Parents' Faith Group at Aylesford

Another visit to Aylesford yesterday for the Parents' Faith Group at my parish began with us celebrating Mass in the simple but prayerful Cloister Chapel. Above the Altar there is a beautiful ancient crucifix:After Mass, I conducted a tour of the shrine, beginning with the historical exhibition showing paintings by Adam Kossowski illustrating various events in the history of the Carmelites.

Here is his depiction of the Friars being cast out into the street as a result of Henry VIII's Dissolution of the religious houses.

After visiting the other chapels and saying a prayer at the relic of St Simon Stock, we repaired to the shop for tea and the purchase of books and devotional articles, the pottery to see the work in progress and then the local pub "The Chequers" for an enjoyable lunch.

It was raining all day and this made me fearful that the men's walk today might be a rather drenched affair. It was not to be so ...

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