A View From The Pew – June 2026
Celebrations (ILMODB)
At the beginning of the year Pope Leo XIV declared this year to be a Jubilee year of St Francis of Assisi: This was to honour the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. Coincidentally, my parish in Kineton which is named in honour of St Francis, celebrated the jubilee of its opening fifty years ago. This was marked officially, by a service of opening and dedication by the then Archbishop of Birmingham, George Patrick Dwyer, on 8th April 1976; even though the church had been in use from October 1975. Twenty-five years later, in October 2000, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Vincent Nichols. The consecration normally takes place once the debts of the church have been paid off, and it was wonderful that parishioners from both these celebrations were present when we had the Golden Jubilee celebration on the 15th May. Hymns and readings for the Mass were taken from the 1976 service, with hymns dedicated to the saint, and with prayers from the feast of St Francis of Assisi which is on 4th October. The Rt Rev Mgr. Canon Danny McHugh was the main celebrant, with parishioners and friends from the village attending. It was a wonderful Mass with the celebrations continuing in the village hall afterwards.
Closer to home, at my other parish, which incorporates Shipston and Brailes, we are preparing to celebrate the tricentennial of the opening of the Brailes chapel of St Peter and Paul in 1726. You may have discovered this from a recent article in the Stratford- upon- Avon Herald in February where the remarkable story of the chapel and its functioning was reported. As part of the celebrations we are hoping that the present Archbishop of Birmingham, the Most Rev Bernard Longley, will be the main celebrant for our celebratory Mass to coincide with the feast of St Peter and St Paul in June. Part of the tricentennial celebration is to provide an updated book which will continue to reveal more details about this remarkable place of prayer and worship. It is hoped that this book will also provide a useful guide for the many pilgrims and visitors the chapel attracts throughout the year.
Below the chapel building is the croft, formerly the kitchen for the Old Rectory. Last year, when the chapel was being redecorated, we celebrated Mass there. Hopefully, at some point, we shall be able to put on display our 17th century vestments, together with some historical documents about the chapel, and also the life of the villagers over the past three hundred years. If you have not yet been to visit the chapel, it is well worth doing so and I hope that you will have the opportunity to do so during this jubilee year. I shall keep you informed of any celebratory tricentennial developments. Best wishes for the month ahead.
God Bless, Fr David Tams