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He has given his blessing for Fr Flynn to go to Dersingham. He can be on loan to Bishop Clark for a period of one or two years and then consider the process of excardination.

Bishop Clark 's pastoral letter for Sunday 2 March 1986 appeals for men to offer themselves for the priesthood. Currently, 125 priests serve in the diocese with 11 in training. More priests are needed as numbers of priests decline and the Catholic congregation increases - from 65,000 ten years ago to 80,000 now.

Bishop praises Fr Langley's generosity but Fr Brendan Peters is unlikely to want to go to Blakeney (Bishop did offer it to him before Fr Langley). Similarly Fr Joe Parr (and housekeeper, Betty) will not want to move from his home in Peterborough.

Cannot contact by phone. Time to accept a new church at Dersingham as part of Diocesan Trust; hence assuring responsibility for it and caring for the congregation. Structure: mission within Hunstanton parish with Fr Nesden as the parish priest over a priest-in-charge in Dersingham.

Leave from 4 September to 19 September. Fr Tony Webb - appoint as Vicarius Substitutus. Hopes that the bishop has had a good holiday and happy pilgrimage.

Recent Deanery minutes enclosed [not present]. Hope to meet at the Council of Priests on Thursday and to report back on Fr Webb's progress.

News cutting - undated; unattributed
2 columns; using text from press release for the article.

A Rev Peter B Flynn is actually retired and is aged 76. Bishop Browne has spoken to him and he is keen to take the opportunity. If his age is no barrier then happy to release him to serve in the community in Dersingham.

Impending change-over between Bishops means cannot meet request. However, the Vicar General or local Parish Priest may conduct the ceremony.

Cardinal will withdraw Fr Morley and has already spoke to Fr George Stack who deals with appointments.

Presented situation following the publication of the Insley Will to Catholics in the Dersingham area - 40 attended out of an estimated 160. Small committee to be formed to further development and growth of facilities for Catholics in the area. Will also compile a register. Fr Nesden will be informed.

"The Vatican has granted permission for another former Anglican clergyman, a married man, to be ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church." Mr. John Heley was CofE vicar at St Edmund's Hunstanton.
Permission had also been given for two other former Anglican ministers earlier in the year.

2 versions on the same press release
pg 1 for non-weeklies e.g. EDP, Anglia TV - first paragraph: " Roman Catholics from three counties are meeting next month for the biggest ever assembly to be staged by the Diocese of East Anglia."
pg 2 for "weeklies"; first paragraph: "Wisbech [this word to be changed to suit locality] Roman Catholics are joining parishioners from three counties at the biggest ever assembly..."
Describes the need to develop a five-year strategy to alleviate the impact of the falling number of priests by inviting the laity to undertake particular roles. Mgr Paul Hypher is the assembly's coordinator.

Describes the need for laity involvement in the diocese and the assembly called by the Bishop to consider and address the issue.

pg 1: Clerical appointments by Bishop Clark
pg 2: Appointment of Parish Priests; Appointment of Assistant Priests

Assembly at St Bede's School in Cambridge on July 18 wherein the laity and clergy of the diocese of East Anglia will "attempt to solve the problem of a shortage of priests..."

Confirming receipt of copies of correspondence with Bishop of Auckland. Will be discussing the information in a small group - in confidence. Age is a serious question but Dersingham people must be prepared to support any priest.

Writer is retiring and moving to Beccles. She provides information and background about a priest staying with her and being cared for by her. Wonders if the Bishop has a place for him in the Diocese - she would continue to look after him.

Meeting points:
Fr Flynn established in Dersingham; Growth in the area to 9000 by 1991; go-ahead on building the church; Bishop to advise Architects; Priest's maintenance fund being set up and will transfer to Diocese; Bishop cannot guarantee to appoint a priest to Dersingham so the Catholic group will have responsibility. Press release attached.

St Cecilia's Church Committee describe a number of factors which convince them that a resident priest is needed for Dersingham: the departure of Andrew Kingcomb leaves a large gap as he fulfilled many roles - organist, Eucharistic minister, religious instruction for children; Fr Nesden is not well and needs support for the Parish; accommodation is available and can only be occupied by a priest; they believe that Fr Charles Howarth (from the Convent of The Daughters of Jesus, Great Massingham) would be interested in parochial duties.