A View From The Pew – February 2026
The Papal Flag
The Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year every twenty five years. It is a special time of renewal of faith, marked by pilgrimage, acts of mercy and the opening of the Holy Door (In Rome) focusing on restoring our relationship with God. In announcing the jubilee year for 2025 the late Pope Francis said that the jubilee motto was to be “Pilgrims of Hope” and “That we must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us, and help everyone to gain a new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far sighted vision”
On January 6th Pope Leo formally ended the Jubilee year with the closing of the Holy Door in Rome. It is a sobering thought to realise that when the next Holy year comes around many of us will not be here to celebrate it!
Celebrating the Jubilee year was one of the reasons for putting out the Papal flag in the grounds of the chapel by Friars Lane. The flag symbolises the Pope’s spiritual and earthly authority hence the yellow for heavenly power and the white for earthly power. There are two crossed keys in gold and silver, bound by a red chord and topped with a Papal Tiara symbolising the Pope’s three fold office which reflects Christ’s mission, to teach (Prophet) govern (King) and sanctify (Priest).
The other reason for the Papal flag still to be flying is that this year the chapel of St Peter and St Paul is celebrating its three hundredth year since its opening in 1726. Prior to the Reformation, the village and parish were under the care of the Augustinian Friars who looked after St George and resided at what is now the Old Rectory. The present chapel is a converted Malt barn and below this building is the Croft which housed a large fire place and a corridor of farmhouse rooms which I imagine served as kitchen quarters and a food store for the community. Following the Dissolution of the Rectory in 1538, the property was taken over by the Bishop family and, remaining true to their Catholic faith, held secret Masses in the former Rectory, building two Priest holes. The family must have been well liked and respected by the villagers as they were never reported to the authorities for this action.
As part of the celebrations, I am hoping to put on show, in the Croft, vestments dating back to the Penal period: What is so interesting about them is that whilst they are incredibly ornate, there are no religious symbols embroidered on them whatsoever: A sure sign of the dangerous times in which they were used.
The main part of the celebration will be a special Mass celebrated by Bernard Longley, the Archbishop of Birmingham, to coincide with the feast of St Peter and St Paul. We are also hoping to produce a booklet giving more information about the Chapel and its history.
The Chapel is open throughout the day and is well worth visiting for its historical importance. You might also notice the Papal flag in the front garden: It is flying in thanksgiving and recognition for the past three hundred years and beyond that time when the village has had the presence of the Catholic faith and the support and care of its neighbours.
Best wishes for the coming month.
Fr David Tams