Grant saves Pugin


masterpiece Christopher Lamb


A SIX-FIGUREsum has been awarded to the historic St Augustine’s Abbey Church in Ramsgate, Kent to save it from ruin. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery


Fund have awarded a grant of £110,000 for major repairs to the Grade I listed building designed by A.W. Pugin and widely considered to be an architectural masterpiece. It will pay for the first phase of a scheme to repair the church’s leaking roof and an outbreak of dry rot in the gutter.


The church, built in the nineteenth century, is a major symbol of the Catholic Church’s revival in England and Wales and is located very close to the spot where St Augustine of Canterbury landed in the country in AD 597. The future of the church had been uncertain after the Benedictine monks of Ramsgate announced that they were leaving their monastery last year. The Archdiocese of Southwark decided to apply for a grant from the conservation bodies and amalgamated the church as part of a parish. Fr Marcus Holden, the parish priest who regularly says Mass in the church, said: “I want to see St Augustine’s becoming a place of modern pilgrimage.” The monks are moving to Chilworth Friary in Surrey, although the future of their old monastery in Ramsage is unclear. The monastery, designed by E.W. Pugin, is cur- rently Grade II listed, but English Heritage is considering an application to upgrade it to Grade II-star.


Oratorian who led Newman cause returns


THE BIRMINGHAM Oratorian responsible for Cardinal Newman’s cause for many years before his sudden departure a year ago has resumed his work, writes Elena Curti. Fr Paul Chavasse missed Newman’s


beatification last September after he was moved from his post as actor of the cause and provost and sent to America. He is now back as vice postulator and archivist with the cur- rent provost, Fr Richard Duffield, remaining the actor of the cause since this job goes with being provost. Fr Chavasse left Birmingham late in 2009 following allegations about his private life


RETREATS


FRANCISCAN RETREAT IN ANDALUSIA, SPAIN 3-13 October


With Fr. Peter Hall OFM, National Assistant of the Secular Franciscan


Order at the seaside Sanctuary of Santa María de Regla, Chipiona, Cádiz. £1,400 full board/ensuite, including


fl ights, excursions, all entrance charges. NO SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENTS.


Details from Retreats Beyond Dover: retreats@dircon.co.uk www.retreats.dircon.co.uk Telephone: 020 7379 7273


Private Retreats Available for priests and religious (excellent accommodation). Divine Master Centre, Blackrock, Co Dublin


Tel 00 353 1 211 4949 pddmdublin@eircom.net www.pddm.org/ireland


To advertise in this space, please contact


Sam Gow on 020 7880 6217


that proved unfounded. He now has the task of collecting evidence for the second miracle needed before Blessed John Henry can be canonised. It has also been disclosed that one of three Oratorians who were sent on indef- inite retreat last year will not been returning to Birmingham. In a highly unusual move, Fr Philip Cleevely


has transferred to the Toronto Oratory. Fr Cleevely was one of three Oratorians involved in disagreements within the community in the lead up to Newman’s beatification. Meanwhile, the Oxford Oratory has elected Fr Daniel Seward as its new provost.


HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION


Summer Accommodation in London


Allen Hall Seminary in Chelsea offer comfortable rooms in


central London in July & August. Beautiful gardens and chapel Rooms from £45 per night. www.allenhall.org.uk


Email: allenhall@rcdow.org.uk Telephone: 020 7349 5600


VOCATIONS


House for retreat or holiday. 2011 retreat programme available at: www.emmaushouse-edinburgh.co.uk e-mail: info@emmaushouse- edinburgh.co.uk


Tel 0131 228 1066 St Martha’s Convent


House of welcome and peace in the charming historic village of Rottingdean by the sea. For holidays, quiet breaks, private retreats. En-suite rooms, home cooking, private chapel. 5 minutes from church. Minimum stay 2 nights.


SAE for brochure to St Martha’s Convent, Rottingdean, East Sussex BN2 7HA


Tel: 01273 302354


EDINBURGH CITY CENTRE accommodation at Emmaus


Invitation to single women age 20-40! Are you seeking a deeper intimacy with Jesus? Come and taste life as a Disciple of the Divine Master. Live, pray and serve in a contemplative/apostolic community for a month or so with us in Dublin or Athlone.


Take the risk and contact: Florence@pddm.org. or


logon to www.pddm.org/ireland


SALVATORIANS Priests and Brothers, living in communities serving the Church, using our gifts and abilities to make Jesus our Saviour known. For further informa- tion about our life and work contact Fr Alex McAllister SDS, Vocations Director, Salva- torian Community, 11 Castle Street, Thorn- bury, Bristol BS35 1HA www.gb.sds.org


PEACEFUL, private accommodation for holiday, retreat, or rest for Priests and Religious in lovely Windsor country. Cottages for 1-6 people, every convenience. Near Heathrow and Henley. Apply: St John’s Convent, Kiln Green, Reading RG10 9XP. Tel: 0118 940 2964.


Schools hope for refurbishment reprieve


MILLIONS OFpounds’ worth of cancelled rebuilding and refurbishment projects at seven Catholic secondary schools may now go ahead after the Government’s decision to scrap them was ruled unlawful, writes Sam Adams.


Education Secretary Michael Gove axed the £55 billion Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in July last year, cancelling around 700 planned school rebuilding projects across England. But the High Court has ruled that the decision to scrap projects in six local authorities was unlawful because the Government failed to properly consult the schools affected beforehand and has urged Mr Gove to review his decision. This has raised hopes that £1bn worth of work at 58 schools in Waltham Forest, Luton, Nottingham, Sandwell, Kent and Newham may eventually get the go-ahead, including multi-million pound rebuilding and refurbishment projects at seven Catholic schools.


Dr Andy Stone, head teacher of The Holy


Family Technology College in Walthamstow – which had a £20 million BSF project cancelled in July - welcomed the High Court’s decision, saying the initial decision had been arbitrary. However, a government spokesman said that while the court had found the Government’s decision to be rational on a number of points, schools affected could not expect to now go ahead with building projects.


SABBATICALS


Formation Consultation Services


We provide unique, fl exible and holistic sabbatical programming within a small nurturing community atmosphere.


Programs are tailored specifi cally to each participant’s needs.


On our website, a helpful selection


of articles on formation are available. FCS offers a free email newsletter with a focus on human formation. It is available every other month. Past newsletters are on our website.


Tel: USA 1-508-234-6540 Email: formation@fcs-bilotta.com Web: www.fcs-bilotta.com


NEED A PRIEST?


Active Retired Priest available for supply work etc. Own car.


Disclosure Certifi cate available. John Robinson, ordained 1972. Age 69. T: 0131 334 8079 M: 07903851613;


johngrobinson1941@gmail.com 15/3 Meadowhouse Road, Edinburgh EH12 7HW.


19 February 2011 | THE TABLET | 37


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