Image of altar fully dressed.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Pre Vat II Portable Altar - Third Model.
This altar was made of oak by my friend. It was completely one folding unit. The op opened up to form the reredos, the bottom folded down to form the legs, the cabinet between the top and the bottom contained all the other mass requisites. Including the telescopic credence table! The whole altar fitted into a heavy brown canvas cover with carrying straps. See Landrover photo when I was loading all my gear! Taken in a house at Long Melford (Suffolk)(haunted?!)
Altar No. 3"
Diocese of Northampton
89 Archive Record results for Diocese of Northampton
Travelling Mission Mass ready for use from the back of the Land Rover, in a field.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Second Pre Vat II Portable Altar, In this photo it is on the tail-board of my mission land-rover at a pony club camp near Woodbridge in early 1960s.
This altar did not have a folding table - it was in a stout wooden case the hinged lid of the case opened to form the reredos complete opening altar cards & screw on crucifix & candles. When this had been lifted into place the next layer was unfolded to form the altar top - under which were stowed the altar requisites.
The whole thing was placed on any convenient table or sideboard.
Altar No. 2"
see also NTM-02-01-7
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Pre Vat II Portable Altar - No. 3.
This is as described in the photo at Long Melford. But this was taken in a pub bar in Holt, Norfolk
Altar No. 3"
See also NTM-02-01-10 - same image
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Second Pre Vat II Portable Altar. See the pony club photo & landrover photo when loading it up.
Altar No. 2"
Discussion about a letter from Fr Brewer regarding Nottingham Diocese contacting them about the potential for a secondary school placed in a central position to serve a district on either side of the diocesan boundary and two LEAs.
Sammons, Francis Ethelbert Clowes Rev (1925-1975)Portable altar set up ready for Mass.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's First Pre-Vatican II portable altar. It was in two pieces - a fairly heavy folding table (made of beechwood) - there was an oblong hole in the centre of the top for the altar stone. The other piece was an oblong beechwood frame which screwed onto the top back edge of the table and on which the reredos curtain and crucifix were hung. All other altar prerequisites I carried in a big case (as seen in the photo). This photo I took in a pub in Histon (Cambs) one Sunday in 1959 - Notice I turned the dartboard to face the wall!
Altar No 1"
A vehicle unloaded with resources for the Travelling Mission Mass placed nearby. The words "Catholic Travelling Mission" are just discernable on the white side of the vehicle.
Reverse: "This is the first of four Land Rovers which Fr McCormick used on his Travelling Mission work ending in August 1975.
It was taken outside what was his base for 10 years at 'Foxden' Burnham Bucks. Bishop Leo Parker thought it was haunted!
Key to Numbers:
1 = Portable Altar No.2
2 = Portable Altar No3.
3 = Carved statue of O. Lady in oak case
4 = Tape recorder & player for churchy music.
5 = Box of piety goods - Prayer Bks, Rosaries, etc."
Portable altar with people stood around; candles lit; (during?) Mass.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's First Pre-Vatican II portable altar as used in Travelling Mission work. I took this at a "house-Mass" in 1959. The man with the glasses looking into the camera used to be deputy head of All Souls School at Peterborough.
Altar No 1."
A vehicle loaded with resources for the Travelling Mission Mass.
Reverse: "This is the first of four Land Rovers which Fr McCormick used on his Travelling Mission work ending in August 1975.
It was taken outside what was his base for 10 years at 'Foxden' Burnham Bucks. Bishop Leo Parker thought it was haunted!
Key to Numbers:
1 = Portable Alktar No.2
3 = My carved statue of O. Lady in oak case
4 = Tape recorder & player for churchy music.
5 = Box of piety goods - Prayer Bks, Rosaries, etc."
interior of mission van showing altar and seating
Northampton Travelling Mission (1948-1975)In post-war Britain, many parts of the Northampton Diocese, having no Catholic Church or School, were considered "missionary territory" so a Travelling Mission based in Burnham was launched by Bishop Parker in 1949. This scheme had first been used by the Catholic Mission Society in 1911 and then adopted by various Dioceses in England.
Fr Anthony Hulme (later Canon Hulme), Northampton's first Travelling Missioner, used an Austin Countryman to tow a trailer which was a mobile chapel. The trailer, named St Christopher, accommodated some twenty worshippers. The van itself, without the trailer, could be used for open-air Mass by simply lowering the bottom half of the rear door which then became a platform for a small altar.
Fr McCormick joined Fr Hulme in 1959 and in 1960 he was in sole charge when Fr Hulme was sent to Bedford. Fr McCormick used a Land Rover as the van was not up to the job of 30,000 miles per annum. Neither was the trailer and it was retired when it became too decrepit. However, Fr McCormick designed and refitted a Leyland single deck bus as a mobile chapel.
The material in this collection was presented by Fr McCormick to the Diocesan Archives in both Northampton and East Anglia. His covering note [undated] stated: "With feelings of mortality I have gathered together what records remain of my seventeen years of Travelling Mission work. Unfortunately, I didn't keep everything but thought it might be a good idea to put together what survives for the Diocesan Archives of Northampton and East Anglia. I also thought that those who remember the olden days would like a copy. No doubt it could be said that I am blowing my own trumpet!"
Additional material dating from 2010 was held in box CH1 and has been incorporated into this collection.
McCormick, Robert L. Rev (-2015)Extract from Northampton Diocese Directory for 1949 - pgs 99 & 101
An explanation of the history and current practice of a Travelling Mission in the Diocese - specific reference to the first Missioner, Fr Anthony Hulme.
The magazine was edited by Fr Thomson, a co-founder of the Guild. Originally a monthly magazine, during the war years (and to the Winter of 1948-9) it became a quarterly issue. The format comprised regular items (see contents file) of news from parishes, articles on the Catholic faith and belief, historical items, a series describing Diocesan Churches, clerical appointments, obituaries and an irregular listing of the Bishop's appointments for the month/quarter.
News from the Parishes were free form and depending on the parish may contain references to events (fetes, parties, visitations, confirmations, etc.), comments about clerical comings and goings, references to significant parishioners, births, deaths, marriages, war time restrictions and events, etc.
Our Bishop [Bishop Youens]
Editorial Notes - HSS
Diocesan News: Aldeburgh; Aston-le-Walls; Beccles; Bedford; Cambridge; Dereham; Fakenham; Ipswich; Newmarket; Norwich (St John the Baptist); Sheringham; Slough; Northampton; Wellingborough; Wymondham
Where the Unemployed found Work - for God - Fr Godfrey Anstruther OP
The Ordination of Father Valentine Elwes - Frank Byrne
The Dunwich Pilgrimage in Honour of Saint Felix, Apostle of East Anglia
"I Wonder-" - FES
Favours Received through the "Miraculous Medal" of Our Lady - Fr Henry Long
An Essay on Restoration - Very Rev Canon Squirrell
Rescue Work - Deceased Benefactors of St Francis Home
Advertising
From the Vicar Capitular - John Freeland
Diocesan News: Aston-le-Walls; Beccles; Bedford; Cambridge; Felixstowe; Gerrards Cross; Ipswich (St Pancras); Northampton; Norwich (St John the Baptist); Peterborough; Sudbury; Woodbridge
Per Crucem ad Lucem - L Smith-Dampier
Fr Andrew Joseph Key RIP
Sacramental Fonts in Norfolk - Very Rev. F C Husenbeth DD
A Catholic Artist (continued)
The Church and the Poor (The Post-Reformation Period)
Rescue Work - Appeal by John Provost Freeland; Deceased Benefactors of St Francis Home
Advertising
Th eRight Reverend Bishop Dudley Charles Cary-Elwes, Bishop of Northampton - RIP - Editor [Obituray]
Diocesan News: Aston-le-Walls; Aylesbury, Beccles; Beaconsfield; Bedford; Bury St Edmund's; Chesham Bois; Ipswich (St Mary's); Ipswich (St Pancras); Marlow; Norwich (St John the Baptist); Northampton; Wellingborough; Great Yarmouth; Woodbridge
Fr Bernard McCaul - by one of the Deanery
The Death and Burial of Our Bishop - FB
A Catholic Artist (continued)
The Church and the Poor (The Post-Reformation Period)
The Special Preacher, A True Story - Rev F M Davies
Masses for Benefactors
Rescue Work - Deceased Benefactors of St Francis Home
Advertising
To the Diocese - Provost John Freeland, VG
Diocesan News: Aston-le-Walls; Beaconsfield; Beccles; Bedford; Bury St Edmund's; Cambridge; Ipswich (St Pancras); Norwich (St John the Baptist); Sudbury; Swaffham; Wellingborough
The Church and the Poor (313-900AD) - CA Snowden
Father George H Miles RIP - MJ Geraghty [Obituary]
Rome Fifty-Nine years Ago - Francis Seymour Stevenson
Favours Received at Leighton Buzzard - through the miraculous medal of Our Blessed Lady - Henry Long
Pastons of Appleton, Norfolk - Katharine Paston-Bedingfeld
They that go down to the Sea in Ships III - Harold S Squirrell
Rescue Work: Deceased Benefactors of St Francis Home; Masses for Benefactors
Advertising
Form from the English College for Fr Malone's dispensation to take food between masses. 75 lira tax and 5 lira agency fee.
CorrespondentNot impressed that the Diocese has a £22-15-0 debt on St Neots. This money he supposes was for a fence that the buyer of some land had been told to fence at his own expense. The debt was applied to St Neots without telling the priest in charge until seven years later.
Malone, John F Rev (-1970)