John Tweddle from St Joseph’s Parish in Bilton (Harrogate) is a member of the Fountains Abbey Ecumenical Chaplaincy and has sent the following report on the Annual Mass at the Abbey: a long-standing summer event in our Diocese, which alternates each year between the Feasts of St Benedict (11 July) and St Bernard (20 August) …
On the Feast of St Bernard, more than 400 people from across the Diocese and beyond gathered at Fountains Abbey for the Annual Mass in the Abbey Cellarium.
Fr Jonathan Hart, Parish Priest at St Wilfrid’s Ripon, concelebrated with Fr Ben Griffiths from St Joseph’s Bilton and visiting priest Fr Aidan Prescot, with David Arblaster as Deacon. St Wilfrid’s played a big part in the celebration with their parish music group leading the singing and providing musical accompaniment for the largest congregation in recent years.
In his homily, Fr Jonathan spoke of the lives of Service and Mission which the monks and laity who built the Abbey had led. Most of their lives were not so notable to be recorded by history; but collectively they raised a thing of beauty to the Greater Glory of God. He exhorted us to follow their example in our own daily lives.
The Mass is a key part of the annual programme of ecumenical events organised by the National Trust celebrating nearly 900 years of religious worship on the site.’
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[Photographs by Patrick Sice – and apologies that owing to a recent change in National Trust Policy, no further photography was permitted at this Mass. However, we thank the National Trust’s local team at Fountains Abbey for their continued welcome at this longstanding annual event.]
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