THE P RTAL
June 2015
We were surprised how much support we
received and how welcome our friends
were made.
Derek is perhaps the only person in the
Group who would like the Ordinariate
Rite. “In Canada revision to the Prayer
Book was in 1962. In Canada we were
more used to traditional language for
worship.” We did not find that this view
was widespread among the Group; indeed Frances-Mary Gibbs
most people we spoke to preferred the
Novus Ordo.
Turning to other matters, Derek said,
“I do not think the Ordinariate Group
here has a future unless we address the
question of evangelism. My excitement
about the Ordinariate is that it is a
truly English expression of the Catholic
Faith. We need to broaden our appeal,
not just to Anglicans, but to the wider
population. Perhaps we could leaflet the
area around the church?”
Frances-Mary Gibbs
and Patricia Robinson
John Antell
On our last visit, we talked with John
Antell, a barrister. This time he told us,
“The Group is going well. Numbers are
gradually increasing. It would be nice to
have our own building, and it would be
nice if we had even more people.” John
does his bit though. He travels for an hour
to be at mass, and an hour to get home.
Fr Keith Robinson
Eddie Law and John Antell
We have known Fr Keith Robinson
for many years. Ronald has known him
since 1979, and Jackie for nearly ten
years. He, and his lovely wife Christine,
invited all four of us to lunch. It was a
characteristically kind gesture. For the
information of those of our readers who
take an interest in these things, lunch was
wonderful.
Patrick Houston and
Andrew Scarrfe
back to the Novus Ordo
Fr Keith said, “Relations with my former
Anglican parish, St Martin’s, are very
good. They have just got a priest after four
years without, and we were all invited to
his licensing. He and I have met twice
now, and I hope we may be colleagues
and not rivals. As you may have found,
the Ordinariate Rite is not the wish of
the majority of the people in our Group. Marion and Philip Yeats
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Page 13
We used it exclusively through Lent last
year, and in the main, most people were
relieved when we went back to the Novus
Ordo.
“The big change since you were here last
is that the three Catholic Parishes and two
Chapels now have just one priest between
them. I have been asked if I would help,
and I am happy to do so. I say mass for
them and help with a Youth Group. We
have a full-time Youth Worker and I do
all I can to support her.
“The Catholic churches in Salisbury
have large congregations, up to one
thousand people every weekend.
Relations between the Ordinariate and
the Diocesan Catholic community get
ever better. There is a lot of respect and
good will. All the Catholic congregations
in Salisbury are joining together for
Corpus Christi. We meet at the Guildhall
and process with the Blessed Sacrament
to the City Hall where we shall celebrate
mass. The Bishop of Clifton, the Right
Reverend Declan Lang, is to be the
principal celebrant and preacher.
“As to the future, you tell me! It is vital
that a succession is being planned. Locally,
I am happy and fulfilled as I ever have
been. I miss the CofE culture, the music
and beauty of worship. But it is worth
giving that up for the privilege of such a
fulfilling ministry. It is all I do: ministry. I
have no Churchyards or PCCs or trusts or
synods to worry about. All is ministry. If
there is a need to talk about something, we
have a congregational meeting after mass.
“The question of growth is difficult.
We have grown from twenty to forty.
Anglicans are not coming. Their attention
is elsewhere. It is not our policy to poach
Catholics. It is difficult to know how to
grow the Ordinariate. No one is coming
up with an answer.
“Would I return to the Anglican Church?
Not for all the te a in China!” “How much
tea is there in China?” asked Joseph.
Thank you to Fr Keith, his wife Christine
and the wonderful Ordinariate group in
Salisbury.