rural tourism
Rural Roman Catholic Churches
spring-line settlement at the foot of the Berkshire Downs, East Hendred is everyone’s idea of a beautiful English village. It still has two churches, St Augustine’s (Church of England) and St Mary’s (Roman Catholic), two primary schools, three pubs, an all-purpose shop, a community centre (Snells Hall) and a sports club, not to mention a trout farm and a vineyard! The former Methodist chapel is now a dwelling, and the historic Champs Chapel (listed Grade I with the adjoining Priest’s House) is now a village museum.
Unusually, the grandest house, Hendred House, Manor of the Arches, has been in the same Eyston family since 1443. Much of the land and property still forms part of the Hendred Estate stretching up to the Downs towards Harwell, the atomic research station. Even in the Middle Ages East Hendred was noted for the fervour of its Catholic faith. In 1256 the Pope gave the squire permission to build a private chapel, dedicated to St. Amand, a missionary monk in Northern France and Belgium, ending his days as abbot of Elnon, since re-named St Amand in his honour. Mass is still said weekly in St Amand’s chapel.
East Hendred and the Eystons A
There is an Eyston chapel within the (now Anglican) parish church of St Augustine. This family chapel remained Catholic when the church became Anglican. Eyston tombs in the floor indicate that it was probably used for burials in the 17th and 18th centuries, but it has not been used for regular Catholic worship for at least two centuries. The new Anglican vicar, Revd Rita Ball, realising this, sought permission for Mass to be celebrated as a significant ecumenical gesture. The first Catholic Mass, celebrated in February 2005 by Fr John Nelson, was attended by 60 people, half of whom were Catholic and half Anglican. Edward Eyston served at the Mass. “People were so keen to come. There was a nice atmosphere of togetherness”, he said.
It was not till 1865 that a Roman Catholic parish church was built – dedicated to the Virgin Mary. St Amand’s chapel links it to Hendred House, and St Mary’s is also linked via a bridge across the lane to the presbytery, now home for a group of semi-enclosed nuns from Stanbrook Abbey. In line with diocesan policy, the parish is now served from Abingdon.
St Amand’s Catholic Voluntary Aided school has a wide catchment area including Didcot and Wantage as well as surrounding villages, and a school roll of 170. Demand for places is always high.
The Parish Pastoral Council exercises effective collaborative ministry. Inside the church there is a “rogues gallery” with their photos , areas of responsibility and email addresses. Copies of the Parish accounts for 2004 (looking very healthy!) and “The Henchman” magazine produced by the Church of England Benefice of the Berkshire Downs were displayed in the church on a Sunday afternoon in early March when I visited. Along with the rest of the Portsmouth Diocese, East Hendred is working with the “Growing Together in Christ” materials culminating in a Diocesan Pastoral Assembly in Reading in July.
A lively and committed rural Catholic church if ever I saw one! For more information contact Maureen Eyston,
eastergranny@amserve.com
Jenny Carpenter
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk 19
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