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)Birthday wishes for 8th to Bishop. Will need time reflect before making any comment.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)Page 1: Petition text: loss of daily Mass and related devotions following proposed re-alignment of parish boundaries; much fund-raising done for the Church; Rural nature of Downham Market parish would make it difficult for a priest based at Swaffham. Hence request the Bishop reverse the decision affecting Downham parish
Page 2: 1 copy of petition names - column 1 35 names; column 2 32 names
Concerned about the saga concerning Downham Market. Great respect for Fr Sketch in the short time he has been with the parish he has cone a great deal. There are many who feel that Fr Sketch is well able to tackle the problem.
CorrespondentT E Burns (Editor) to Bishop Clark advising him that a piece on Downham Market will be in The Tablet Notebook that week. "Since writing it, I have discovered that Downham Market is also the headquarters of the Counter Reform goings on of the Abbe Nantes, etc. etc. so perhaps Fr Baker is something rather different from the 'exemplary and devoted priest' that I depicted."
Mention that the CTS reissue of "Apostolicae Curea" is causing a convert some distress; the Bishop had written to him to say that such discussions should be available.
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)The root of the trouble at Downham Market is not the use of Latin but the disobedience of Fr Baker. Catholics not properly prepared for the changes, hence those being upset. Arbitrary experimentation by some priests have not helped - hence a longing for the old familiar Mass. The new rite has been established as valid and free form doctrinal error.
Barker, Marion Tess OSBInvited to offer the traditional Mass at Newcastle on 8 August. Telling the Bishop through courtesy following his admonition in the Catholic Press. Questions whether his reasoning can be found by the Bishop to be at fault. Offers Fr Wathen's "The Great Sacrilege" as an non-refutable authority. Fr Baker is trying to do God's Will - not defiant to authority but does not agree with the requirement for blind and unquestioning obedience.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)Asks Fr Baker not to make another public trip to Newcastle. Fr Baker has broken Church laws. If Fr Baker has trouble with the Novus Ordo Mass then he can say it in the former rite "sine populo" [without the people] - do this and no more. Better to stay in Downham Market
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)side 1: "A Warning / from / Peter Simple / of the Daily Telegraph / and an Amplification"
side 2: Article "Sign" by Peter Simple, reproduced from the Daily Telegraph, 16 March 1976
sides 3/4: "An amplification - from one of the faithful" by Margaret S Kenworthy-Browne
LP:
CC001; Coimbra Records (Highbury Studios, Swan Yard, London N1 1SD)
Sung Mass at Downham Market - 2 sides
Celebrant Fr Oswald Baker
Side one: Introit, Kyrie, Gloria, Collect, Epistle, Gradual & Alleluia verse, Gospel, Credo, Offertory, Motet - "Exultabunt Sancti in Gloria", Preface
Side 2: Sanctus, Benedictus, Pater Noster, Agnus Dei, Communion Verse, Post Communion, Last Gospel, Message for Fr Baker.
Sleeve front: Image showing Fr Baker kneeling at an altar set for Tridentine Rite; a surrounding montage of news cuttings relating to the disagreement with the Church and Fr Oswald re Tridentine Mass celebrations post-Vatican II.
Sleeve back: Sleeve notes: Written by Michael Davies; opening paragraph "This is a recording of an actual celebration of Mass which was made in a small parish in Norfolk on the Feast of All Saints, 1975. The entire Mass is included on the record and the Latin text of the sung parts, together with an English translation, will be found inside the sleeve. "
Included document: Mass text - A3 sheet with 3 columns of Latin and English translation.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)States that the altar held by the Archives cannot be #3 but it is #4. But, how did it get from Downham Market to Brandon?
McCormick, Robert L. Rev (-2015)Fr McCormick assesses the sketch/plan provided by Mrs Cowton and arrives at the conclusion that it is altar #4.
McCormick, Robert L. Rev (-2015)Writing from Old Bracondale, Cromer, Leland Buxton asks whether there will be a Catholic Church at Downham Market. He is considering buying Crow Hall but does not wish to be too far form a church. The rector at King's Lynn [ Fr Stokes] cannot arrange anything for Sundays [at Downham].
manuscript annotation: "Ans: no present prospect of a mission at Downham. K Lynn cannot serve it on Sundays because he has to say 2 masses. Wd. have no objection to Mass in private house if open to the Cath. public, but I do not guarantee a Priest. tho' I would grant faculties to a visiting Priest were he a fit person. So very sorry. Ap. 7/27."
Writing from Downham Market. Son has a scholarship at Wymondham College. Asks for Fr Sammons' help convert it to one at a Catholic College. Encloses a letter to the Chief Education Officer [not present].
CorrespondentThe Hierarchy's principle is to retain Catholic Children in schools until legally required to let them go. However irrational it may seem and against the good of an individual child - that is his decision.
Downham Market Boundaries - await Fr Ketterer's suggestion but the priest at Downham strictly speaking has no territory being chaplain to an institution.
This is a collection of documentation about Fr Baker during a period of his differences with his Bishops about the Church's approach to Latin Mass. This includes correspondence, newspaper clippings and published material.
Fr Baker served as a curate at Luton, High Wycombe and Wymondham, Norfolk, before going to Downham Market in 1949. When the New Mass came out in 1969, Fr. Baker refused to say it and continued to offer exclusively the Tridentine Latin Mass as codified by Pope St. Pius V in 1570.
In 1975 Father Baker was suspended by Bishop Charles Grant. Bishop Grant told Fr. Baker not to say Mass in his Church, so Fr. Baker said Mass in his Presbytery instead. With the help of donations a house was purchased for his presbytery and chapel, at 48 Bexwell Road, Downham Market, named the "St. Pius V Chapel". He said Mass there until his death in 2004.
In 1984 he explained that the present Pope was "no more a Catholic than Ian Paisley - and no more a pope than Billy Graham". He added that "the new Mass is a sacrilegious parody of the true Mass: it is sinful to take part in it."
Covering letter for a petition which was also sent to Bishop Grant
CorrespondentIncome in the parish has increased - so, not living on a "pittance". Willing to accept position as a curate so that the parish priest from Swaffham does not have to travel to Downham. His weekly visit to the convent in Swaffham means he could easily report to the PP. Changes would be detrimental to this parish. Suggest that any priest free to officiate do so at Oxburgh instead. Not impelled to move; willing to stay.
Baker, Oswald Charles Rev (1915-2004)Page 1: Statement by Bishop Clark made to the editor of The Catholic Herald (instead of the answers given in page 2).
Page 2: Written questions for Bishop Clark - manuscript answers