THE
P RTAL
August 2011
Page 4
Holyday in Cornwall?
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane
visit the Ordinariate Group in Saint Austell
Cornwall is the place for many a family during August. It is one of the United Kingdom’s most
popular holiday destinations. Cornwall is also one of the UK’s poorest areas. So it is appropriate that Saint
Austell in South East Cornwall has the county’s only Ordinariate Group. If you holiday in Cornwall or West
Devon, maybe you will give them a visit? They are at Saint Augustine of Hippo Catholic Church, Woodland
Road, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 4RA – right opposite the Asda superstore.
Their Mass is at 5:30pm every Sunday. When we
visited there were twenty one people present. Not bad
when one considers that the whole group is only 24
strong.
Just like coming home
The enthusiastic singing was led by Pat Poole (60) a
retired Nurse. She has lived locally for the past 24 years,
and she has no doubts about joining the Ordinariate.
Like Sharon Webber (39) a shop assistant, she is very
much a traditionalist. Sharon said, “It is absolutely
fantastic, just like coming home. We have no regrets.”
Sharon went on to point out that all the fund-raisers
from their previous Church had joined the Ordinariate
with them.
James & Veronica Hyne, Judith Pollard & Jackie Foster
them. Ken Walker a retired Banker, said “Our welcome
could not have been better”. This view was endorsed by
Margaret Eustice and her husband Peter. James Hyne
gave an example of the welcome by drawing attention
to SS Peter and Paul, a Holy Day of Obligation. It fell
on a Wednesday, their usual day for mid-week Mass.
They were joined by many of the regular congregation
at Saint Augustine’s.
The need for growth
Linda Howell Fr John and Kathleen Pearce
We asked about growth. The Group is not large, and
they do see the need for growth. Sharon thought they
must begin by evangelising. Others saw growth coming
as others followed their journey from the C of E. Many
have friends who are still Anglicans. As they become
increasingly uncomfortable with developments in the
C of E, they see their numbers growing.
Singing unaccompanied is always difficult, but Pat
is sensible in that she has a keyboard to provide the
The local Catholic Church had presented them with
correct note. Keeping time with one hand, she and her
fellow singers give their all. When we were there the a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. It stands
proudly on the Altar during their Mass.
congregation responded well.
The group decided to move together. Most of them
live within a five mile radius of Saint Augustine’s,
so it is convenient, as is the time of Mass: Although
Doreen Walker would prefer Mass to be on Sunday
morning. The Group is organised with a committee,
Judith Pollard the Secretary and Jackie Foster the
Treasurer.
A potential difficulty is that their priest Fr John
Greatbatch lives an hour’s drive away in Tavistock.
However the Group did not see this as a problem. As
Sharon said, “He is still at the end of the telephone and
on e-mail”. Pat was less sure, “We don’t know how it
will work. At the moment we have a temporary priest
living here. How it will work out in the long run we
don’t know.” One member laughed that having Fr John
After Mass on the Sunday that we visited, the so far away was “nice!” and the Treasurer quipped that
congregation kindly stayed behind for us to talk with there were no invoices!