Saturday, July 21, 2012

St Mary's, Forest Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne

Please note there will be No Mass on Saturday 28th July as Fr Brown & others will be at Villa Palazzola.

Feast of the Assumption of BVM

Here in Hexham & Newcastle several Masses are planned:

St Mary's, Barnard Castle
Low Mass at 7.30pm
SS Peter & Paul, Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
Missa Cantata at 7.30pm
St Patrick's, Ryhope
Missa Cantata at 7.30pm
SS Joseph, Patrick & Cuthbert, Coxhoe
Low Mass at 12noon.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Brinkburn (again?) Why Not!

Just had a wonderful thought!!!

Why don't all of the parishes and priests make Saturday 8th September 2012 'A Day Out at Brinkburn'????

As I have explained earlier Brinkburn Priory is in an idyllic country setting in a bend of the River Coquet in the beautiful county of Northumberland.  Many of the congregation spend the day there with a picnic meal.  The one thing we cannot guarantee is the weather.  Of course (silly me) we will have 'weather' but it has become clear over the past few weeks that the 'kind' of weather we get is uncertain - to say the least!  What can be said is that up to 2011 we ALWAYS had beautiful sunshine.  Add to that the beauty of the Extraordinary Form of Mass with both polyphony and plainchant and the weather becomes of secondary importance.  I have just been told that the Ordinary will be a setting by Monteverdi sung by The Rudgate Singers of York and the Proper will be plainchant from the Liber Usualis sung by The Schola Sancti Baedae.

So, can we look forward to coaches and minibuses from Barnard Castle (I know it is a long way), Thornley (we may need your servers), Coxhoe, Gateshead and Newcastle?  Our old stalwart Jack Harvey was missing in 2011 after attending probably all occasions at Brinkburn in the past.

Anyone wishing to serve may contact me either by phone, email, letter or comment on this blog.

Of course visitors from other dioceses will also be made most welcome as we are from this diocese when we travel south.

Friday, July 13, 2012

More on Brinkburn Priory

Brinkburn Priory is situated approx 4.5 miles SE of Rothbury off B6344.

It is the 12th Century church of an Augustinian Priory founded in 1135.  It is presently under the stewardship of English Heritage and the church has been completely re-roofed by them.  The monastic buildings are roofed but empty and undecorated.

The church is lovely but rather unadorned although there is a large (quite scary) figure of Christ on the north wall by local artist Fenwick Lawson who also has figures in Durham Cathedral.

The church is a walk of about 200 yards down a track from the car park.  Disabled drivers can drive down to the church and (if spaces left) leave their cars.

Our Mass (hopefully Solemn High Mass) will begin at 12noon and we expect to have the Ordinary of the Mass sung by a polyphonic choir with the Proper sung to Plainchant.

September 8th is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Should you wish to find out more information I recommend using the Wikipedia entry for 'Brinkburn Priory' which will satisfy the most enquiring mind.

For users of satellite navigation the postcode is NE65 8AR.

More on Brinkburn Priory

For those travelling to the priory it is approx 4.5 miles SE of Rothbury off the B6344.  For users of satnav the postcode is NE65 8AR.

The church is the priory church of an Augustinian priory founded in 1135 and situated on a bend of the River Coquet.  It is set in beautiful countryside and you can imagine just why the monks chose this idyllic spot.

The church has been completely re-roofed by English Heritage and is quite plain with a beauty which is enhanced by the lack of decoration.  There is a modern (quite scary) wooden figure of Christ on the north wall by local artist Fenwick Lawson who also has works in Durham Cathedral and on Holy Island.  The monastic buildings are likewise plain and without decoration.

Should you require more information I recommend searching for the Wikipedia entry for 'Brinkburn Priory' which will satisfy the most searching of enquirers.

Mass at Brinkburn Priory

I am delighted to announce that, after much difficulty, Fr Michael Brown has managed permission for our annual Mass (hopefully Solemn High) at Brinkburn Priory in Northumberland.  The date (for your diaries please) is September 8th 2012 with Mass at 12noon.  Any volunteer servers will be welcomed with open arms. Slightly differently from previous years; we are not providing a shared table but facilities are there in the grounds should you wish to bring a picnic.

If we all pray for good weather it won't hurt, will it?

I intend publishing a little more on Brinkburn Priory and its history very soon as well as details on how to find it.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Founders' Day Requiem Mass at Barnard Castle

The annual Requiem Mass for John and Josephine Bowes will be celebrated at St Mary's Church, Barnard Castle on Saturday 21st July 2012 at 12 noon. The church was intended to be a memorial to Josephine Bowes who, together with her husband John, was responsible for building the pseudo French chateau which now houses the famous Bowes Museum in the town.  The church is not as initially intended but is, nonetheless, a beautiful church completed when funds were available.

The celebrant will be the parish priest, Fr Elkin, who celebrates a weekly Sunday EF Mass plus an additional Tuesday midweek Mass.  Holydays of obligation are also celebrated.

The music will be provided by the Rudgate Singers of York augmented by singers from the Ordinariate Choir from Darlington which, with their newly ordained priest, was recently received into the Catholic Church.  The Mass setting will be by Pearsall and this will be the first time it will have been performed in the proper liturgical setting.

Weather permitting refreshments will be served after Mass on the lawn.  Weather of our normal English standard will see refreshments moved indoors.

All are encouraged and invited to attend this annual Mass.