is to be sold. No garden hence difficult to convert to a dwelling. The minster proposes a project to create a joint Christian Drop-in Centre.; he believes the Vicar would be interested too. Fr Brown had not thought beyond a place for Catholic use and worship and he believes the debt could not be serviced by the congregation. If the Diocese became involved perhaps this might work, especially since the Bishop had written that he foresaw a future for Catholics in co-operation with other Christians in Attleborough. This is a policy decision and not Fr Brown's.

FR Brown is aware that Fr Bernard Jones is leaving Quidenham. He asks the Bishop to consider Wymondham and him when making a new appointment. The Quidenham/Attleborough area is supported by Fr Jones and Fr Brown would appreciate the appointment of a "not too 'unusual'" priest who could continue the support his burdens in his declining years.

Chris Toller (of ????) undertook the 5 year review of Wymondham property. Nothing to worry, except to reserve £10,000 for re-roofing the Presbytery in a year or so. They considered future development of the parish in Attleborough, given that the parish has no property there. The old C of E Hall is to come to the market soon, Chris Toller sees this as an opportunity. So Fr Brown is raising it with the Bishop despite his lack of means. Sister Alies is soon to be out of hospital but will not be able to drive and it is thought that having her based in Attleborough would provide someone on the spot would provide support for local people.

Glad to hear of a review of the parish boundaries with Vicar-General or Dean. Fr Brown acknowledges that the priest cannot do it all - but it is important that there is close contact with the priest through the Sacred Liturgy. The people of Attleborough are not getting this as Fr Peters is far from well. They are being told that they are with Quidenham and consider that the priest is only there to take their collection. Whilst there is a Parish Committee they do not respond to his hints that he'd like to be involved. He thinks there is a problem with trust of priests.
He was contacted by the Council of Churches in Attleborough which is intending to attend the Catholic Mass for Advent. Attleborough people feel they do not want their non-Catholic friends to see the liturgy as currently carried out. Hence Fr Brown is arranging to celebrate this Mass himself.
Finally, he was not "knocking" anyone - it is just that the Ad Clerums don't reflect addressing practical difficulties in organising communities.

Fr Chapman did not know Abbot Haworth was leaving Quidenham. He considers that Fr Crowther should have Attleborough and the villages to the South. Without Attleborough things would be easier as the parish too extensive to cover properly. Fr Chapman has been putting the Attleborough collection into a Diocesan account - some £1600 now - which the Bishop had agreed to. He did this since the attitude of their parish council showed him to be a stranger and they were covered by the Abbot anyway. He has only said mass their once but in four years he knows many of the Catholics - they are all right - but they "want to paddle their own canoe".
Manuscript annotation: "Archbishop Worlock - against appointment of Fr Crowther."

Fr Chapman advising the Bishop that due to on-going works at his Church he will be saying Mass at Wymondham Abbey for first 3 Sundays of December. The Vicar there has already obtained his own permissions. Since Fr Chapman already uses Anglican churches at Attleborough and Hethersett, he assumed that this would not cause a problem to the Bishop.

RAF Watton: collections (average £15 per week) , payments, expenses ; mass attendance 50 to 62. Attleborough: collections, expenses.
Fr Chapman liked looking after Watton, but his health is not good and he gets exhausted and would like to be relieved of Watton. Finances declining, a lot of work on house, cottage & hall. New roof needed for church (estimate at £4,050 + 8% VAT).