The Feast of St Edward

We celebrated the feast of St Edward the Confessor at his shrine on Westminster Abbey, together with the choir and clergy of the Abbey, just down the road from Westminster Cathedral. This annual event has become a key-note in the friendly relations between our two great churches. The liturgy comprises evensong sung by both choirs, followed by a procession of the Cathedral and Abbey clergy to the shrine. There, in a moving ceremony, the shrine is incensed, and prayers are said to St Edward. The shrine is one of a handful that escaped the Reformation; because of his royal status, the body of St Edward was not removed, although the shrine was despoiled of its rich decoration.

Above, the choir of Westminster Abbey processes into the nave, followed by the choir of Westminster Cathedral.


On this solemn occasion, the clergy of Westminster Cathedral wear their fur cappas; St Edward is also a principal patron of Westminster Cathedral, and his feast is a Solemnity in the City of Westminster.

One of the remarkable features of the warm friendship between the Abbey and the Cathedral has been the links forged by the musicians of both Churches. The great organ of the Abbey (below) has been placed under the care of several musicians who have previously, or later, worked at the Cathedral.

Below, Matthew Martin, our own Assistant Master of Music, watches James O'Donnell, formerly Master of Music at the Cathedral, now fulfilling the equivalent role at the Abbey.

He is joined here by Robert Quinney, Assistant to James O'Donnell, who was previously Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral!

The list of organists at the Abbey also mentions Martin Baker, currently our own Master of Music. Note, too, some of the great names of the past: Orlando Gibbons, John Blow, and the sublime Henry Purcell.

But the future holds great promise also: below Matthew Martin (right) and Oliver Brett (left) our current Organ scholar, and the resourceful originator of these photographs.

Following the ceremony, the Dean kindly invited us for refreshments in his own rooms, and there speeches were made praising the beauty of the music from the two choirs, extolling the friendship between our two institutions, and, above all, giving thanks to St Edward the Confessor, who from heaven intercedes for us, and prays that we may join him together in heaven to praise the one God who is King of us all.

Cardinal Newman

Yesterday, we received formal permission to proceed with Tom Philip's design for a mosaic of Cardinal Newman. The mosaic will be situated outside the Holy Souls' Chapel, close to the panel commemorating the Dream of Gerontius (also by Tom Philips) installed three years ago.

For the submission to the statutory committee, we provided a computer-generated image which gives an impression of what the mosaic will look like in situ. It is a fitting tribute to this great figure, and is in keeping with Cardinal Vaughan's wish that the mosaic decoration should include figures from the history of the church in England and Wales.

Tom has used a 'Victorian' palette of subdued colours, and in the background quotes from his earlier panel (also in the Holy Souls' chapel), which superimposes a cross upon a ladder as a symbol of the soul's ascent from Purgatory through the Cross of Christ. The quotation from Cardinal Newman reflects his and our strong desire that decoration in the Cathedral should not be mere commemoration, but a focus for prayer. For that reason, Tom Philips has portrayed Cardianl Newman with his eyes closed, emphasising that this is not just a portrait, but an invitiation to join the great Cardinal himself in prayer.

The design will now be rendered in mosiac by the Mosaic Workshop, and we hope that it will be in place within the year.

A miscellany of old images

Cardinal Bourne, fourth Archbishop of Westminster (1903 - 1935), is shown inset in this postcard dating from the early years of his incumbency. He was created Cardinal in 1911; this image predates his elevation to the sacred college.
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The interior of the Cathedral in the 1920s; the Stations of the Cross are in place, but none of the marble work on the walls, nor the mosaic on the arch above the sanctuary.

A funeral takes place in 1925. This is, of course, in the days before the Piazza, and the roadway still runs across the front of the Cathedral.

Two poignant images from the First World War; the children of the Belgian Royal Family, in exile in London, attend Mass at the Cathedral. Above, they are greeted by the Adminstrator, Monsignor Howlett.

Across the Channel

Earlier this week, the chaplains went together to Lille, less than two hours' travel by Eurostar. Although a large industrial city, the centre of Lille is an historic gem.

The beautifully restored houses owe much to the architecture of nearby Flanders, and the town square recalls the gracious urban spaces of Belgian cities.

Here we stand (minus Fr Dwayne and Fr Tim) in front of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de La Treille, begun in 1854 but not completed until 1991. From the beginning, funds were lacking, and only the nave and aisles were completed. In 1947, a temporary facade was erected, and was blessed by the Papal Nuncio - one Cardinal Roncalli.

The final solution was unveiled and blessed in 1991. The facade of Portuguese marble (designed by an Irish architect, Peter Rice) is an ingenious, if not wholly successful, solution. Inside, however, the effect is better, as the thin sheets of marble allow a gentle light to flood the nave.

The dedication of the Cathedral is to an ancient image of the Virgin, Notre Dame de La Treille - Our Lady of the Trellis - which can be found in the Lady Chapel (below). The devotion dates from the 13th century; the name may be a corruption of "Treola", an estate where processions in honour of the virgin took place, or my indeed refer to a trellis, placed around the image to protect it from the over-enthusiastic adoration of worshippers! Despite the sixteeenth century wars of religion which gravely affected this part of France, the cult survived until our days.

However, our interests were not limited to the ecclesiastical, and we took advantage of Lille's reputation as a gastronomic centre for a fine meal, and also enjoyed a coffee or two in the main square. Such outings are a wonderful opportunity for us to grow in friendship and collaboration, and we enjoyed a wonderful day.

The Red Mass

On Monday 1 October, the Cardinal celebrated the annual Red Mass for the opening of the new Legal term - the name comes from the red vestments worn by the celebrant at this votive Mass of the Holy Spirit, asking his blessing upon the coming year's proceedings. To this Mass come catholic members of the legal profession.

The Red Mass has been celebrated at Westminster Cathedral for over a hundred years, but in fact revives a long-standing medieval practice that ceased at the Reformation. A service of prayer at Westminster Abbey, along similar lines, was substituted in the sixteenth century, and continues to this day.

It is fascinating to see the High Court Judges in their robes, which were ecclesiastical in origin - and it is certainly a most splendid sight!

Following Mass, the Cardinal hosted a reception in the Throne Room of Archbishop's House. Above, he speaks to Toby Riley-Smith, who has organised this year's Mass.

Patrick Curran, on the left, is a parishioner and choir school Governor; it is a particular joy that he was recently made a High Court Judge.

Mr Justice Butterfield is the President of the Thomas More society for catholic lawyers.

Transmission Interrupted

I shall be away for a week, until 9 October. Please forgive the break in postings.

New Month - New Oremus

The October edition of Oremus, the Westminster Cathedral magazine, is full of items and articles about the Cathedral and its life. As is traditional, this month features a gallery of the chaplains, which is also posted at the back of the Cathedral, and is reproduced below so that you may know who we are!