Abbot Richard Yeo thanking the Bishop for helping in the release of a priest for a long retreat at Belmont. Also for lining up "all sorts of things in Beccles" - new liturgy, rededicating the altar, receiving converts and confirmations - should be pretty busy this weekend.
Downside AbbeyThe Great Triduum; Walsingham and Easter TV Mass, parish participation in Diocesan Pilgrimage; The Permanent Deacon - guidance of Mgr J Drury and Mgr Tony Philpot, 3 year training programme being established; The Place of Women in the Church - promotion of women in the life of the Diocese and parishes, woman priests a last straw for our anglican brothers; Anglican Reconciliation - not easy for either side; New Financial Responsibilities; We, the Priests - brutal attack on Fr Michael Clothier in Beccles, Paul Hypher ordination in 1994, Mgr Michael Cassidu as Emeritus Chancellor; The Diocesan 'Team' - next Bishop will be reassured by the 'service to the Diocese'; More? - Bill Mason to be ordained as our second former anglican priest
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Aidan Slack, writing from Ushaw College, Durham, hopes to be ordained on Easter Monday. His first Mass will be at Mrs Kenyon's oratory at Gillingham Hall. Hopes to reconcile a lapsed Catholic there and requests faculties for Gillingham.
manuscript annotation: Gave faculties for Gillingham Hall only."
Typescript is in Latin
Headed: Convent of Saint Mary of Peace, Aldeburgh
Bishop of Northampton permits the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on first Friday of every month and on the Feast of the Circumcision. Lists feast days for Mass and benediction so long as they do not occur on the Lord's day.
Signed by the Bishop on 20 January [no year]
Manuscript annotation: "These sisters were ordered to disband by Rome in October 1927. They left Dec. 31st 1927 - were replaced by the Sisters of Mercy."
"Representatives of all the parishes in the Diocese of East Anglia twinned with parishes in the Battambang Prefecture in Cambodia met face-to-face for the first time since lockdown at St Mary and St Wulstan." Story continues
1 image: group of parishioners
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.
Bishop comments:
Case 1: your judgement; my support; need a trusted person; update the dispensation appropriately
Case 2: Not sure he understands this case - need to check on what dispensations were in effect (held in Northampton); what is the desire to bring up the children as Catholics?
Unfortunately the day clashes with an ordination to the Diaconate i Bury St Edmunds - so cannot attend. Good to invite Mgr McBride as a representative instead. "Hey ho! I wonder how you will get along without a Lady Mayoress."
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Quite busy - Ordination in Arundel next week. Offers a couple of days when meeting may be possible.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Deepest sympathy for the situation but given the circumstances normal Communion discipline pertains - she is offered the grace of the Eucharist even if she cannot receive Communion.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)No intercommunion [underlined]. This is the "pain" whilst our two churches are unreconciled. The congregation can attend on a special occasion. Explains the underlying reason for this.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)"There being at Lodi young Lady who was baptize at Aldburgh on Sea by Protestant and she desiring now to become a christian, I pray you to relate me what protestant sect there is in that City for know the validity of the Baptism."
Manuscript annotation: Answered: Our practice [?] is to Baptize "sub consitione" all converts from Protestantism as we are never sure of the validity. [?] [?]. Dec 3/30"
Includes [not present] documentation required for Fr Trafford - grateful if he will undertake to hear the Lowestoft nuns confessions.
The management of the Banham Trust is quite constrained and has worked until now - sets out major aspects of the trust. The Bishop recommends that it stays as it is. However he'd be interested to hear anything Mr Coney or the Abbot can come up with.
Wishes him well in his new activity in Liverpool.
Sends the countersigned application. "I hope I have done it proprely[sic]".
Cary-Elwes, Dudley Charles Rev (1868-1932)Bishop thinks the programme is excellent. One request. He wishes to administer a Baptism in Brantham on 14 October (part of St Mark's parish, Ipswich). Ann has organised well and arranged supper on Saturday with John & Pauline Matthias - are you coming too?
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Responding to the letter of 10th November. Discusses the good news that Fr Reid is training Eucharistic ministers and the need for proper training, recording and that the Bishop reserves commissioning for himself. Recommends a manual with workbook (Manual for Training Eucharistic Ministers by Debbie Jones - written for this Diocese but generally available). Bishop feels deeply that the Ministry of the Blessed Sacrament in not to be trivialised. He appreciates the Augustinian presence in Yarmouth and Clare. DPC was reasonably successful and is beginning to be appropriated [sic] by the Diocese.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Bishop does not think the time for an intervention is now. The invalid marriage in the Reform Church might have been allowed - the wife is the key to this. The Bishop will speak to Fr Thomson.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Fr John Smith confirms the Bishop will: preach at 8am mass at Gillingham; 10am Confirmation Mass at Beccles will be said in English; preach at the 6.30pm; visits of 10 minutes each i the afternoon; cup of tea at the convent; visit to St Mary's Home. All about best use of the Bishop's time without making it seemed rushed.
p.s "... noted your request for a medal for Reginald Jones"
Bishop's secretary writes on behalf of the Bishop: Fr Stratton is Extraordinary Confessor for Bletchley's Thornton College nuns; the Mother Superior has asked for a different priest as Fr Stratton has been unable to attend. Is he willing to relinquish this office? Fr Kennedy is helping out at Yarmouth and following a request from the nuns at Beccles for him to give conferences and hear their confessions, the Bishop is confused over what faculties to give, if any. The Bishop believed Fr Kennedy SJ to be an Army Chaplain but asks whether he is correct in his understanding and asks for more information. Also, confirms date of Bishop's visit to Yarmouth for Confirmation - 30 May at 3.30pm.
Bishop's OfficeContents from front:
1926-1930 – 2 pages of historical notes
1906 Statistics;
1907 Statistics, Bishop Riddell made first visitation & confirmation of 8 (23 April 1907);
1908 Statistics, Bishop Keating visitation & confirmation of 6;
1909 Statistics;
1910 Statistics; Bishop’s 2nd visitation& vows of Sister Mary of Sacred Heart
1911 Statistics; Bishop’s visitation – 15 for confirmation; two postulants receive the habit
1912 Statistics; collections
1913 Statistics; collections
1914 Statistics; collections; 42 Belgium refugees
1915 Statistics; collections; Bishop visit 25 for confirmation (19 were Belgian Children)
1916 Statistics; collections arrival of Fr Delaney, departure of Fr Coltee
1917 Statistics; collections; Bishop visit Sept 26; average military attendance at Mass 53
1918 Statistics; collections; average military attendance at Mass 56
1919 Statistics; collections
1920 Statistics; collections
1921 Statistics
1922 Statistics; collections
1923-1964 diary of events
Contents from Back (inverted): First Communion lists for 1907/1908/1909/1911/1912/1913 in manuscript