Fr Andrew Pinsent has kindly passed on this reply that he received from one of the Councillors in Westminster:Fr. Andrew Pinsent
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"Thank you for your communication.
As you so rightly comment this memorial has been removed due to the recent refurbishment works. However, it is due to be replaced shortly."
Kind regards
Councillor Jean Paul Floru
Member for Hyde Park Ward
7 comments:
Oh hurrah! Thank you Fr Pinsent and anyone else who contacted the relevant city authorities regarding this. I was heartbroken to find the memorial gone when I visited the site last month.
And thank you, Fr Finigan, for blogging about this.
Father, this is really good news! :)
Now that we're looking at it, it does seem rather a 'token' plaque than a tru Memorial to those brave Catholics who paid the ultimate price so that we would have the Faith passed down through the centuries. We should petition for a MONUMENT!!!!
The current 'pint sized' plaque in the concrete states:
'THE SITE OF THE TYBURN TREE'
What does that mean to anyone these days? Would your average Catholic know anything about Tyburn? I bet if you asked kids in any Catholic School what the Tyburn Tree was they wouldn't know, or worse still, would probably think it is some hybrid, genetically modified 'greener' species of tree!!! No, I don't blame the kids - just their parents, Catholic Education in general and a whole shed-load of issues with poor Catholic formation over the last 50 years! Rant over - God Bless.
Horray - yes, that's the same reply we recieved - hopefully it will be back before the Martyrs Walk on the 21st.
I'd be happy to celebrate Mass on the site. Surely there is a time in the week when traffic is minimal. Fr Richard Aladics
With Sunday shopping, sadly, no. Except perhaps at about 4am - but you would probably then clash with the emptying of the pubs and clubs...
Two old men were selling newspapers, I asked one were Tyburn Hill was, he replied that he never heard of the place. The other man pointed in the direction saying, "It is up there aways". He then said to the other old man, "That is were Catholics go" and then told him about public executions.
I was told, near Marble Arch, there was a brass type brick in the middle of a very busy street that marked were the Tyburn gallows stood.
I remember running across and trying to land on the brick saying, a "Glory Be", three different times. This was around 1960.
Edward P. Walton
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