Favourite English Places

Oh dear tagged twice, or maybe even more often, but I have seen my name on Mac’s and now Joee’s blogs: what are my five favourite Catholic places in England.
I am tempted to be smart and just do pictures of my sitting room, kitchen, church, Brighton beach, and my confessional or a friend’s or parishioner’s house, or just a list of former parishes.
I remember as a precocious six year old being asked what my favourite colour was by Mrs Baldock, when I asked “For what, for shoes or dogs or wallpaper?” I was made to stand with nose pressed against a blackboard. I developed a deep hatred of Mrs Baldock in that half hour, for which I still think I need counselling, endless counselling.
Not having a car means I tend not to go to the odder places in the country. I have affection for people not really for places, but let’s try to be honest.

I really do love my sitting room, it has pictures and mementoes of people who are precious to me in it, as well as instruments and music, books and icons. It is the place I pray in. I have this thing about the ancient monastic Fathers who warn about wandering about, it is the place where I centre myself.

Quarr is another place I love, my previous Bishop, now Cardinal Murphy O’Connor let me go and try my vocation there, Abbot Cuthbert and the community showed me great kindness. Whenever I go there I want to stay and at the same time, …well I haven’t been there since I left. It was also the place where the Cardinal showed me the greatest kindness I think anyone has ever shown me. He just came on retreat there and spent time with me, saying little, a simple thing but an extra-ordinary act of generosity and graciousness, so characteristic of him. A lesson in how a Bishop is a also a Father.

The tomb of Edward the Confessor, which I consider is still Catholic, as it is occupied by a Catholic, in Westminster Abbey I love, it sums up English Catholicism for me, I have always wanted to say Mass there.

Minster Abbey, again I haven’t been there for aeons, they have tiny little chapel which I think is 11/12 cent, originally a gatehouse, I used to take our confirmation group there, there are eminently sensible nuns there.


St Joseph’s Church, Guildford (now demolished and replaced) it was where I first encountered the faith and Catholics, and where I learnt to pray from a master of prayer called Fred. He was the sacristan and just used to sit in the Church before the Blessed Sacrament, for hours.

I tag Orthfully Catholic, Fr Justin, Ttony and Fr Dwight Longenecker, who used to live in Bexhill-on-Sea, if they haven't already been done -but not Mrs Baldock - but you don't really have to do this and I am not going to put this on your blog, so you can ignore it if you like!