He also sent me this interesting photo of the Wonersh schola from 1976:
(Back row left to right) Bernard Longley, Michael Jones, Robert Ellis, John Inglis. (Middle row left to right) Christopher Basden, Graham Wheedon, Richard Moth, Tim Finigan. (Front row) Martin Thompson (Schola Master.)From that time, I remember singing a wonderfully soupy version of O Esca Viatorum, a three-part setting of the Cherbikon, and a setting of the Tota Pulchra that we all found quite difficult.
Of the above, Graham left the seminary and all the others were ordained to the priesthood. They are all still in the active ministry which is not a bad record at all considering the times. Bernard, of course, is Auxiliary Bishop in Westminster, and Richard is Vicar General in Southwark.
10 comments:
Awww... fantastic, Father. These photos are great. :)
You should put them on FB - a wee talking point?
Ah yes - FB. Not been there in a while... must catch up.
"... - a wee talking point?"
Hmm! I wonder whether those pictured will ever talk to you again! ;-)
The pictures do prove that not everything was glum in the 'seventies!
Father, I thought you were at the VEC. When were you at Wonersh?
Secondly, do you remember a priest at Oxford by the name of Paul Burholt?
Ha! Fr. Basden looks so much thinner!
Graham Wheddon is now a parishioner of mine! No doubt I shall see him in the morning.
Paschal joy, Father Tim.
Very nice Father. What year were you ordained? I remember in 1978 I was a five grader in school too yooung to know about church issues. But indeed it was a difficult times. My grandparents were very loyal Catholics and they initially supported the reforms in 1970s but it was in 1978 that I remember my grand mother was saying something about "Indult". A sign of disappointment and a longing for the Old Practices in the Church. It was also in 1978 that I remember the communion rail was demolished in our church. Thank God we have priests like you and the rest who cherish our Traditions.
I was at Wonersh in the year 76-77 then went to Oxford but came back to the seminary when the seminary term overlapped with the vacation. This was called "topping and tailing". By the time I finished at Oxford, this arrangement had ceased and I was sent to Rome.
Pastor - do please give my regards to Graham.
Ottaviani - you have to talk to Fr Martin Edwards for advice about diets for the clergy :-)
Father, do you know when they stopped wearing cassocks at Wonersh/English seminaries generally? If I ever enter the seminary I would much prefer them to anything else.
Joe - when I entered Wonersh in 1976 (for a year) cassocks were still worn for Sunday Mass and Vespers. I think they went out not long after that. Nowadays, some seminaries approve them for liturgy and pastoral work for those who have received candidacy but others are strongly opposed to them. I think that this opposition will be overcome in due course.
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