see also NTM-02-01-7
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Pre Vat II Portable Altar - No. 3.
This is as described in the photo at Long Melford. But this was taken in a pub bar in Holt, Norfolk
Altar No. 3"
Image of altar fully dressed.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Pre Vat II Portable Altar - Third Model.
This altar was made of oak by my friend. It was completely one folding unit. The op opened up to form the reredos, the bottom folded down to form the legs, the cabinet between the top and the bottom contained all the other mass requisites. Including the telescopic credence table! The whole altar fitted into a heavy brown canvas cover with carrying straps. See Landrover photo when I was loading all my gear! Taken in a house at Long Melford (Suffolk)(haunted?!)
Altar No. 3"
Altar dressed for Mass; Madonna & Child to left (in its carrying case); framed poster of the crucifixion to right; seven chairs set for the congregation.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Altar No. 4. This is post Vat II.
This was in two main pieces - a heavy wooden folding table & a large wooden case made of marine plywood with aluminium protective moulding on all corner edges. The case has a detachable lid which when removed allowed the altar top to be unfolded outwards - under this folding top were stowed all the altar requisites.
This was the altar I left at Mr St John Foti's museum at Downham Market.
Note. This photo shows my hand-carved statue of O.Lady in a protective oak case - I used to stand it near my altar. On the left is one of my seasonal posters by an artist friend. (Boxford Suffolk)
Altar No. 4"
Altar dressed for Mass with family[?] posing alongside.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Post Vat II Portable Mission Altar No. 4.
This is as described on the photo taken at Boxford, Suffolk.
This one was taken at the house-mass at Snettisham, Norfolk - can't remember the year!
Altar No. 4"
See also NTM-02-01-10 - same image
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Second Pre Vat II Portable Altar. See the pony club photo & landrover photo when loading it up.
Altar No. 2"
Undated / unknown location / unknown man & child.
The mix of household chairs indicated this venue is in a domestic residence.
Note the Madonna & Child on left - specially made and boxed for Fr McCormick
Portable altar set up ready for Mass.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's First Pre-Vatican II portable altar. It was in two pieces - a fairly heavy folding table (made of beechwood) - there was an oblong hole in the centre of the top for the altar stone. The other piece was an oblong beechwood frame which screwed onto the top back edge of the table and on which the reredos curtain and crucifix were hung. All other altar prerequisites I carried in a big case (as seen in the photo). This photo I took in a pub in Histon (Cambs) one Sunday in 1959 - Notice I turned the dartboard to face the wall!
Altar No 1"
Portable altar with people stood around; candles lit; (during?) Mass.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's First Pre-Vatican II portable altar as used in Travelling Mission work. I took this at a "house-Mass" in 1959. The man with the glasses looking into the camera used to be deputy head of All Souls School at Peterborough.
Altar No 1."
Covering letter for comments on Altar #4.
Fr McCormick is thrilled that his altar is safe. May have suffered a little wear. Manuscript details about the altar are enclosed.
Image of a bee on flowers is on reverse "One I took last year".
pg1: Photo 1 - annotations about placement and use of the altar as a whole
pg2: Photo 2 - annotations regarding the use of the drawer and setting up
pg3: Photo 3 - view inside the altar - placement of chalice, cruets, crucifix, candle stands, collection bowl, ciborium, missal stand. Altar cloths and vestments were put on the top and provided 'padding'
pg4: Photo 4 - view of altar with four people stood behind it (one a nun "in pre Vat II habit"). Fr McCormick still has the altar cloth for 'house mass' use.
photograph of the assembled portable altar within the RCDEA Archives.
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)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)Having spoken to Fr Fears, Fr McCormack thinks that the folding altar is his 3rd version. He wonders how it came to be in the Brandon garage. At one time he gave it to Mr Eric St John-Foti who had bought a farm, restored it ("Hermitage Hall") and opened a museum there. A while later it was all sold but Fr McCormack was not contacted about this at the time.
He is known as "Mac2" as Fr McBride is also known as "Mac".
Undated / unknown location
Mission altar set up in a domesitic residence [?]
Altar set for Tridentine rite
Undated / unknown location
Mission altar set up in a bar
Undated / unknown location
Mission altar set up in a [hall?]
Altar set for Tridentine rite
Undated / unknown location
Mission altar set up in a hut [village hall?] - note garden chairs, Maddona & Child statue.
The altar is set facing the congregation - probably post Vatican II?
[Fr McCormick in the picture?]
Mrs Dora Cowton writes. Probably not altar #3 - describes what is held in the Archives. There are not two altars but one altar and a stand. Will take a photograph.
RCDEA ArchivesMrs Dora Cowton writes. Have received the photographs and will add them to the Travelling Mission notes already held. Provides dimensions for the altar with a description. Fr Fears cannot explain how the altar came to be in Brandon. The previous priest Fr Ivan Rudkin has died; Fr Antony Philpot was PP at Bury St Edmunds and served Brandon, which was also served from Newmarket where Fr Peter Leeming was one of the priests - should she write to them?
RCDEA ArchivesTravelling Mission Mass ready for use from the back of the Land Rover, in a field.
Reverse: "Fr Mac2's Second Pre Vat II Portable Altar, In this photo it is on the tail-board of my mission land-rover at a pony club camp near Woodbridge in early 1960s.
This altar did not have a folding table - it was in a stout wooden case the hinged lid of the case opened to form the reredos complete opening altar cards & screw on crucifix & candles. When this had been lifted into place the next layer was unfolded to form the altar top - under which were stowed the altar requisites.
The whole thing was placed on any convenient table or sideboard.
Altar No. 2"