Given the appalling weather we have been having of late, these photos taken at the former Nashdom Abbey, may cheer up members a little. They include the former Monk's Cemetery.
Thursday 13 November 2008
Sunday 12 October 2008
October Meeting
The Society's October Lecture will take place at 7.30pm on Monday, 20 October. Canon Hilary Davidson, a retired priest of the Peterborough Diocese will speak on Anglo-Catholic hymnody.
Thursday 28 August 2008
Primrose Hill Patronal Festival
St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill
Patronal Festival 2008
Sunday, 7 September at 6pm
Solemn Evensong, Procession and Te Deum
Monday, 8 September, 2008 at 8pm
Procession and High Mass
Celebrant: The Rev’d Linda Dean
Preacher: The Rev’d Peter Moseling
Both services are according to the Book of Common Prayer with traditional English ceremonial.
Friday 1 August 2008
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2008
Dear All
This year’s annual trip took place on 19th July 2008 and was, I think, much enjoyed by all who participated- a larger number than some years. I am very grateful to George Skelly for the administrative arrangements and to Don Young for assistance with booking a suitable place for lunch (very important to all). We visited two interesting Victorian churches, All Saints, Ascot Heath, with very well restored wall paintings and All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, with more interesting fittings and a Tractarian courtyard adjacent with the former vicarage, school and almshouses. In the late morning we were splendidly received at Nashdom, now restored to glory but lacking its monks, by Katy Simmons, a resident of a flat which was once part of the library. In glorious weather we walked across the lawn and visited the evocative graveyard, and were then entertained by Katy and her husband to an aperitif. Our last visit was to the enclosed sisters of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey, who very kindly showed us around the convent, where during the daytime there is always one of their number at watch before the Blessed Sacrament.
Next year’s trip has provisionally been arranged for Saturday 18th July 2009 and the intention is that we visit the St. Ives-Ely area, where there is much of interest, especially to devotees of Comper.
More immediately I have arranged a walking tour of interesting churches in inner North West London for Saturday 4th October 2008. The programme is set out below: it obviously involves a certain amount of walking, but not too much (I have done it) and there are very few hills: time is built in for coffee and lunch breaks. It will be possible to join and leave en route as well.
The details are as follows:
0945 meet at St. Mary Magdalene, Munster Square (near Warren Street or Euston Square underground).
1045 St. Mark, Regent’s Park (en route passing the first 1130 St. Mary, Primrose Hill (where committee member John Hawes will show us some vestments and other items)
1215 St. Silas, Kentish Town (where John Salmon will show us round- an interesting experience if you have never been inside this building!)
1430 St. Michael, Camden Town
1500 St. Mary, Somers Town (near Euston underground)
There will be a nominal charge of £5 per head for the donations which we always give to places we visit. The form to notify is attached but if you simply want to join us on the day you will be very welcome.
On publications, progress is being made with John Salmon’s book on E.C. Shearman, the architect, which is now with the pre-printer, and with Michael Farrer’s book on Anglo-Catholicism in Camden. New manuscripts are always welcome. Any material should be sent to me at 7, Lyndewode Road, Cambridge CB1 2HL or (preferably) be in Word format and emailed to mpyelton@yahoo.co.uk.
Our next lecture is on Monday 20th October 2008 at 7.30 pm at St. Mary Bourne Street when Canon Hilary Davidson, a retired priest of the Peterborough Diocese, will speak on Anglo-Catholic hymnody. In January we expect Father Barry Orford of Pusey House to talk on Canon Liddon, Cuddesdon College and priestly formation.
Michael Yelton
To: George Skelly, 24, Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN
Walking trip of North West London, 4th October 2008.
Please reserve….places joining at……….
From:
This year’s annual trip took place on 19th July 2008 and was, I think, much enjoyed by all who participated- a larger number than some years. I am very grateful to George Skelly for the administrative arrangements and to Don Young for assistance with booking a suitable place for lunch (very important to all). We visited two interesting Victorian churches, All Saints, Ascot Heath, with very well restored wall paintings and All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead, with more interesting fittings and a Tractarian courtyard adjacent with the former vicarage, school and almshouses. In the late morning we were splendidly received at Nashdom, now restored to glory but lacking its monks, by Katy Simmons, a resident of a flat which was once part of the library. In glorious weather we walked across the lawn and visited the evocative graveyard, and were then entertained by Katy and her husband to an aperitif. Our last visit was to the enclosed sisters of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey, who very kindly showed us around the convent, where during the daytime there is always one of their number at watch before the Blessed Sacrament.
Next year’s trip has provisionally been arranged for Saturday 18th July 2009 and the intention is that we visit the St. Ives-Ely area, where there is much of interest, especially to devotees of Comper.
More immediately I have arranged a walking tour of interesting churches in inner North West London for Saturday 4th October 2008. The programme is set out below: it obviously involves a certain amount of walking, but not too much (I have done it) and there are very few hills: time is built in for coffee and lunch breaks. It will be possible to join and leave en route as well.
The details are as follows:
0945 meet at St. Mary Magdalene, Munster Square (near Warren Street or Euston Square underground).
1045 St. Mark, Regent’s Park (en route passing the first 1130 St. Mary, Primrose Hill (where committee member John Hawes will show us some vestments and other items)
1215 St. Silas, Kentish Town (where John Salmon will show us round- an interesting experience if you have never been inside this building!)
1430 St. Michael, Camden Town
1500 St. Mary, Somers Town (near Euston underground)
There will be a nominal charge of £5 per head for the donations which we always give to places we visit. The form to notify is attached but if you simply want to join us on the day you will be very welcome.
On publications, progress is being made with John Salmon’s book on E.C. Shearman, the architect, which is now with the pre-printer, and with Michael Farrer’s book on Anglo-Catholicism in Camden. New manuscripts are always welcome. Any material should be sent to me at 7, Lyndewode Road, Cambridge CB1 2HL or (preferably) be in Word format and emailed to mpyelton@yahoo.co.uk.
Our next lecture is on Monday 20th October 2008 at 7.30 pm at St. Mary Bourne Street when Canon Hilary Davidson, a retired priest of the Peterborough Diocese, will speak on Anglo-Catholic hymnody. In January we expect Father Barry Orford of Pusey House to talk on Canon Liddon, Cuddesdon College and priestly formation.
Michael Yelton
To: George Skelly, 24, Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN
Walking trip of North West London, 4th October 2008.
Please reserve….places joining at……….
From:
Thursday 24 July 2008
Burnham Abbey
Last Saturday some thirty or so members of the society enjoyed an outing to Buckinghamshire and Berkshire arranged by Michael Yelton. I shall post some pictures of the buildings we visited over the next few days. The final stop was at Burnham Abbey, home of the Society of the Precious Blood, an enclosed order founded in 1905. The nuns occupy the medieval domestic buildings of the former house of Augustinian Canonesses, suppressed at the Dissolution. At one time this was one of the most ultramontane communities in the Church of England, although nowadays it is far more restrained. Nevertheless, the watch before the Sacrament, which is kept in a very English hanging pyx today, is still a major feature of the liturgical regime. Personally I found the chapel, which was re-ordered a few years back, very attractive in ts simplicity. It occupies the old Chapter House.
Sunday 15 June 2008
ACHS Annual Trip
The visit this year will be to the Berkshire/Buckinghamshire area and as already announced will be on Saturday 19th July. We are leaving King’s Cross at 9.30 a.m. Pick up is to be in York Way, to the eastern side of Kings Cross Station.
Note that this is a different place from earlier years and is designed for easier access and for easier egress from London. It is essential that we leave on time.
We shall be visiting two interesting churches, All Saints, Ascot Heath, and also the well known All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead. Arrangements have now also been made via an enthusiastic and knowledgeable resident to gain entry to Nashdom, the stunning Lutyens house which formerly housed the Anglican Benedictine community in order to see both part of the interior (which is now in flats) and to visit the cemetery, where major figures such as Gregory Dix are buried. Finally, we are privileged to be able to visit the Sisters of the Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey. Neither Nashdom nor Burnham Abbey are normally available for private individual visits so this is a great opportunity.
The cost of the trip is £25.00 and bookings should be sent to George Skelly at 24, Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN with cheques made out to the Society, using the form below which can be printed out
To: George Skelly, Treasurer, ACHS, 24 Cloudesley Square, London, N1 0HN
Telephone 020 7833 1555, mobile 07891 032653
From…………………………………………………………………………
Address……………………………………………………………………..
Telephone…………………………………………………………………..
Please reserve me seats on the coach for 19th July 2008.
Society
Enclosed cheque P/O for for £ made payable to the Anglo-Catholic History
Note that this is a different place from earlier years and is designed for easier access and for easier egress from London. It is essential that we leave on time.
We shall be visiting two interesting churches, All Saints, Ascot Heath, and also the well known All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead. Arrangements have now also been made via an enthusiastic and knowledgeable resident to gain entry to Nashdom, the stunning Lutyens house which formerly housed the Anglican Benedictine community in order to see both part of the interior (which is now in flats) and to visit the cemetery, where major figures such as Gregory Dix are buried. Finally, we are privileged to be able to visit the Sisters of the Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham Abbey. Neither Nashdom nor Burnham Abbey are normally available for private individual visits so this is a great opportunity.
The cost of the trip is £25.00 and bookings should be sent to George Skelly at 24, Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN with cheques made out to the Society, using the form below which can be printed out
To: George Skelly, Treasurer, ACHS, 24 Cloudesley Square, London, N1 0HN
Telephone 020 7833 1555, mobile 07891 032653
From…………………………………………………………………………
Address……………………………………………………………………..
Telephone…………………………………………………………………..
Please reserve me seats on the coach for 19th July 2008.
Society
Enclosed cheque P/O for for £ made payable to the Anglo-Catholic History
Wednesday 11 June 2008
All Saints, Carshalton, Surrey
I rang in a peal here last Saturday and managed to get some photos of the vestments on display. I have never seen so many black copes in a church, with four in evidence. There was also a new blue fiddleback High Mass set on display, a pink chasuble and a monkey in a biretta! All of these were set amongst the gorgeous Comper furnishings. The parish has undergone something of a revival recently after eighty or so pretty miserable years and a great deal of credit is due to the incumbent and churchwardens for turning things around. In the first half of the twentieth century it was one of the most Papalist parishes in the country, although this was later moderated into a much more restrained Prayer Book Catholic style, a tradition that still continues.
You can click on the title of this post to reach the church's website.
Friday 6 June 2008
The AGM has been and gone
The AGM of the Anglo-Catholic History Society took place last Monday as advertised. Like all good business meetings it was short and to the point, which allowed members plenty of time to enjoy the lecture by Dr Peter Webster on Anglo-Catholicism and the Arts. This dealt with the three related fields of music, drama and visual art, and I hope we will be able to read the paper before too long.
Saturday 24 May 2008
Imagery in St Magnus
This rather large image of the Vernicle is found in the Lady Chapel at St Magnus. I can't think of many churches that have one of these. Nearby is the Travers statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. Fr Fynes-Clinton was one of the most prominent supporters of the shrine in its early days.
AGM Time
It will soon be time for the Society’s Annual General Meeting. This will take place at St Magnus the Martyr, Lower Thames Street, London EC3R 6DN. The church is only a few yards from Monument Tube Station.The meeting will commence at 7pm, and will be followed by a lecture at 7.30pm on Anglo-Catholicism and the Arts, 1918-1970. The speaker will be Dr Peter Webster, the editorial controller of British History Online. This will be followed by drinks and the opportunity to socialise.
Travers’s statue of St Magnus sports rather a fine pair of horns and a smart red cloak.
Some thoughts on this church
Many people have heard of St Magnus through the line in T.S.Eliot’s Waste Land referring to the “inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold.” I have always assumed this refers to the Travers refurnishing of the church, rather than Wren’s architecture. but have never felt moved to check, since I developed an extreme aversion to the works of Mr Eliot when I was doing my A Levels. In fact the poem predates the Travers restoration by a couple of years, and this made me speculate as to what the church was like before the Fynes-Clinton incumbency. It seems that it had a very conventional interior, since G.B.Besant wrote in his City Churches and their Memories (1926) 'As to the interior of St. Magnus, up to a year ago it was worth visiting. Spacious and severe - rather bare, as a matter of fact - with high pews and a three-decker pulpit, it was thoroughly representative of the architect and the period. But now all has changed. The three-decker pulpit and high pews are gone by the board. In the place of the one simple altar there are now three, with candles to burn, and a heavy smell of incense, all in the Roman manner - hopelessly and absolutely out of keeping. That is how it strikes me.'
Many people have heard of St Magnus through the line in T.S.Eliot’s Waste Land referring to the “inexplicable splendour of Ionian white and gold.” I have always assumed this refers to the Travers refurnishing of the church, rather than Wren’s architecture. but have never felt moved to check, since I developed an extreme aversion to the works of Mr Eliot when I was doing my A Levels. In fact the poem predates the Travers restoration by a couple of years, and this made me speculate as to what the church was like before the Fynes-Clinton incumbency. It seems that it had a very conventional interior, since G.B.Besant wrote in his City Churches and their Memories (1926) 'As to the interior of St. Magnus, up to a year ago it was worth visiting. Spacious and severe - rather bare, as a matter of fact - with high pews and a three-decker pulpit, it was thoroughly representative of the architect and the period. But now all has changed. The three-decker pulpit and high pews are gone by the board. In the place of the one simple altar there are now three, with candles to burn, and a heavy smell of incense, all in the Roman manner - hopelessly and absolutely out of keeping. That is how it strikes me.'
The church has long been considered to be the most ultramontane place of worship in the City of London. Fr Fynes-Clinton certainly used Latin for some devotions, although I am a little unclear whether he used it at Mass. It would have been rather hard to tell anyway in the days of the silent canon. There are various stories told of outraged Protestants coming to view the grave of Miles Coverdale and being told by the then incumbent that they had just finished a service in the language out of which Coverdale translated the Bible. As an aside, there are various stories of Bishop Coverdale haunting the church: it would be interesting to know what the poor ghost thinks of it, because it certainly bears little resemblance to Exeter Cathedral in the 1550s. Moving forward 450 years, I understand that this church has restored the use of the humeral veil at High Mass. Is it the first Anglican parish to do so since the Tridentine rite has been rehabilitated in the Roman Church? Maybe somebody would confirm or deny?
Here is a link to the church’s website http://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/
John Hawes
Here is a link to the church’s website http://www.stmagnusmartyr.org.uk/
John Hawes
Friday 16 May 2008
ACHS May Newsletter
This is the first attempt to create a web presence for the Anglo-Catholic History Society, which I hope will eventually develop into a website. Here is the latest newsletter which gives a flavour of spme of the events planned for the coming months.
Dear All,
Michael Farrer, as you all know, has now had a prolonged period of ill health and has decided that he cannot continue as Secretary of the Society beyond the AGM. We all owe him a great debt of thanks for his original foresight and for his hard work since the Society has been running. On a brighter note, Michael was well enough to attend a Committee meeting recently and we were of course delighted by that. In the meantime George Skelly and I between us are fulfilling his duties.
The February lecture given by Father Robert Beaken on Archbishop Lang has now been printed and you will find a copy enclosed. Further copies are available at £3.00 post free from George Skelly at 24 Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN.
The next meeting of the Society is on Monday 2nd June 2008 at St. Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge. The AGM will be at 7 pm, and will be followed at 7.30 pm by a talk by Dr. Peter Webster, the editorial controller of British History Online, entitled Anglo-Catholicism and the Arts 1918-70. This promises to be an interesting and novel subject and hopefully there will be a good turn out for it and for the AGM before.
With regard to the AGM, a copy of the Agenda is enclosed together with the Treasurer’s Report for 2007.
The autumn lecture will be on Monday 20th October 2008 when Hilary Williams will talk on Anglo-Catholic hymnody.
The annual coach trip will be on Saturday 19th July 2008. I am still finalising details of this but we are certainly visiting the Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham, All Saints, Ascot and All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead. I have just got permission to visit the graveyard of the Benedictines at Nashdom, which is now of course residential accommodation. Further places are under negotiation.
Two new initiatives were discussed at the Committee meeting. John Hawes, who joined the Committee last year, is working on a website which will enable information to be exchanged and details to be posted. I hope that those who are researching will be able to use it, or this newsletter, to request details as I did last time: thank you for those who replied.
The question of a church crawl in London was also raised: this would be one Saturday in the autumn, and would be walking rather than by coach. Again, further details will be given when I have worked some details out, but it should be another interesting event.
The Society does have funds available to assist students who are working on aspects of Anglo-Catholic history and are in need of financial assistance and if anyone knows someone in that category please get in touch with us.
Two information sheets are enclosed. Father John Salter has published two small books and the order form herewith gives full details. Father Robert Beaken has asked us to publicise the proposed Hour of Prayer on July 14th in remembrance of the 175th Anniversary of Keble’s Assize sermon which is regarded as marking the beginning of the Tractarian revival in the 19th Century.
Having complained in the past that there were no manuscripts for publication, a number of developments have taken place. The republication of Father Trevor Jones’ moving and informative biography of Father Wilson of Haggerston is now available and an order sheet is enclosed. Once again, we offer this at a reduced price to members. A manuscript on Ritualism in Liverpool is in preparation as is one on the architect Ernest Shearman. We are also looking at other work.
Finally, here is a really obscure query. In the early years of the last century it was the fashion to take an additional name on ordination: Ronald Knox took the name Hilary, and Maurice Child (typically) took 4 extra names (Charles Francis Hugh Dominic). Canon Freddie Hood in his obituary of Child says one priest took the names Marie Immaculée. Does anyone know who that was?
With best wishes to all
Michael Yelton
Dear All,
Michael Farrer, as you all know, has now had a prolonged period of ill health and has decided that he cannot continue as Secretary of the Society beyond the AGM. We all owe him a great debt of thanks for his original foresight and for his hard work since the Society has been running. On a brighter note, Michael was well enough to attend a Committee meeting recently and we were of course delighted by that. In the meantime George Skelly and I between us are fulfilling his duties.
The February lecture given by Father Robert Beaken on Archbishop Lang has now been printed and you will find a copy enclosed. Further copies are available at £3.00 post free from George Skelly at 24 Cloudesley Square, London N1 0HN.
The next meeting of the Society is on Monday 2nd June 2008 at St. Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge. The AGM will be at 7 pm, and will be followed at 7.30 pm by a talk by Dr. Peter Webster, the editorial controller of British History Online, entitled Anglo-Catholicism and the Arts 1918-70. This promises to be an interesting and novel subject and hopefully there will be a good turn out for it and for the AGM before.
With regard to the AGM, a copy of the Agenda is enclosed together with the Treasurer’s Report for 2007.
The autumn lecture will be on Monday 20th October 2008 when Hilary Williams will talk on Anglo-Catholic hymnody.
The annual coach trip will be on Saturday 19th July 2008. I am still finalising details of this but we are certainly visiting the Society of the Precious Blood at Burnham, All Saints, Ascot and All Saints, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead. I have just got permission to visit the graveyard of the Benedictines at Nashdom, which is now of course residential accommodation. Further places are under negotiation.
Two new initiatives were discussed at the Committee meeting. John Hawes, who joined the Committee last year, is working on a website which will enable information to be exchanged and details to be posted. I hope that those who are researching will be able to use it, or this newsletter, to request details as I did last time: thank you for those who replied.
The question of a church crawl in London was also raised: this would be one Saturday in the autumn, and would be walking rather than by coach. Again, further details will be given when I have worked some details out, but it should be another interesting event.
The Society does have funds available to assist students who are working on aspects of Anglo-Catholic history and are in need of financial assistance and if anyone knows someone in that category please get in touch with us.
Two information sheets are enclosed. Father John Salter has published two small books and the order form herewith gives full details. Father Robert Beaken has asked us to publicise the proposed Hour of Prayer on July 14th in remembrance of the 175th Anniversary of Keble’s Assize sermon which is regarded as marking the beginning of the Tractarian revival in the 19th Century.
Having complained in the past that there were no manuscripts for publication, a number of developments have taken place. The republication of Father Trevor Jones’ moving and informative biography of Father Wilson of Haggerston is now available and an order sheet is enclosed. Once again, we offer this at a reduced price to members. A manuscript on Ritualism in Liverpool is in preparation as is one on the architect Ernest Shearman. We are also looking at other work.
Finally, here is a really obscure query. In the early years of the last century it was the fashion to take an additional name on ordination: Ronald Knox took the name Hilary, and Maurice Child (typically) took 4 extra names (Charles Francis Hugh Dominic). Canon Freddie Hood in his obituary of Child says one priest took the names Marie Immaculée. Does anyone know who that was?
With best wishes to all
Michael Yelton
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