THE
P RTAL
September 2015
Page 11
The Ordinariate in Scotland
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit the Group in Scotland
Fr Len Black
, in Inverness in the Highlands, looks after the Ordinariate in Scotland assisted by Fr
Stanley Bennie, who lives in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Fr Black travels around the country, spending
one weekend a month in Stirling and Edinburgh, a round journey of 400 miles. We accompanied him on his
journeys for two weekends.
Edinburgh
welcomed us with open arms.”
Where else to begin but in
the Ordinariate Use Mass
the capital, Edinburgh. Saint
Columbia’s Catholic Church in
Tony added, “We also attract
Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, is
the more traditionally minded
where the Ordinariate meets. There Michael Thrusfield Tony O’Rourke
Catholics.” They both felt using the
is a notice on the door announcing
Ordinariate Use Mass helped as it
the Ordinariate Mass at 11.30am. Inside,
was similar to the Extraordinary Form, but in
organ music plays and there is a table with a
English. Michael said, “The Catholic Church
lovely welcome notice.
I attend, when there is no Ordinariate Mass
uses the ordinary Latin Rite. I must say, the
Mass booklets, a notice sheet together with
hymns are not always to my taste!”
copies of the “What is the Ordinariate?”,
the CTS tract, and a leaflet about the Fr Len Black
Gordon chipped in, “The up-side to this is
Ordinariate in Scotland. It is all very
that one realises the importance of
professional. The Church building
the Ordinariate and the deep faith at
itself is beautiful and draws one into
the heart of Catholicism.” Tony said,
prayer. Beside the altar is a large
“We are bound by our geographical
picture of Our Lady of Walsingham
structure. If we were all in one place,
(part of Fr Len’s ‘travelling kit’). The
we would be a more or less normal
Mass, according to the Ordinariate
Ordinariate group. We have been
Use, was beautifully sung.
very successful as far as cohesion is
Gordon Kendal
Pat Kendal
concerned and discussing matters
coffee after Mass
of interest and interested parties.”
After Mass, over coffee, we were able to
promoting the Ordinariate
speak with members of the group: Michael
Thrusfield, who holds the position of
Gordon stressed that meeting monthly is, in
Personal Chair in Veterinary Epidemiology
a strange way, an advantage. “It means, going
at Edinburgh University; Tony O’Rourke, a
to our Diocesan Catholic parish churches
Professor of Economics; Gordon Kendal, a
provides us with the opportunity to promote
retired Anglican priest and academic, and Goerge Thomspn
the Ordinariate where it is little known or
his wife Pat.
understood.”
Gordon and Pat live sixty miles
away, but come to the Ordinariate
Mass most months. Tony usually
attends the Ordinariate Mass in
Stirling and on other days, his local
Catholic Church. Michael told us,
“The Scottish Episcopal Church Jim Roche
(the Anglican Church in Scotland) is small. Many
people left for the Catholic Church some years ago,
long before the Ordinariate was formed. Therefore
the Ordinariate in Scotland is also small. Yet, we
are content and happy. The Catholic hierarchy has
contents page
They all felt the Ordinariate
Festival in September was important.
As Michael put it, “We are scattered
all over Scotland. At the Festival
we get to meet other Ordinariate
members from the UK. A residential
Angie Henry
gathering would be beneficial for us
all.” Everyone murmured approval.
Stirling
All too soon it was time to move on. If Edinburgh
was Sunday morning, the afternoon was to be spent in