THE
P RTAL
September 2011
Page 3
My visit to Littlemore
on Saturday 30 th July 2011,
T he P ortal hosted the first “Newman at Littlemore Day”
Caroline Sykes recalls her experiences of that occasion
Did I know much about The Blessed John Henry Newman’s life, I thought, particularly his all important
connection with what, in his time, was a thoroughly insignificant area of his parish? I refer to Littlemore,
and the years 1842-45. As an Ordinariate member, I ask the prayers of Blessed John Henry, so I thought the
opportunity of making a visit was not to be missed.
Hence, I found myself one morning recently,
along with two others from the North Birmingham
Ordinariate, travelling down the M40, sat-nav primed.
Arriving, we soon found The Blessed Dominic Barberi
Church and centre building, behind which, was a
capacious car park. where he knelt before the visiting Italian Passionist
friar. Dominic Barberi. In 1987 The Spiritual Family of
The Work accepted the Birmingham Oratory’s offer to
act as custodians of the place of which Newman wrote,
“There it has been that I have both taught my way
and received an answer to my prayers.”
Along a neatly-cultivated drive, we found a warm
and animated welcome from the organisers of this
day’s pilgrimage – Ronald Crane and Jackie Ottaway.
Others like ourselves, but from other Midland
Ordinariate groups, were arriving. We were treated
to coffee, which we could
take outside to a sunny,
flower-bordered patio. At noon we attended Mass in The Blessed Dominic
Barberi Church next door. This highlight of the day was
celebrated by Father Paul Berrett, and con-celebrated
by Father Paul Burch, in a very pleasing, modern and
intriguing designed setting. Sister Josephine joined us.
Among the twenty-five
people gathered was a
young woman – Sister
Katie (left) – who was
one of the sisters of The
Work.
At 11 o’clock she told us
about what she and her
fellow sisters did here
and abroad. Then she
spoke very informatively
of how the Reverend Mr Newman came to know the
small, impoverished village of Littlemore when vicar
of the University Church in Oxford, and saw the need
for a local church.
He had the Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicholas
built subsequently; also, he bought a row of stabling,
which was converted into frugally furnished “cells”,
where his friends, academics and others could stay on
retreat. This was called The College. Newman had a
tiny room and tiny chapel at one end; at the other was
his library.
It was in this latter that his momentous decision to
be received into the Catholic Church took place, and
A delicious and plentiful buffet lunch then followed.
In the early afternoon we split into two groups for a
guided tour of The College, which is mere yards from
the church. Here the tranquillity of the courtyard
garden was remarkable, and to see The Blessed John
Henry Newman’s artefacts, photographs and original
writings here was deeply affecting.
Finally, we visited the Anglican Parish Church that
Newman had built – again only a short distance away.
Its foundation stone had been laid by his mother in
1835. We saw the memorial to her, and also the pulpit
from which Newman preached his famous valedictory
sermon.
Returning to the hall and its garden, we found
afternoon tea awaiting us, courtesy of Jackie. Soon it
was time to set off home, after a little more exploring.
It had been a wonderful day. I’m so glad I went.