Description of the pro-nuncio's visit to four shrines - Anglican, Methodist, Russian Orthodox, and Catholic.

(French manuscript) Abbot Neve has pleasure in telling the Bishop that the Prioress of the Bethany Monastery [Priory?] agrees to send a professed religious to Aldeburgh with a view to a foundation there. She will not be able to come before 8 December. The Prioress will send details to the Superior of the Oblates of Aldeburgh. The nun must contact Rome to obtain canonical direction for the new congregation - this will not happen until next Spring. After that they will come under the Bishops control. Finishes by saying he will be in England at the end of October and will try to meet the Bishop.
Manuscript annotation "Wrote [undecipherable]. Away till Nov. 10 home till 17th Nov. Oct. 28/26.".

Thanks for kind wishes on his election to Abbot of Downside. Visited Beccles some weeks ago and much impressed by this beautiful church. Some day it will be a strong centre of religious life in the district.

Annie Allnutt congratulates the Bishop n withholding consent to start building in Southwold. She is concerned over the low level of involvement of Mr & Mrs Crimmen in the recent visit by the Bishop, given their generosity in time and resources for the Mission. Asks the Bishop to be quite sure that Fr Mason is the right priest in the right place. Comments on his approach to certain congregation members of good standing - her own "unpardonable sin is that I advised Fr Mason some years ago to quit Southwold at once and seek a post in the Bishop's House where he would have work and supervision; he being young, full of life and animal spirits and fond of the good things in life." Comments that the building fund has not increased in years (except for the £100 donated by the Bishop) in spite of fund raising events.

Mgr David Norris sending reimbursement (£404.40) of expenditure - Rome with British Church leaders.

list of 48 names + driver

His Beatitude Maximus V (Hachim), Melchite Patriarch of Antioch (Jerusalem and Alexandria) is to visit 1 to 6 September 1982 after his visit to Ireland.
Bishop Clark has become unwittingly involved in the (complicated) preparations for the Patriarch's visit and wishes to visit London after Ireland before returning to Syria. The emissary, Mgr Jena-Clement Jeanbart, and the Bishop have agreed some ground rules (5 of them). However, the dates are wrong because Catholic Authorities are still "en vacance" at the time of the visit. Could the Cardinal help and ask a home Bishop to host the visit and provide suitable accommodation for the Patriarch and his entourage?

Recording his appreciation of the effort to make the Pro-Nuncio's visit a marvellous success. Likes the idea of him closing the Martian Year and blessing the amenity block. the three of us to meet a long but regular intervals [to discuss religious support]

Points briefly, but not intended to be brusque.

1. irresponsible to promote this distasteful campaign to induce a visit
2. No decisions taken; matter surely on the agenda of the November Hierarchy Meeting; to involve Carding and Archbishop Worlock
3. finances do not work out - the Irish still paying off a large debt [for the Papal visit to Knock]
4. issues over meeting the Archbishop of Canterbury at Walsingham
5. disparaging remarks about "taking out Lady to the Pope" do not deter Bishop Clark - she is more important than her shrine
6. Fr Birch exaggerates. Canterbury visit (probably) of far greater significance
7. Once the Hierarchy decided on priorities, Bishop will be clear and uncompromising - no blame nor chiding - his idea can be sold to the nation and a community which wants to glimpse the Pope
8. "I am not letting you down..."

Bishop happy to go to Sawston and commission Special Ministers. He will do so after his visitation to Our Lady of English Martyrs (OLEM) in Cambridge. Each candidate must have adequate catechesis, be in possession of the CTS blue handbook and have a certificate for the Bishop to issue.
Delighted to hear that the parish is geared to Saturday 16th May.

Wednesday June 8 to meet informally with the St Henry's people. Important that the parishioners see him now they have a parish in their own right.

Reverse side: Meeting manuscript [probably Bishop's handwriting] notes but no date/subject/objective - Philpot / Drury / Rogers all mentioned - topics "prayer", "Preaching" "human relationships", "emotive issues"

Attending the Chapel dedication in Walsingham on 22 May is becoming difficult - papal visit on or off makes life complicated.

Bishop Clark is travelling, with Fr Philpot, to Bolivia to visit one of his priests, Fr John Drury. Fr Drury has been in South America for 5 years and the last 12 months have been spent in the foothills of the Andes. He returns to East Anglia in the Autumn and has sent an open letter to all those in the diocese who have helped him with the prayers and alms.

a short article based on the press release.

Very pleased with his visit to the White House and thanks all there for making it a great experience. Return invitation to London Colney. Pilgrimage at Walsingham went very well - but how could it not in such surroundings!

Bishop writes: Dispensation for Banns for Durkin & Clark; Not enough RC children for a teacher; visitation: after his holiday on 9 September & stay overnight, plenary indulgence to attend Mass, available for parishioners to talk to in private, simple rite, no throne.

Bishop writes: included copy of letter to Mr Osborne (Director of Education, Isle of Ely Council) ; received plans of a church which would be suitable for March - St Mary's Littleborough (nr Rochdale); Lost a pair of grey old kid gloves in presbytery or at Parson's.

Bishop Peter Smith is shown visiting a twinned parish in Tambogrande, Peru. Fr John Drury spent some years in the parish and arranged for donations from the Diocese of East Anglia to be distributed within Tambogrande.

12 glossy colour images of Pope John Paul, Cardinal Hume, Bishop Smith and others - meeting.
6 images scanned and presented in AtoM under this record
6 other photographs cover a meeting between Pope John Paul II and Bishop Smith with two other clergy (all these copyright "Foto FELICI")

Hope all goes well in Beccles.
Agrees that the approach is correct for the priest. Brendan has been sent home to Dublin so the atmosphere in the presbytery should return to normal.