Association for Latin Liturgy
Under the patronage of the Bishops' Conference of England
and Wales.
Founded in 1969 to encourage and extend the use of Latin in the liturgy of the
Catholic Church.
The Roman Church has special obligations towards Latin . . . and she must manifest them whenever the opportunity presents itself.
EVENTS
Forthcoming Meeting
Spring Meeting at Gloucester Cathedral
The Association had a very successful visit to Derby Cathedral in 2003 where we sang the Dupré Vespers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated at the main altar which was decorated most memorably by their altar frontal and which had on it in large letters: Christus Vincit! We were made most welcome by the Dean, Rev Michael Perham, who subsequently became Bishop of Gloucester. When congratulating him on his elevation to the bishopric, he responded by expressing a wish that they might go to Gloucester some time.
We have the kind permission of the Chapter of Gloucester Cathedral to celebrate both Mass, in the Lady Chapel, and Vespers, in Choir, and we have the Bishop of Clifton’s agreement to both. Vespers will take the place of the Cathedral’s normal Saturday afternoon Evensong at 4:30pm, and we will have David Cowen, organist at Holy Cross, Leicester, playing Dupré’s antiphons, hymn verses and Magnificat verses from his Vêpres de la Vierge.
The timetable of events will be:
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Registration at 10:00am, coffee, then rehearsal for Vespers in the Chapter House, Gloucester Cathedral from 10:30 to 11:30am under the direction of Philip Duffy.
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12:00 noon - Mass in the Lady Chapel. The Mass Ordinary will be Missa cum Jubilo (Mass IX).
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Buffet lunch at the New County Hotel nearby.
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A talk by Dom Aidan Bellenger, OSB, Abbot of Downside, on the Benedictines’ connections with Gloucestershire (the Cathedral was once a Benedictine foundation).
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Tea, followed by a final rehearsal of Vespers and the choreography associated with processing into and out of the Cathedral Choir.
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4:30pm - Vespers.
Associates of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge lead the singing of the Chant, and we hope the combined forces of the two organisations will make this a most memorable occasion.
The cost of the day, including copies of the music, refreshments and lunch will be £25.
Recent Meetings
The Association has continued its policy of holding two meetings each year for members and others who may be interested in our work. In addition to the formal Annual General Meeting which is normally held in October, we try to arrange an interesting Spring Meeting in a less familiar part of the country with interesting historical associations. One of the objectives is to provide an opportunity to make available well celebrated Latin liturgy in the new rite for those who are rarely if ever able to experience it. All our meetings begin with Solemn Latin Mass followed by a relaxed lunch and conclude with Latin Vespers and Benediction. Recent events have included:
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October 2007 AGM at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair. Solemn Latin Mass was celebrated by the Parish Priest, Fr William Pearsall SJ, assisted by Fathers Anton Webb and Guy Nicholls of the Oxford and Birmingham Oratories. The Farm Street Choir, conducted by David Graham, the Director of Music, sang the Gregorian Proper and Byrd’s setting of Mass for Three Voices.
After lunch members enjoyed an illustrated talk on Catholic Church Architecture by Fr Anthony Symondson SJ. The Business Meeting followed, beginning with the Chairman’s annual report from Bernard Marriott. The liturgy continued with Sung Latin Vespers, of the 27th Sunday of the Year, at which the celebrant was Fr Webb and the cantor Fr Nicholls. The schola comprised of ALL members was directed by Jeremy de Satgé. The day concluded with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and singing of the Salve Regina.
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Spring 2007 Yorkshire, at St Austin’s, Wakefield. Sung Latin Mass for the feast of St Anselm was celebrated by Fr Matthew Habron of St Austin’s, assisted by Fr Guy Nicholls. The choir led the congregation in Mass I Lux et Origo and sang the Gregorian proper. In the afternoon, the Yorkshire Catholic historian, Dr James Hagerty gave an informative talk on “Religion in Ruins”, describing the amazing concentration of religious houses that once existed in the county, only partly revealed by the evidence of the ruins that remain today. The day concluded in the fine setting of Wakefield’s Anglican Cathedral with the singing of Latin Vespers by ALL members led by Mary Halloran for the Third Sunday of Easter, at which Fr Nicholls officiated in the presence of the Bishop of Pontefract who extended a warm welcome to the Association.
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October 2006 AGM at the Sacred Heart, Wimbledon. Solemn Latin Mass was celebrated by Fr Kevin Donovan SJ, assisted by Deacon Anton Webb of the Oxford Oratory and Fr Guy Nicholls, Parish Priest of the Birmingham Oratory. Music was provided by the Parish Choir. After lunch Ian Wells, an Old Wimbledonian who had organised the meeting, found himself having to deliver a talk about the founding of the church by Edith Arendrup written by the much respected teacher and historian Richard Milward who was unfortunately too ill to attend and sadly died two months later. After the Business Meeting and tea break, Fr Nicholls celebrated Vespers and Benediction in Wimbledon College Chapel.
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Spring 2006 Derbyshire, at locations associated with the Derbyshire martyrs, with Mass at All Saints, Hassop where Derby Cathedral Voluntary Choir sang a Mozart Mass and Mary Halloran conducted the Gregorian Schola. Vespers and Benediction followed at the ancient Padley Chapel.
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October 2005 AGM at Our Lady of Dolours, Leigh on Sea, with Mass of St Teresa of Avila. Anthony Bevan directed the Gregorian choir of ALL members who sang the proper and led the congregation in Mass IX Cum jubilo. There followed an interesting talk by Fr Stewart Foster, Diocesan Archivist.
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Spring 2005 Gloucestershire, with Solemn Mass for St George’s day in the Church of the Annunciation, Woodchester, a visit to Woodchester Mansion and a drive to Prinknash Abbey for Latin Vespers.
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October 2004 AGM at St Mary’s, Chelsea, with Pontifical Mass of the Holy Guardian Angels celebrated by Bishop Alan Hopes. St Mary’s Latin Choir sang Hassler’s Missa Secunda with motets by Michael Haydn and Palestrina. Mike Withers gave a fascinating talk on the development of Church music entitled ‘Lawmakers and Lawbreakers’.
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