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Saturday, May 15, 2010

Western Rite News from England

The St. Eanswythe Orthodox Mission has been authorised by our Metropolitan, Hilarion of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch (bishop) of the Russian Church Abroad, to conduct evangelical activity in Kent, bringing the goodness of the Orthodox Faith to its people. May God crown the labours of the St. Eanswythe faithful with all success in piety.

Fr. Hieromonk Michael (Mansbridge-Wood) has been placed in charge of St. Eanswythe mission by the Metropolitan.

Below is a picture of a pre-Schism church near Folkestone which has been used for Western Rite Orthodox services by the Mission. [It has been Photoshopped to exclude pews and to add icons. - hat tip to Subdeacon Michael Astley]



A meeting of the newly-formed St. Nectan Study Group was held in North Devon at Molton in March; the study group will form part of the overall work of the St. Eanswythe mission.

Ad multos annos!

7 comments:

Bb said...

I've sung at a Western Rite Liturgy in that church. It was lovely to be able to sing Western plainsong in an Orthodox context - its true home.

Elizabeth @ The Garden Window said...

How lovely to see Orthodoxy in a British pre-Schism church !

Matt said...

My wife and I will be visiting the UK next fall; How can we find this church?

Bb said...

With great difficulty. :-)

It is in Capel-le-Ferne in Kent. Access is gained by calling at a nearby house for the key. I think the house may be attached the the neighbouring farm but I forget.

The photograph is heavily photoshopped. In reality, there are pews covering the entire floor and there are no icons. The mission no longer uses the church. It is a redundant building and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. More details are here.

Matt said...

I see. So there is no regular worship in this building? That's a shame. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing it. Thanks for the info.

Fr. Aidan said...

What a joy it would be to serve there!

Bb said...

Sadly no, Matthew. :-(

Father Aidan, yes, it would be a joy for you to serve there. However, you must realise that this cannot happen as long as you remain outside of Britain. There is only one way to remedy this. ;-)