dated: Feast of St William Archbishop of York 1842 [8 June 1842]
place: Seminary of St Felix
"We gladly inform you that the Almighty has at length looked down in mercy upon us. We have obtained by the kindness of P Monnock Esq. a short but beneficial lease of his mansion at Gifford Hall in the parish of Stoke by Nayland, in the county of Suffolk, a mansion dear to Religion from many pious and ancient memorials." "We place this our seminary under the patronage of St Felix...". "appointed as Superior Revd. Josh. Edwd. North...". "... flocks to increase the proceeds of the Eastern District Fund which will be chiefly employed in supporting the seminary of St Felix."
Addressed: "The Very Revd FC Husenbeth, Cossey, Norwich"
Lenten pastoral letter themed on Moses' and the Israelites' exodus from Egypt.
Final paragraph: "Owing to the peculiar distress of the times, the use of flesh meat is permitted in this district, on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning with the first Sunday, and ending on Thursday in Passion Week inclusively. The use of eggs is allowed for all days except Friday and the last four days. Cheese is forbidden on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday."
signed by Bishop Charles Berington (Titular Bishop of Hiero-Caesarea), manuscript signature "Dr Chas. Berington"
Addressed to "Rev Chamberlayne, Cossey Hall, Norwich."
Written across the address:
"Bp. Berington's Pastoral for the Lent of 1778. Generally understood to have been written up by Mr Wilks"
"B. Bp. Berington died in the same year suddenly on the road between Long Birch & Wolverhampton with no one with him but Rev. [illegible] Kirk"
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 OSBFollowing a decision[?] by the Congregation for the Propegation of the Faith on 14 March 1847 some saints' feast days have been approved/allocated [?] for which, in specific cases, faculties may be allowed for the feast to be celebrated. This includes "St. Gregory the Great, the apostle of England, St. Augustine, his disciple, St. George, the protector of the kingdom, and St. Thomas of Canterbury, the protector of the clergy of England".
The table is provided to avoid the risk of error with respect to the correct feastday dates.
addressed to "The Very Rvd. F C Husenbeth / Cossey / Norwich"
2 part pastoral letter:
1st to be read on 19 April 1970 - pg1-3
2nd to be read on 26 April 1970 - pg4-6
Conference at St Bede's school in Cambridge; see News Extra and the Diocesan News - it's all there; Pro-Nuncio to lead pilgrimage to Walsingham on 18 July;
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Bishop's heraldry on cover
International Year of Youth; passing from older hands to younger hands; Paul VI's call to build a civilisation of love; Peace; Participation; Development; the Three Kings' gifts
Pastoral Letter; Church Collections 1949 (Table by parish with headings: Peter Pence / Diocesan Schools/ Diocesan Poor Missions (1948
Parker, Thomas Leo Rev (1887-1975)Article on page 2: "Dear brothers and sisters, My first message in our diocesan newspaper must begin with a heartfelt thank you for the wonderfully warm welcome you have given me. Thank you for your kind messages, your prayers and the presence of so many of you at the Cathedral for the Mass of Installation on 16 July." Story continues.
"Re 'How the EDP won the right to name cathedral fraudster' (EDP, October 26). It's hard to believe that nobody in authority at St John the Baptist Cathedral has apparently been called to account for the lack of supervision in the case of Rene Mugenzi who stole £220,000 whilst volunteering to be its treasurer." Letter continues.
image caption: "St John the Baptist Cathedral"
Precis: A call to a synod of all clergy over whom the Bishop has direction/control to come to the church in Northampton on 1st July 1920 at 8am so that afterwards they may prepare. He commands that from the 3rd Sunday of Pentecost until the synod, that the Commemoration of the Holy Spirit be recited in all Masses in a manner of rejoicing.
[Unfortunately the rational for this meeting / synod is not given in the letter. It is thought that the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in June, which denotes the official ending of the First World War, may be the reason for this gathering]
Keating, William Frederick Rev (1859-1928)Poster announcing a "Jubilee" for the duration of the General Council.
Amherst, Francis Kerril Rev (1819-1883)Invited 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)[inserted into Bishop's Message document]
Shefford appeal for Sunday 23 February - can include foreign coins, stamps, etc.
Pg 2-6: New and Poor Missions Fund (£2,540 12s 2d); exceed 100,000 Catholics before long
Pg 7-10: Church Collections 1967 (Table with Parishes listed, heading: Diocesan Poor Missions (1966)); Individual donations
in Latin: call to the pro-Cathedral of St Felix at 9am on 10th May.
on reverse in manuscript: "For one month previously by order of the Bishop, the faithful are to be exhorted to pray for the abundant fruits of the Holy Ghost upon the Synod.
"From the Thursday after Low Sunday, inclusively, the votive Mass of the Holy Ghost, or the Collect of the same to be said each Thursday; and Sunday before Mass the Litany of the Saints."
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)The proposed Mass has no ecclesiastical authority - Fr Baker has not sought leave to offer Mass. Despite Fr Baker's defence of following his conscience he has overlooked the duty to educate his conscience - cites a few examples. Bishop says the Fr Baker is neglecting the guidance of Vatican II, the Pope, Bishop Grant and Bishop Clark. Even if you cannot accept these, consider deeply before leaving Downham Market to share your personal difficulties in other dioceses.
Lindsay, Hugh Rev (1927-2009)Laying out the issues which the Bishop had to consider along with the historic background and identifying the parts of relevant Canon Law, the Bishop invites Fr Baker to resign as Parish Priest in Downham Market
Grant, Charles Alexander Rev LCL BA (1906-1989)Compliments slip: Bishop Secretary: "Tony Sketch will arrange to deliver the enclosed - less the carbon - to all Downham Market parishioners when he distributes his invitations to the real Mass."
Page 1: letter to the congregation at Downham Market - explaining, now that the legal procedure is over, the sorrow he feels in acting against Fr Baker. Obedience to the Holy Father means accepting the changes away from the Tridentine Mass. Expects support for Fr Sketch. Notes of explanation included.
Page 2-3: Notes headed: "1. Your present position"; "2. The Missal of Pope Paul VI"; "3. The Bishop's dealings with Fr Baker"