DORA HOLMES R.I.P.
Dora died recently. Her Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, 12th February where many friends and family came to pay their respects. During Father Bryan's homily he said of Dora, who used to be the Postmistress of Boscastle, "I found her an inspiration in the wonderful way she endured through a lot of illness for over twenty five years. She reminded me of St.Teresa who said she did not know why God permitted her to suffer so much but she trusted Him. Such people are a great inspiration in the Community. She wonderfully reflected an important aspect of the Gospel- the craft of suffering."
May she Rest In Peace.
February 2003
PAT EVANS R.I.P.
Pat died at 7.15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8th. Pat’s funeral mass was held at Bodmin Catholic Church, on Wednesday, April 16th @ 11.30. Father Guy of Bodmin, and Father Bryan of Tintagel concelebrated the Requiem Mass to a church full of family and friends.
Father Bryan writes: “I have known Pat for over twenty years. She had a rather sad life with many sufferings and setbacks. Her son Howard was always a great consolation to her especially after the death of John, her husband who by special request had his funeral service in our Catholic Church. He was not a Catholic but usually came to our church with Pat. With her, he took great interest in the sermons. It was a special pleasure for me to be with Pat for a while on Christmas Eve and to be asked to take her Holy Viaticum just before she died. Her warmth of character and kindness were unfailing even when it was painful for her to communicate. Our Community is very grateful to Peter and Gillian Jolley for all the loving care and attention and self-sacrifice they gave to Pat during her illness. May she enjoy a well earned peace with God. We pray for the repose of her soul, for Howard and for her family and friends.
MICHELE RASPA R.I.P.
Michele died in the early hours of Monday,28th April. His Requiem Mass took place on Saturday, 3rd May at 14.00hrs. Father Bryan celebrated the Mass at which he asked prayers for the repose of Michele's soul and the strengthening of the family in their loss.
Michele was a well known and well loved character locally. He was Italian and came to the U.K. in 1958.He lived in Davidstow.
Father Bryan writes: Michele Salvatore Raspa was the youngest of seven Italian brothers and the last to die. His brother Antonio, died last June, he also lived in Davidstow. Michele also worked in Davistow,first as a farmer and later for Dairy Crest Creamery, a Milk and Cheese Factory.
He lived in Davidstow for over 45 years. He and his late wife Carmela had two children, Peter and Grace both of whom, with their families were present with eighty others for the Requiem Mass.
Before Michele died in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, he had the hospital Chaplain to pray with him.
The Requiem Mass was held on Saturday. 3rd May at St Paul's. The congregation sang mightily accompanied by organist, Doctor Miriam Rosenthal-English.
BETTY CROYDON R.I.P.
Father Bryan writes: Betty Croydon went to her reward on Thursday, 31st July 2003. After many illnesses, which were particularly hard to cope with, Betty died in Kent where she and her husband Gerry have been staying with their daughter and son in law. Along with many parishioners I have good memories of a lady who helped in several ways in the life of the church, including cleaning the church on a regular basis. I especially remember her help with the church gardens and promotion of the Garden of Remembrance, which is venerated and much appreciated by the Catholic Community here in Tintagel. Betty was highly thought of as a very pleasant person who nonetheless spoke as she found.
Betty was buried near Otford, Kent in new burial grounds. The Committal Service, which was confined to family, was on Friday, 8th August. Father Bryan, at the request of the family, officiated at the burial.
We have received a card from Mr. Croydon thanking our community for all their prayers and gestures of condolensce.
AWARD WINNING PRODUCER USES OUR CHURCH IN HIS FILM
Filming took place at the church of St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church,Tintagel,Cornwall,UK of the highly acclaimed film "Conspiracy of Silence".
The film was written and directed by Internationally renowned Catholic writer John Deery.On 15th May 2001 John won the Hartley Merrill International Screenwriting Prize in Cannes for the film.He was awarded a golden statuette,£7,000 and a trip to the Sundance Institute in America.He beat off stiff competition to win the coveted prize which was founded by actress Dina Merrill and her husband,RKO Pictures CEO Ted Hartley.
The script was described as "a story about the fragile lines of faith and devotion that are tested as two men search to uncover the deadly conspiracy hidden deep within the Catholic Church".It is being developed by the film finance company,Future Film Group. The hard hitting contemporary drama is set in the small Irish Town of Galcranagh and is a co-prodution with UK producer,Davina Stanley and co-executive producers Heather Playford-Denman and Stephen Margolis.Filming of the controversial film took place at locations in London and Cornwall.The Town of Callington was chosen to represent the Irish town of Galcranagh.Great interest has been shown about the film and Tintage's official website had an excellent photo of the church lit up by the film crew. (www.tintagelweb.co.uk) For the film the church was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" with Father Sweeney in charge of the Parish and Bishop Quinn for the area.
Whilst filming was taking place on Sunday afternoon, the car park was so full that Father Bryan was unable to get out to take communion to the sick of the parish.He told us "The film crew gave me a driver to taxi me around.They have been extremely helpful".
Despite the controversial story line, Father Bryan says the large majority of parishioners are delighted with the filming even though they are not fully aware of the whole storyline.
Filming continued Monday 28th January at 0600hrs and the morning Mass was celebrated as usaul despite Garda(Irish Police)being everywhere!The Crew finally finished around 1700hrs and Geordie Davos told Father Bryan they were delighted with the filming and his hospitality.
The film stars Aiden Gillen,Brenda Fricker,Edward Woodward,Milo O`shea,Hugh Bonneville and Hugh Quarshie. The story focuses on a young man training to be a priest who challenges the Vatican on the issue of celibacy.Director John Deery said when winning the award for the film "I really hope this gives me the impetus I need to go on.My wife has seen me through the highs and lows of this project".He has come a long way since then and his story which is based on a true story,is coming to fruition. The suicide of Father Sweeney who is found to be suffering from AIDS and the removal of a young seminarian from training for the priesthood are the linch pins of the story.A local Journalist Foley played by Aiden Gillen is convinced there is a link between the suicide of Father Sweeney and the dismissal from the seminary of the young male student.The church closes ranks as he starts to ask embarrassing questions.The story also delves into the tensions and conflicts of the young seminarian.Homosexual activities were indicated and the young man fights between his love of his former girlfriend and his longing to be a priest.The full cover- up by church authorities is brought to a climax in a live television debate. The film concludes with the young man in question turning to prayer and that is where he finds Divine inspiration to make the decision to continue on and become a priest.
John Deery has risen to challenge some of the issues surrounding the celibate priesthood.In the past he has been responsible for the Labour Party Short,"Things can only get better",this film has tested his abilities to the limit and we hope that the Catholic Producer goes on to greater things in the future.Should he wish to give us a more accurate version of the script we would be delighted to print it.
May 2002
CORNWALL CELEBRATES FROM ST PAUL`S
November 25th was a historic day in the parish,BBC Radio Cornwall broadcast their Sunday Religious programme "Cornwall Celebrates" from our Church.
Presenter Nina Davey interviewed six members of the congregation covering a broad spectrum of our parishioners.Nina did a very professional job in making all those interviewed relaxed and happy to tell the whole of Cornwall about their lives and faith.
One of the founder members of our congregation,Mollie O`Brien was interviewed first.She mentioned how she came to Cornwall with her husband,4 dogs and a cat with a tent back in 1956.The Church was`nt built then and Mass was said in the Social Hall with the Priests riding from Bodmin every week.Mollie mentioned her illness and how grateful she was to other church members who help her.She chose the hymn 'O Jesus Christ Remember'.
It was then the turn of Patrick Dell.He mentioned travelling as a boy as his father was in the army.He had been working in London dealing with stocks and shares and moved to Cornwall for a quieter life.He still deals in stocks and shares but only for himself.His travels enabled him to read many other religion`s holy books.This had only deepened his faith.His favourite hymn was 'Hail Queen of Heaven'.
Minni Baker a Swiss widow has lived many years in the Parish and enthralled the listening public with her memories of the hardships she went through in her early married life.Her first child was born blind,her husband was working away and she was later told she could have no more children after her second.Minni went on to have another baby which stunned the doctors and they couldnt understand her happiness.The thread running though all her interview was that God has always been the motivating force in her life.This had been due to her Catholic upbringing in her homeland and the love of God that her parents instilled in her.
One of our young servers,8 year old Matthew Langthorne told Nina Davey all about being a member of St Stephen's Guild.He had a few of us in stitches when talking about the sprinkler we have for Holy water,Matthew called it a "sticky thing" that Father held. He then mentioned what the Sunday school do.Matthew chose 'Bind us Together' as his hymn.
Dr. Miriam Rosenthal-English spoke about being brought up in Berlin by a Jewish Father and Protestant Mother.She talked about her father in the concentration camps and how the whole of the family apart from him were exterminated. During her childhood she was brought up a Jew and had many discusions with her family when she wanted to convert to Catholicism.She was baptised and confirmed in 1992 in Bavaria.She mentioned how she serves on the altar and plays the organ.Nina then asked her about her Miscarriage in 1995 and the support group she set up with Myke her husband.Great interest was shown in the annual Mass and Memorial book for the babies kept at the altar.Miriam also mentioned the website:http://beehive.thisisplymouth.co.uk/miscarriagememorialbook.
Miriam chose as her hymn 'Es kommt ein Schiff geladen'.Nina mentioned she may not have this and asked her if she would sing it to the listeners.She accompanied herself on the organ as she sang this Advent hymn.
Peter Enright,a father of two teenage children mentioned how he came to the church for help and how he had been helped by Father Bryan our Priest in his spiritual and emotional dilemma,which was troubling him at the time.He spoke about bringing his children up in the faith.Peter chose 'Colours of
Day'as his hymn.
Finally Nina moved outside the church and interviewed Father Bryan Storey about the new presbytery which is being built.Father told her that it would have the Cornish name "Chy an Pronter",which means house of the priest.
Surprise and delight was expressed at the church being open for prayer all day.Father told her we had a good security system and that it was important that we keep churches open for prayer."God must be an integral part of all our lives"he said.Father chose his favourite hymn 'He Who Would Valiant Be'.
Many phone calls and words of encouragement have been received about the programme and we thank Nina Davey and all Radio Cornwall staff involved in the airing of the programme.It was a chance to show that the mission to spread the Good News of the Gospel is alive and well in the north of Cornwall,despite New Age,Witchcraft and Paganism being all around us.
25th November 2001
ARTICLE BY MARY LAMB OF OUR CONGREGATION
ST PAUL COMES TO TINTAGEL
After a long time in jungle warfare in Assam my husband’s health was not too good, and the doctors suggested we should settle in a warmer climate than that of the East coast of England. So in 1947 we came to live in Tintagel.
Why we thought that there would be a regular Mass centre here I cannot think; but when we came we found that the Canons Regular from Bodmin came over only on Sundays to celebrate Mass in the village hall. As we both wanted to go to Mass on most days, we would get up early in the morning and drive over Bodmin Moor to attend the 7a.m.Mass at the Abbey.
How lovely it was in the hours before anyone was about! As in those days there was a strict fasting, we used to bring a thermos of coffee to drink on the way home. We ran a small hotel and were obliged to hurry back in order to be in time for breakfast.
We soon realised that this could not continue indefinitely so, after having one or two priest friends to stay with us, with permission to say Mass in our house, we decided to try to find a priest who could come to live with us.
It all seemed to happen so quickly! Canon Fellows, retired from the Westminster Diocese, came to stay with us. He was aged 82 at that time, a little slim man, extraordinarily active, walking miles every day to visit lapsed Catholics. He was an old Etonian, who went up to Cambridge after which he was called to the bar and became a Catholic. As a late vocation he was at the Beda in Rome. How very humble he was! Everyone who came in contact with him was struck by his deep holiness; he never intruded or made anyone feel at a disadvantage.
Buckfast Abbey donated all our vestments. The district nurse, Nurse Blucher, was a staunch Catholic and she asked if she could bring her statue of Our Lady to stand above our altar. She said it was rather big. I was afraid it would be one of those pale blue and pink plaster ones that I find hard to admire but when she brought it I was astonished, for its long lines were only just becoming fashionable. She said that a patient of hers on the Island of Sark(CI) had given it to her with the wish that it would one day be in a church in Tintagel.She added that prayers said before it were always answered.
Seven Catholics were able to walk to Mass (petrol was limited at that time).Every day seven people - all of us, in fact – attended the 7 a.m. Mass. Canon Fellows said that if a great parish had every one of the congregation attending daily it would be considered wonderful. However there was a feeling almost of renaissance at that time among us. Canon Fellows said that this was the first time since the Reformation that Mass had been said here every day.
So many priests stayed with us! Nearly always when I had time to slip into our chapel I found someone quietly praying. One day I found a man intently examining the statue of Our Lady. He turned to me and said that he was a close friend of Eric Gill and that he had never expected to find anything so beautifully restrained, and with such an air of grace, in a place so remote. I think he visited Nurse Blucher to find out about it.
Wherever he went Canon Fellows, old as he was, attracted people to him. Once he walked to Davidstow to visit some passing gypsies he had heard were Catholics. He warned me that next day there would be one or two more in our congregation. What was my surprise when about ten or twelve gypsies arrived! It was such a lovely sunny day.We we gave them breakfast in the garden afterwards. Other visitors staying in the hotel looked out of the windows at the colourful scene with astonishment.
Once on the Feast of the Assumption , a Summer Holy Day of Obligation which attracted a large congregation, we were unable to get the village hall for Mass. At the time there were three priests staying at our hotel. Canon Fellows, knowing that numbers of Catholic visitors from other hotels would be coming to us, arranged for priests to stand at different doors answering Mass, each with a bell, so that all the people who were kneeling through the passages could keep in touch with the Mass in the chapel.
Mr. Street, the Anglican clergyman, made friends with the Canon. He, his wife and family all became Catholics.
At last, in the early fifties, the time came for us to leave Tintagel. My husband was offered a lucrative job in London. Canon Fellows agreed to return to a parish in Buckinghamshire. We were all very sorry to leave. Nurse Blucher was in tears on one of our last days as she knelt before the statue of Our Lady.
“I pray”, she said, “that one day there will be a church here.” I answered that if there were to be one I hoped that it would be called St Paul’s, for my husband and I were married at Westminster Cathedral on January 25th, the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul.
Many years passed and in the late seventies we came down here to visit an old friend. We found that there was a Catholic church. It was called St Paul’s – and there stood our statue of Our Lady in all her modesty. I wondered at those words Nurse Blucher uttered so long ago – that prayers said before this statue have always been answered.
How I rejoice when this mission attracts Catholic families to settle in this lovely part of Cornwall. Babies baptized, first communions, marriages and funerals. We must all pray that one day it will be a parish. If you are visiting Tintagel, say an especial prayer before Our Lady’s statue. You may be sure we all pray for you and everyone visiting.
A lot has been done since those early days, but there is still so much more to do.
03.12.02
Dora died recently. Her Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, 12th February where many friends and family came to pay their respects. During Father Bryan's homily he said of Dora, who used to be the Postmistress of Boscastle, "I found her an inspiration in the wonderful way she endured through a lot of illness for over twenty five years. She reminded me of St.Teresa who said she did not know why God permitted her to suffer so much but she trusted Him. Such people are a great inspiration in the Community. She wonderfully reflected an important aspect of the Gospel- the craft of suffering."
May she Rest In Peace.
February 2003
PAT EVANS R.I.P.
Pat died at 7.15 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8th. Pat’s funeral mass was held at Bodmin Catholic Church, on Wednesday, April 16th @ 11.30. Father Guy of Bodmin, and Father Bryan of Tintagel concelebrated the Requiem Mass to a church full of family and friends.
Father Bryan writes: “I have known Pat for over twenty years. She had a rather sad life with many sufferings and setbacks. Her son Howard was always a great consolation to her especially after the death of John, her husband who by special request had his funeral service in our Catholic Church. He was not a Catholic but usually came to our church with Pat. With her, he took great interest in the sermons. It was a special pleasure for me to be with Pat for a while on Christmas Eve and to be asked to take her Holy Viaticum just before she died. Her warmth of character and kindness were unfailing even when it was painful for her to communicate. Our Community is very grateful to Peter and Gillian Jolley for all the loving care and attention and self-sacrifice they gave to Pat during her illness. May she enjoy a well earned peace with God. We pray for the repose of her soul, for Howard and for her family and friends.
MICHELE RASPA R.I.P.
Michele died in the early hours of Monday,28th April. His Requiem Mass took place on Saturday, 3rd May at 14.00hrs. Father Bryan celebrated the Mass at which he asked prayers for the repose of Michele's soul and the strengthening of the family in their loss.
Michele was a well known and well loved character locally. He was Italian and came to the U.K. in 1958.He lived in Davidstow.
Father Bryan writes: Michele Salvatore Raspa was the youngest of seven Italian brothers and the last to die. His brother Antonio, died last June, he also lived in Davidstow. Michele also worked in Davistow,first as a farmer and later for Dairy Crest Creamery, a Milk and Cheese Factory.
He lived in Davidstow for over 45 years. He and his late wife Carmela had two children, Peter and Grace both of whom, with their families were present with eighty others for the Requiem Mass.
Before Michele died in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, Devon, he had the hospital Chaplain to pray with him.
The Requiem Mass was held on Saturday. 3rd May at St Paul's. The congregation sang mightily accompanied by organist, Doctor Miriam Rosenthal-English.
BETTY CROYDON R.I.P.
Father Bryan writes: Betty Croydon went to her reward on Thursday, 31st July 2003. After many illnesses, which were particularly hard to cope with, Betty died in Kent where she and her husband Gerry have been staying with their daughter and son in law. Along with many parishioners I have good memories of a lady who helped in several ways in the life of the church, including cleaning the church on a regular basis. I especially remember her help with the church gardens and promotion of the Garden of Remembrance, which is venerated and much appreciated by the Catholic Community here in Tintagel. Betty was highly thought of as a very pleasant person who nonetheless spoke as she found.
Betty was buried near Otford, Kent in new burial grounds. The Committal Service, which was confined to family, was on Friday, 8th August. Father Bryan, at the request of the family, officiated at the burial.
We have received a card from Mr. Croydon thanking our community for all their prayers and gestures of condolensce.
AWARD WINNING PRODUCER USES OUR CHURCH IN HIS FILM
Filming took place at the church of St Paul the Apostle Catholic Church,Tintagel,Cornwall,UK of the highly acclaimed film "Conspiracy of Silence".
The film was written and directed by Internationally renowned Catholic writer John Deery.On 15th May 2001 John won the Hartley Merrill International Screenwriting Prize in Cannes for the film.He was awarded a golden statuette,£7,000 and a trip to the Sundance Institute in America.He beat off stiff competition to win the coveted prize which was founded by actress Dina Merrill and her husband,RKO Pictures CEO Ted Hartley.
The script was described as "a story about the fragile lines of faith and devotion that are tested as two men search to uncover the deadly conspiracy hidden deep within the Catholic Church".It is being developed by the film finance company,Future Film Group. The hard hitting contemporary drama is set in the small Irish Town of Galcranagh and is a co-prodution with UK producer,Davina Stanley and co-executive producers Heather Playford-Denman and Stephen Margolis.Filming of the controversial film took place at locations in London and Cornwall.The Town of Callington was chosen to represent the Irish town of Galcranagh.Great interest has been shown about the film and Tintage's official website had an excellent photo of the church lit up by the film crew. (www.tintagelweb.co.uk) For the film the church was renamed "Our Lady of the Rosary" with Father Sweeney in charge of the Parish and Bishop Quinn for the area.
Whilst filming was taking place on Sunday afternoon, the car park was so full that Father Bryan was unable to get out to take communion to the sick of the parish.He told us "The film crew gave me a driver to taxi me around.They have been extremely helpful".
Despite the controversial story line, Father Bryan says the large majority of parishioners are delighted with the filming even though they are not fully aware of the whole storyline.
Filming continued Monday 28th January at 0600hrs and the morning Mass was celebrated as usaul despite Garda(Irish Police)being everywhere!The Crew finally finished around 1700hrs and Geordie Davos told Father Bryan they were delighted with the filming and his hospitality.
The film stars Aiden Gillen,Brenda Fricker,Edward Woodward,Milo O`shea,Hugh Bonneville and Hugh Quarshie. The story focuses on a young man training to be a priest who challenges the Vatican on the issue of celibacy.Director John Deery said when winning the award for the film "I really hope this gives me the impetus I need to go on.My wife has seen me through the highs and lows of this project".He has come a long way since then and his story which is based on a true story,is coming to fruition. The suicide of Father Sweeney who is found to be suffering from AIDS and the removal of a young seminarian from training for the priesthood are the linch pins of the story.A local Journalist Foley played by Aiden Gillen is convinced there is a link between the suicide of Father Sweeney and the dismissal from the seminary of the young male student.The church closes ranks as he starts to ask embarrassing questions.The story also delves into the tensions and conflicts of the young seminarian.Homosexual activities were indicated and the young man fights between his love of his former girlfriend and his longing to be a priest.The full cover- up by church authorities is brought to a climax in a live television debate. The film concludes with the young man in question turning to prayer and that is where he finds Divine inspiration to make the decision to continue on and become a priest.
John Deery has risen to challenge some of the issues surrounding the celibate priesthood.In the past he has been responsible for the Labour Party Short,"Things can only get better",this film has tested his abilities to the limit and we hope that the Catholic Producer goes on to greater things in the future.Should he wish to give us a more accurate version of the script we would be delighted to print it.
May 2002
CORNWALL CELEBRATES FROM ST PAUL`S
November 25th was a historic day in the parish,BBC Radio Cornwall broadcast their Sunday Religious programme "Cornwall Celebrates" from our Church.
Presenter Nina Davey interviewed six members of the congregation covering a broad spectrum of our parishioners.Nina did a very professional job in making all those interviewed relaxed and happy to tell the whole of Cornwall about their lives and faith.
One of the founder members of our congregation,Mollie O`Brien was interviewed first.She mentioned how she came to Cornwall with her husband,4 dogs and a cat with a tent back in 1956.The Church was`nt built then and Mass was said in the Social Hall with the Priests riding from Bodmin every week.Mollie mentioned her illness and how grateful she was to other church members who help her.She chose the hymn 'O Jesus Christ Remember'.
It was then the turn of Patrick Dell.He mentioned travelling as a boy as his father was in the army.He had been working in London dealing with stocks and shares and moved to Cornwall for a quieter life.He still deals in stocks and shares but only for himself.His travels enabled him to read many other religion`s holy books.This had only deepened his faith.His favourite hymn was 'Hail Queen of Heaven'.
Minni Baker a Swiss widow has lived many years in the Parish and enthralled the listening public with her memories of the hardships she went through in her early married life.Her first child was born blind,her husband was working away and she was later told she could have no more children after her second.Minni went on to have another baby which stunned the doctors and they couldnt understand her happiness.The thread running though all her interview was that God has always been the motivating force in her life.This had been due to her Catholic upbringing in her homeland and the love of God that her parents instilled in her.
One of our young servers,8 year old Matthew Langthorne told Nina Davey all about being a member of St Stephen's Guild.He had a few of us in stitches when talking about the sprinkler we have for Holy water,Matthew called it a "sticky thing" that Father held. He then mentioned what the Sunday school do.Matthew chose 'Bind us Together' as his hymn.
Dr. Miriam Rosenthal-English spoke about being brought up in Berlin by a Jewish Father and Protestant Mother.She talked about her father in the concentration camps and how the whole of the family apart from him were exterminated. During her childhood she was brought up a Jew and had many discusions with her family when she wanted to convert to Catholicism.She was baptised and confirmed in 1992 in Bavaria.She mentioned how she serves on the altar and plays the organ.Nina then asked her about her Miscarriage in 1995 and the support group she set up with Myke her husband.Great interest was shown in the annual Mass and Memorial book for the babies kept at the altar.Miriam also mentioned the website:http://beehive.thisisplymouth.co.uk/miscarriagememorialbook.
Miriam chose as her hymn 'Es kommt ein Schiff geladen'.Nina mentioned she may not have this and asked her if she would sing it to the listeners.She accompanied herself on the organ as she sang this Advent hymn.
Peter Enright,a father of two teenage children mentioned how he came to the church for help and how he had been helped by Father Bryan our Priest in his spiritual and emotional dilemma,which was troubling him at the time.He spoke about bringing his children up in the faith.Peter chose 'Colours of
Day'as his hymn.
Finally Nina moved outside the church and interviewed Father Bryan Storey about the new presbytery which is being built.Father told her that it would have the Cornish name "Chy an Pronter",which means house of the priest.
Surprise and delight was expressed at the church being open for prayer all day.Father told her we had a good security system and that it was important that we keep churches open for prayer."God must be an integral part of all our lives"he said.Father chose his favourite hymn 'He Who Would Valiant Be'.
Many phone calls and words of encouragement have been received about the programme and we thank Nina Davey and all Radio Cornwall staff involved in the airing of the programme.It was a chance to show that the mission to spread the Good News of the Gospel is alive and well in the north of Cornwall,despite New Age,Witchcraft and Paganism being all around us.
25th November 2001
ARTICLE BY MARY LAMB OF OUR CONGREGATION
ST PAUL COMES TO TINTAGEL
After a long time in jungle warfare in Assam my husband’s health was not too good, and the doctors suggested we should settle in a warmer climate than that of the East coast of England. So in 1947 we came to live in Tintagel.
Why we thought that there would be a regular Mass centre here I cannot think; but when we came we found that the Canons Regular from Bodmin came over only on Sundays to celebrate Mass in the village hall. As we both wanted to go to Mass on most days, we would get up early in the morning and drive over Bodmin Moor to attend the 7a.m.Mass at the Abbey.
How lovely it was in the hours before anyone was about! As in those days there was a strict fasting, we used to bring a thermos of coffee to drink on the way home. We ran a small hotel and were obliged to hurry back in order to be in time for breakfast.
We soon realised that this could not continue indefinitely so, after having one or two priest friends to stay with us, with permission to say Mass in our house, we decided to try to find a priest who could come to live with us.
It all seemed to happen so quickly! Canon Fellows, retired from the Westminster Diocese, came to stay with us. He was aged 82 at that time, a little slim man, extraordinarily active, walking miles every day to visit lapsed Catholics. He was an old Etonian, who went up to Cambridge after which he was called to the bar and became a Catholic. As a late vocation he was at the Beda in Rome. How very humble he was! Everyone who came in contact with him was struck by his deep holiness; he never intruded or made anyone feel at a disadvantage.
Buckfast Abbey donated all our vestments. The district nurse, Nurse Blucher, was a staunch Catholic and she asked if she could bring her statue of Our Lady to stand above our altar. She said it was rather big. I was afraid it would be one of those pale blue and pink plaster ones that I find hard to admire but when she brought it I was astonished, for its long lines were only just becoming fashionable. She said that a patient of hers on the Island of Sark(CI) had given it to her with the wish that it would one day be in a church in Tintagel.She added that prayers said before it were always answered.
Seven Catholics were able to walk to Mass (petrol was limited at that time).Every day seven people - all of us, in fact – attended the 7 a.m. Mass. Canon Fellows said that if a great parish had every one of the congregation attending daily it would be considered wonderful. However there was a feeling almost of renaissance at that time among us. Canon Fellows said that this was the first time since the Reformation that Mass had been said here every day.
So many priests stayed with us! Nearly always when I had time to slip into our chapel I found someone quietly praying. One day I found a man intently examining the statue of Our Lady. He turned to me and said that he was a close friend of Eric Gill and that he had never expected to find anything so beautifully restrained, and with such an air of grace, in a place so remote. I think he visited Nurse Blucher to find out about it.
Wherever he went Canon Fellows, old as he was, attracted people to him. Once he walked to Davidstow to visit some passing gypsies he had heard were Catholics. He warned me that next day there would be one or two more in our congregation. What was my surprise when about ten or twelve gypsies arrived! It was such a lovely sunny day.We we gave them breakfast in the garden afterwards. Other visitors staying in the hotel looked out of the windows at the colourful scene with astonishment.
Once on the Feast of the Assumption , a Summer Holy Day of Obligation which attracted a large congregation, we were unable to get the village hall for Mass. At the time there were three priests staying at our hotel. Canon Fellows, knowing that numbers of Catholic visitors from other hotels would be coming to us, arranged for priests to stand at different doors answering Mass, each with a bell, so that all the people who were kneeling through the passages could keep in touch with the Mass in the chapel.
Mr. Street, the Anglican clergyman, made friends with the Canon. He, his wife and family all became Catholics.
At last, in the early fifties, the time came for us to leave Tintagel. My husband was offered a lucrative job in London. Canon Fellows agreed to return to a parish in Buckinghamshire. We were all very sorry to leave. Nurse Blucher was in tears on one of our last days as she knelt before the statue of Our Lady.
“I pray”, she said, “that one day there will be a church here.” I answered that if there were to be one I hoped that it would be called St Paul’s, for my husband and I were married at Westminster Cathedral on January 25th, the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul.
Many years passed and in the late seventies we came down here to visit an old friend. We found that there was a Catholic church. It was called St Paul’s – and there stood our statue of Our Lady in all her modesty. I wondered at those words Nurse Blucher uttered so long ago – that prayers said before this statue have always been answered.
How I rejoice when this mission attracts Catholic families to settle in this lovely part of Cornwall. Babies baptized, first communions, marriages and funerals. We must all pray that one day it will be a parish. If you are visiting Tintagel, say an especial prayer before Our Lady’s statue. You may be sure we all pray for you and everyone visiting.
A lot has been done since those early days, but there is still so much more to do.
03.12.02
