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GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-4 · Item · 14 July 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Responding to a correspondent about situation at Downham Market. "I share your anxiety about Downham Market, and for some time now I have been endeavouring to find a viable solution to this unhappy problem." People with cars can drive to Oxburgh or Swaffham - but this is far from a happy solution.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-6 · Item · 7 August 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

A considerable reorganisation of parishes and pastoral responsibilities in the area of Dereham and Swaffham. Downham Market will become part of the Swaffham parish with Fr Peter Marsh as its first parish priest; it may be re-established as a parish in the future. Fr Baker must be living on a pittance now that RAF Marham has its own chaplain. Providing him with an overview of intentions which will not happen until arrangements have been made for Fr Baker.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-25 · Item · 19 August 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Receiving letters pleading for a change in diocesan decision - recently an extremely insulting one. No able to reply to all, asks Fr Baker to announce on Sunday that all letters received are not ignored but courtesy and Christian Charity should be reflected in letters

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-98 · Item · 9 September 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Fr baker had issued detailed directives about what women could wear. The Bishop thought that a general directive might be more adequate - he had no idea of the lead up which horrifies him. "In many ways this miserable affair has only just begun" but your bishops are trying to find a solution compatible with Catholic faith - likely to be firm action.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-96 · Item · 8 September 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Acknowledges that he had read the Downham Market article and advised others to read it. The holiness of Fr Baker is for God to judge but his ministry leaves a lot to be desired; have tried to contain this because of the hurt and scandal its disclosure would cause; this assumption of holiness hurts other priests in the area. "It is appalling that Downham Market has associated itself with the Abbe of Nantes."
Short discussion of Apostolicae Curae; leave off the offensive "final decision" from the front cover.
The proceedings of Oxford was kept completely confidential but the last sentence of the press release is a "humble and abiding confidence in what we are doing."

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-100 · Item · 9 September 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Massive incoming post causes delay. Can debate the central point of the letter: the inadequacy of the New Order Mass compared to the Tridentine Mass. Vatican II debated extensively and profoundly and from there was promulgated the "Constitution of the Sacred Piturgy" in 1963 from which came the April 1969 Apostolic letter of Pope Paul. Fr Baker has known of the1970 Hierarchy directive and has deliberately put his Bishop in an impossible position but is following Canon Law; he could have acted summarily.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-99 · Item · 9 September 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Rev K V Ensor's letter touched the Bishop deeply and precious to receive especially from an Evangelical Anglican. Shares the need not to tamper with doctrine under the rubric of spurious ecumenism. The doctrine of the RC Church is embodies in the New Order of Mass which is shared substantially with the Anglican Communion. The Church is not an abstraction; it is for the episcopate to discern what is to be done in the development of the Catholic faith.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-150 · Item · 14 July 1976
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Every effort, long hours and many miles involved in finding bridges to attempt to persuade Fr Baker to enjoy the privacy of the Downham Market presbytery. Bishop has for many months been on TV and in print trying to explain what is at stake. "... not just a question of a liturgical rite; it is a refusal to accept the renewed mission of the Church ..."

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-05-01-02-01-64 · Item · 28 August 1975
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Suggest Canons Burditt and Frost and Frs Philpot and Wace for Commission on the division of the [Northampton] Diocese.
Downham Market is an issue on which we must stand - "whatever the personal holiness of Ossie (and God alone is the Judge here), he is corrupting a holy thing - and this is the hidden evil." Unwavering leadership is required. Confront Ossie with the obedience he owes, and, that the Pope has formally specified the circumstances in which the rite may be celebrated.
Tony Sketch should be given Downham market as his charge and say a publicised Mass there.
PPs (Aldeburgh, Wymondham, Felixstowe and Ipswich) make change-over on October 7th.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-01-09-02-43 · Item · c. 20 December 1988
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

pg1: cover note introducing the address text, the venue and time
pg4-5: text of Bishop Clark's address at the prizegiving in Notre Dame School, Norwich

Text:
Monsignor Wace, Sister Mary, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Very impressive! At the end of Sister Mary's detailed and exciting Report, and after the distribution of prizes and awards, I found cause once again to be inordinately proud of Notre Dame, particularly for the quality of what is called in round terms its education. Not just scholastic achievement nor prowess in sport and athletics; for the vitality of the school community, its zest for life, its care and thought for others, its certainty that it is good to be alive. I am reminded of the saying (by whom I do not know) that the man or woman of spirit tries his or her hand at anything! There is no need to defend to this audience the conviction, held by so many, that Notre Dame stands high among the scholastic institutions of this city and county. In a special way it belongs to the City of Norwich – a Fine City!
But it also finds a significant place among the institutions that go to make up the Diocese of East Anglia. For, when reflecting on the place of this School, these staff and these pupils, these Governors, in the life of our city, it is right to point to the position the School holds in the Catholic educational system of the diocese, a diocese that covers the three counties of East Anglia. It is a Catholic school, and it stands or falls by its adherence to Catholic faith and values as much as, or even more so, by its all-round educational achievement. The two, far from being contradictory, are completely compatible.
I am, therefore, delighted to congratulate the School and to offer my thanks to the Headmistress, the Staff and, of course, to the Governors and the PTA. The present record is inspiring and a witness to much dedication and generosity. But there is also present – what is essential to any living, forward-looking community - a sense of pride and self-confidence. This is a night to celebrate this pride. Notre Dame is fully alive.
Obviously, I am expected to refer to our present situation. Equally, I do not want to abuse my position here tonight nor enter into contentious debate. The respite we received on Thursday is at least a sign that there is much more to be considered before irrevocable decisions are made. It would be easy just to say: NO ROAD – and leave it there. But there are some things that should be said and publicly said.
The writer of an article in Saturday's TIMES – the article was entitled 'Getting London Moving' - observed: 'we are looking for solutions which will improve mobility and improve conditions for residents. One appreciates that our own authorities here in Norwich are pursuing the same course and finding it overwhelmingly difficult to reconcile them. But what is important and must not be forgotten is that 'residents' is not restricted to homes but includes all that makes up a living city. Notre Dame has been resident in Norwich for a long time and has its proper address. We do not want it changed.
Let it be also said that one has considerable sympathy not only for our neighbours who are threatened by the THREE OPTIONS but also for the planning authorities themselves. Norwich is a developing city and needs more infrastructure if it is to grow purposefully and prosperously. At the same time one is justified in asking what are the values which guide the present decision-making. We are not dealing just with a traffic problem. We are asking what kind of city our authorities have in mind in reaching decisions that affect the present identity of our city. Destroy schools and homes and present environment and one is left asking what you – the planners - consider important. A city is not just a mercantile or business centre whose interests, however good, are treated as paramount: it is a complex concentration of human communities. Business, trade and mercantile concerns are mingled with permanent residences and institutions which are frequently rooted in our past and enable us to be the present. Destroy the latter and you take away our identity. Would Norwich be a fine city, then?
These words are not meant to be emotive, even though we feel deeply about any decisions that would be destructive of our school's existence. All I ask – yes, it is a lot - is that our authorities keep all these elements in review as they reflect on what is best for the future of our city and county.
But there is one feature of our school that I have only lightly touched on. Notre Dame is a Catholic school. 'Catholic' indicates what we hold is at the heart of the school community and shapes its philosophy. 'Catholic' points to what we consider to be important in our choices. We are beings who choose, beings who cannot opt out of choosing. We choose careers, holidays, possessions, friends, even GOD. Many choices are made over our heads but many are ours, for which we (and no one else) are responsible.
We can be neither human nor Catholic if we do not exercise our need to choose and to defend choices once made. We should, therefore, not be surprised when we are asked by an outsider; what is so important about your choosing Notre Dame? Why did parents guide you towards this School? Why did competent and loyal staff choose to teach and serve here?
You must provide the answers to such searching questions and be ready to stand by them. Some of our faith convictions enter prominently into all this. We know almost unconsciously where we came from, where we are going and the kind of journey we are embarked upon. We are in fact here because we accept that we come from God, we are on pilgrimage to God and God is there when we die to welcome us into eternal life. Such awareness on our part makes a great impact on our choices. Far from detracting from our education in from our taking part in an enormous and exciting list of school activities, this framework to our choices gives colour and joy, purpose and seriousness to our being a full member of Notre Dame. The festival of Christmas emphasises the great Christian fact that God also made a choice and stands by it: for each of us is worth the world to him.
In concluding, I would like to express deep and abiding thanks to you all. I would also want one fact not to be lost to history - that this school exists as a Catholic School in the Diocese of East Anglia because of immeasurable generosity on the part of the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame. I salute the Sisters past and present and commend them warmly to the care of their Patron. Then I salute this vivid and lively Notre Dame School Community - teachers, Governors, parents, staff, chaplains and, most of all, you the pupils, recognising at the same time the continuing debt we owe to the officers of the Local Education Authority. May we always, when faced with difficulties and temptations, have the courage to say: "NO ROAD"!

Dowsey, Gary Rev (1955-)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-01-09-03-1 · Item · 25 July 1977
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Await the conclusions from Fr Manley's group, Bishop's engagements are known in advance. DIO's job is to pester his office for information. If people are "bitchy" about the Bishop's ecumenical involvement, he cannot do anything about it. "I almost have a papal bull" to commission this ecumenical work both nationally and internationally. "..The fact is that the Catholic community must be instructed that the Church can not be renewed without being ecumenically involved; and that is where I depend on my brethren."
Recognises that he is not a good TV personality, being too tense. However, that is not likely to change. He and the ATV producer decided to do a couple of runs as they both judged the first film to be too cosy and it "required some abrasiveness and more sharp disagreement. All very difficult".

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-09-03-02-2 · Item · 20 November 1976
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Christmas a month away; 6 months together - 1977 an important year - new dispositions and reallocation of responsibilites - more later; plan to manage the big project at St John's Cathedral in Norwich; priests for the future - 16 seminarians - Fr Chris White and Fr Anthony Shrane there to help find vocations; an enclosure mentioned [not present]

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
Bp Clark to "Frater mi"
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-09-03-02-1 · Item · 9 June 1976
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Day of Installation - an infant church - a "Year of Grace"; his homily said it all; groping for the right "shape" of the new diocese; a charge to "lead, to minister, to exercise compassion"; programme of pastoral visits - Archbishop Warlock's lead; responsibilites to the church i England and everywhere but chiefly to the European scene; despite that he will be available; pastoral oversight to be established [organisational aspects listed]; Canon McBride as Vicar-General, Canon Taylor as Chancellor; invites comments on his "model"; will remain at Poringland - chaplain to be appointed for the Cathedral; drafting a second Ad Clerum - to be crisp and to the point.

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)
GB ARCHON 2913 DEA-09-03-02-4 · Item · 15 April 1979
Part of Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia (RCDEA)

Easter Letters; The Diocese - all posts filled using the priestly talents, not plugging holes; The NPC; Christian Unity; Newman Pilgrimage to Rome leaving Easter Sunday; "I feel strongly that Our Lors will make heavy demands on the so-called little Diocese of East Anglia".

Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)