Bartestree, Hereford

Holy Mass in Longworth Pre-Reformation
Catholic Chapel in Herefordshire
Monday 25th July 2011

A number of the Community gathered at this beautiful chapel at Bartestree for a celebration of Mass presided over by Abbot Paul. Below are some photographs taken by Mr Peter Jowitt, and an article by Mr Desmond Keohane who organized this splendid event.

A Day Long To Be Remembered

Longworth Chapel is dedicated to St. James. On his Feast Day, Monday, 25th July , The Abbot of Belmont, the Rt. Rev. Paul Stonham, OSB., together with Fr. Michael Evans, Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier, Fr. Stephen Holdsworth, P.P. of Weobley, Fr. Cenydd Marrison P.P.of Our Lady's, Belmont , and Fr. Brendan Thomas, Fr. Cadfan Williams, Fr.Nicholas Spencer (a guest from Quarr Abbey) concelebrated Holy Mass, assisted by three Brothers, all being monks of the Abbey.

A brief history of the Chapel was given in the June edition of the Catholic People. This Mass was the first to be said there since its closure in 1995 and an occasion to recognise the special significance of the Chapel in the history of Catholic Herefordshire. It was also an opportunity to recall with thanksgiving the life and work of the Sisters and those in their care at Bartestree Convent over nearly 130 years (until it sadly closed in 1992). With them were remembered the Phillipps family, benefactors of the Convent and restorers in the 1850s of the Chapel, three of whom lie buried therein.

On the day, the Chapel was filled to overflowing. A congregation of thirty to forty had been anticipated; in the event some eighty Catholics came from all across Herefordshire. The Missa de Angelis was sung and the congregation, inspired by the singing of the monks, gave of their very best. The mass was said in English, the celebrants and congregation together facing East to the Altar. The Mass ended with the dismissal sung in Latin and lastly the Salve Regina. The harmony, in such an ancient and beautiful setting, of old and later usages was very moving. One younger catholic present who had never attended a Mass with all facing East said that to her it felt absolutely right.

0n 11th September 1859 when the Chapel had once more been opened up for public Mass, after centuries lying dormant, Robert Phillipps wrote in his diary, "The attempt succeeded beyond expectation, for our congregation mustered close on 100 people, with hop- pickers in the Anti- Chapel!" Sadly we had no hop-pickers but the similarity of the two events is very striking.

It is highly probable that the priest who celebrated that Mass in 1859 was a Benedictine from Belmont Abbey, so long and close has been the connection between Abbey, Chapel and Convent. We ourselves were singularly blessed by the con-celebration of the Mass by six Benedictine priests led by the Abbot of Belmont, an event unique in the history of the Chapel.

Many remarked on leaving after Mass what a wonderfully spiritual and joyful celebration it had been, and how glad they were to have been there. The Chapel was hallowed once more by the sacrifice of the Mass, and its long and turbulent history silently recalled as an expression of the life of the Faithful in Herefordshire down the ages. Deo Gratias.