THE
P RTAL
March 2019
Page 13
Ronald’s. He is a convert to
Sarah and Paul Munday
the Ordinariate from the C
with their two lovely children,
of E. “About three and a half
Thomas and James, live
years now,” he told us. Robert
in Stratford, east London.
is a former teacher at Woodard
They both work at the Bank
and other schools. He is now
of England but they met at
retired. “I always wanted to be a
University in Oxford. They are
Catholic, but when I was fifteen,
both Ordinariate members, and
my parents would not let me. So
their children are both cradle
I became an Anglican. I turned
Catholics in the Ordinariate.
up at Fr Hobday’s Rectory one
Sarah converted from the C of E
day and said, ‘Are you an Anglo-
in 2012 - the Queen’s Jubilee, the
Sarah, Paul, Thomas and James Munday
Papist?’ He said, ‘Of course!’ The
Olympic Games in London and
rest is history. I heard about the Ordinariate,
her conversion, all in one year! She joined
of course, I even taught at a Catholic School.
the Ordinariate and Paul, a cradle Catholic,
But I kept putting off joining. Eventually Mgr
joined through Sarah. It is a bit tricky for
Broadhurst said, “Let’s do it!” So I did. I travel
them to get to Warwick Street on Sunday,
in from Bedfordshire to come to Warwick
but it is also nice they make the effort. “We
Street; I am a server here. Sometimes I stay
found it good to keep a link with the C of
in London for the weekend. I love it here. I
E. It was in 2014 that we came here. It was
love the people. I love the music. I love the
special, so we decided to come more often.
Paul Duff
Patrimony.”
We attended the Easter Vigil and after the
font was blessed Thomas was baptised
Later we spoke with the Parish Priest
in it by Mgr Keith Newton. James was
at Warwick Street, Fr Mark Elliot Smith.
also baptised here, by Fr John Hunwicke.
We asked how he saw his job at Warwick
We love the liturgy and, of course, the
Street. He said, “Being the Parish Priest I
welcoming people.”
suppose. It is in Central London so we get
a lot of visitors who come once because
Paul Duff works at the Catholic Herald as
Eileen
Davenport
they are having a break in London. It is a
an administrator. He told us that he reads
T he P ortal as it is available at Warwick
re-active ministry. Our Ordinariate Group
Street in printed form. (The Ordinariate
is very committed. They put their shoulder
Office prints it out and places forty copies in
to the wheel as they did with the lunch
church. They all go!) He has not a particular
today. The Patrimony and Liturgy witness
favourite article, he likes it all. Paul is a cradle
to the Ordinariate in Central London. That
Catholic. “I have always admired Anglican
is important. The music is an important
hymns and the religious language of High
aspect of Warwick Street. We use our parish
Anglicanism.” He told us. He was delighted
resources so that people get decent music
Robert Tickle
when Benedict XVI set up the Ordinariate.
and liturgy. Numbers were low at first,
“It was generous and wise of him to open
but we are growing steadily. We have Mass
up the Catholic Church to Anglicans. It
three times at the weekend. There is the
fulfils my expectations coming to Warwick
10:30 which you attended, but we also have
Street. The music is a big attraction. In fact,
a vigil Mass which is quite well attended,
I think Warwick Street is London’s ‘Hidden
and a 5pm Sunday Mass that attracts forty
gem’. I live in Sutton in Surrey and travelling
as routine. I do hope we are a warm and
here can be difficult especially if there is
welcoming church family. We have family
engineering work on the railway.
people, and single people who have found a
church home here.”
Fr
Mark
Elliott
Smith
Eileen Davenport is Fr Davenport’s widow.
An Ordinariate member who joined from the C of E,
It was a privilege to be at Warwick Street for the
she knew Fr Elliot Smith and so came to Warwick Sunday Sung Mass. Thank you to everyone at Warwick
Street. She lives in Northolt and her journey to church Street who made our visit so enjoyable. Should you
each Sunday takes about an hour each way. “I love it find yourself in Central London one weekend, do
here,” she said, “It is quiet and peaceful.”
make sure you go to Mass at Warwick Street. The times
are: Vigil at 5pm on Saturday, Sung at 10:30, and said
Robert Tickle is a dear, and old (!), friend of at 5pm. Weekday Mass is at 8am and 12:45pm.