THE
P RTAL
March 2013
Page 4
Hop Picking In Kent?
Jackie Ottaway & Ronald Crane visit the Pembury Ordinariate Group
Once the centre of hop growing in Kentwas nearby; now empty oast houses
line the road to Pembury. The village is within the High Weald Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty. Just two and a half miles from Tunbridge Wells, Pembury is home
to six thousand souls. At the heart of the village is the attractive village green;
surrounding it is an hotel, the CofE church, the RC church and the Ocean Fish
Bar. The latter serves some of the best fish and chips you will find anywhere!
The Ordinariate Group from Tunbridge
Wells has settled at Saint Anselm’s,
Pembury. We drove down to Kent to see
them. Sunday Mass is early, at 0915, but,
despite this early hour, it attracted a sizeable
congregation with more than its fair share
of young people present.
Fr Ed greeted us and made us welcome. Lydia Johnson
Although the building used as
the church is dual-purpose and
doubles as home to a nursery
during the week, the Mass was
beautiful, holy and devout.
This is a congregation that
prays. The choir sang a lovely
Mass and everyone joined in
with the hymns.
Refreshments after Mass
Michael Smith
had been told, “Our style of worship
is more catholic than catholic!” Lydia
Johnson told us, “I have a friend who has
stayed at Saint Barnabas, and we are still
friends.” Jenny said, “Some blamed Fr Ed
personally. He carried the flack.” Martin
added,“ The implication was that we were
brain-washed into joining the Ordinariate.
Yet a CofE priest I know who
is not an Ordinariate member
has called us an “instrument of
reconciliation”.
it involves two buses
Being at Pembury could be
a problem. “It is three miles
from Tunbridge Wells“, Jenny
said, “Before we could walk to
thought-provoking
Church, but it is a bit of a way now. If I do not have the
Fr Nicholas Leviseur, the Assistant Priest, preached a car, it involves two buses. It is hard, but I try to come
thought-provoking homily and it was obvious that we to Daily Mass.” Martin told us that one or two go to
were part of a real worshipping community that not the RC Church in Tunbridge Wells rather than travel
only believed the Faith, but practiced it as well.
to the village.
With no hall, tea and coffee were served after Mass
outside in the car park! Fortunately, although it was
February, it was not too cold. While Fr Ed and Fr
Nicholas celebrated the Parish Mass, we spoke with
members of the Ordinariate at Pembury.
As to growth, Michael was certain that a permanent
Church would help. Lydia pointed out, “New people
have come along, especially families with young
children.” Nevertheless, Martin observed “One or two
are falling away from the Ordinariate and becoming
Diocesan Catholics. If the Ordinariate has people
Lively, devout and committed
drifting away to become Diocesan Catholics, the
Crammed into the tiny sacristy, Marion Chase told bridge will have gone and the Ordinariate will have
us that the group was “Lively, devout and committed lost its identity”.
to the Ordinariate project.” Martin Green added, “We
are a mixed bunch, of all ages and backgrounds. No
Did this matter? These people clearly felt that it did.
one has turned back.” Jenny Craske enthused, “If we Martin said, “If we had a Church in Tunbridge Wells it
were not committed, we would not be here! We also would grow. Being stuck out at Pembury is a problem
keep a daily Mass going.”
and 0915 does not suit everyone. Not everyone has a
car.” Marion was not so sure, “We can make excuses
The Group has been welcomed into the Catholic and say it would be easier.” Lydia thought that the large
Church with “open arms”. Martin added a proviso; numbers attending the RC Church in Tunbridge Wells
“Some were not so keen, but in the main it is wonderful.” was a factor in attracting even more people there, as