Sudbury Parish address embossed on front cover
346: Notanda: Lenten Dispensation, Collections, Special Faculties, Quemadmodum, Easter Communion, Quarant Ore,
347-361: Lent Pastoral letter - Priest-Soldiers, Prohibition of Military Service, The earliest Legislation, Recalcitrants, The Catholic Priesthood, The Priest i Wartime, Military value of the Priest, 1. With the Civil populations, 2. With the Forces, Summary
362-363: Notanda: Holy Oils, Peter's Pence, Ecclesiastical Fund and Poor School Fund, Collections for 1916, Remittance of Moneys
364-368: 1915 - Ecclesiastical Education Fund / Church Collections / Diocesan Poor Schools
16-22: Pastoral letter - death of Benedict XV and the new pope Pius XI, Our Lady and English Martyrs a generous gift of Mrs Lyne Stevens, three years before new young priests
23-26: Ecclesiastical Education Fund / Church Collections
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."
Pg 2-8: Pastoral Letter - apostles; priesthood; duty; sacraments; long and costly training of priests;
Pg 9-21: Ecclesiastical Fund, 1951 - table listing named donations within each parish
Pg 22: A Prayer for Priests; A Short Indulgenced Ejaculation
Pg 23: Notices
Pg 2-5: Pastoral Letter - Baptism; Christianity; darkness/evil in the world; St Christopher (American "Christophers") ; 39 students in seminaries
Pg 6-21: Ecclesiastical Fund, 1954 - table listing named donations within each parish
Pg 22: Notices
Pg 23: A Prayer for Priests; A Short Indulgenced Ejaculation
Pg 2-6: Pastoral Letter - Need 6 priests per year, 36 in seminary, 21 in Colleges; Ordination; schisms; China - Peking; John XXIII
Pg 7: Notices
Pg 8-27: Ecclesiastical Fund, 1958 - table listing named donations within each parish
Pg 28: A Prayer for Priests; A Short Indulgenced Ejaculation
Pg 3-7: Pastoral Letter - need for priests; 30 new churches; Vocation; 35 sturdents, 27 boys; Nuturing Catholic Families
Pg 7: Notices
Pg 8-34: Ecclesiastical Fund, 1961[sic] - table listing named donations within each parish
Pg 37: A Prayer for Priests; A Short Indulgenced Ejaculation
Income 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)"..It is only just to you to hear from me the extent of the reasons why this change in the status of Downham Market has been judged imperative by both the Bishop and myself."
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Went to Downham for the Mass and stayed a week. Why do you persecute a priest because he refuses to be a heretic? 5 years ago deviant behaviours (pop masses, dancing masses...) would have resulted in excommunication on the spot. Who is right Fr Baker, or those in a free for all.
Copied to Cardinal Heenan, Apostolic Delegate, Bishop Grant
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.
CorrespondentAcknowledges 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."
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)Detailing the immediate consequences of the Decree sent on 20 November:
- not entitled to live in the Parish house - must be vacated without delay - contact the Bishop for support arrangements
- not entitled to use the Church - will not evict Fr Baker but will not tolerate him remaining
- not entitled to administer parochial funds - make arrangements to settle up
- not entitled to officiate at marriages - any married by you will be in an invalid marriage
- if celebrating mass in disobedience must make this clear to those attending and handle monies appropriately
An article by Fr Bryan Houghton
"This article is not written to prolong the needless controversy but to bring out the real issue which lies behind the differences between Father Baker and his Bishop...."
preparation for lent; Reconciliation sacrament - "New Rite of Penance". Archbishop Dwyer's message [not present] - giving to CAFOD; Priests' Education Fund - To train 5 or 6 priests at £1,000 per annum each man.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)pg 1: Clerical appointments by Bishop Clark
pg 2: Appointment of Parish Priests; Appointment of Assistant Priests
Given by Fr Dowsey: The assistant priest at Newmarket is now on indefinite leave from the diocese after discussions with Bishop Clark.
manuscript annotation: "Statement issued for the 'News of the World' (Wed April 17 1985)"
Cambridge Evening News article: outlines a "mystery" about the whereabouts of Fr Roy Gathercole. Fr Marsh, Newmarket is to give the congregation an explanation on Sunday.
Cambridge NewsBishop 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.
Dowsey, Gary Rev (1955-)