News briefings: Britain and Ireland

The manager of the Elizabeth manor house Harvington Hall spent 48 hours in a priest hole inside the property in Kidderminster, Worcestershire last week

Phil Downing entered one the Hall’s seven “priest hides” to raise funds for the property, once a bastion of recusancy. He told the BBC the hole was “about the same size as a coffin, just taller”. To survive two days inside the pitch-black space, Downing said he would be “putting myself in the mindset of a 16th century priest”. He explained that while hiding from “priest-hunters” clergy could remain in priest holes “for over a week, and they didn’t know if they were going to starve to death or not”. On two previous occasions, Downing spent 24 and 36 hours inside a priest hole. One is located behind a swinging beam. Another is above a bread oven in the kitchen.

A retreat on The Martyr-Saints of the North-West will be held at The Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst, Lancashire from 12-14 September. Mgr. John Allen will lead the retreat, exploring Lancashire’s Reformation-era martyrs. 

The Men of St Joseph are to hold a Rosary Rally in Middlesbrough on Saturday, August 16. The event, now in its third year, will begin at 11.45am at the Church of St John the Evangelist and conclude at 1pm, after a procession to central Middlesbrough and back and the praying of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. 

On 19 July, Stephen Trafford was ordained as a priest in St George’s Cathedral, Southwark. In his homily, Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark said he had “no doubt” Fr Trafford was ready for ordination, adding: “Everyone here believes this. It does not mean you are perfect. Today you become Father Stephen, not Saint Stephen.” On 28 June, the feast of St John Southworth, James Boyle and Seán Power were ordained priests of the Diocese of Westminster. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster said Southworth, who was martyred in June 1654 was “forever exemplary” to all priests of the diocese. Despite being “arrested, imprisoned or deported five times,” Southworth “just kept coming back” said the Cardinal. 

A survey of more than 2,000 UK adults has found that Christians and Muslims report greater life satisfaction and less anxiety than non-believers. Faith & Happiness: How Religious Belief Shapes Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing found that 78 per cent of Christians reported a more positive outlook during tough times, compared to 69 per cent of non-believers. Dr Amanda Murjan, the author of the report conducted for The Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL), said that believers displayed an attitude of being “really” open to accepting life events and also “that everything within life is open to a divine purpose, divine assistance, and divine meaning.” 

Cardinal Nichols met 80 catechists at the parish of St Gregory the Great, South Ruislip on Saturday, 19 July. Titled “Reawakening Blessed Hope”, the event organised by the Agency for Evangelisation, was inspired by St John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 and explored how God nourishes catechists who may then nourish others. This marked the first of the four “Jubilee Days” for catechists to be held this year in Westminster Diocese. For more information and to book, please visit:: https://rcdow.org.uk/evangelisation/jubilee-days-for-catechists-2025/

A YouGov poll for the University of Exeter has found Catholic support for Labour is eroding: 40 per cent of those questioned said the likelihood of them voting for the party was zero, while 29 per cent strongly support Labour. Twenty-eight per cent of Catholics questioned said they would vote for Reform and 22 per cent of the 2,284 adults polled 

Gerry Teague of St Joseph’s parish, Wealdstone, has been awarded the Benemerenti papal medal. Fr Thomas Malal SDS, parish priest of St Joseph’s said Teague had contributed to parish life for more than four decades including as a Eucharistic, Minister, part of the music ministry, and a Mass steward during the Covid pandemic. He described Teague’s contribution as “outstanding” and “consistent throughout his life.” A helper with HCPT since 1971, Teague worked in Africa as a volunteer engineer with the Volunteer Missionary Movement, later working in communications for charities including CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children and UNESCO. He is married to the Tablet contributor, Ellen Teague. 

A brand-new ecumenical report on prison reform features contributions by Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton, the lead Catholic bishop on prisons and from the Rt Rev Rachel Treweek of Gloucester, the Anglican Bishop to HM Prisons. Picking up the Pieces: an ecumenical approach to criminal justice reform makes recommendations for reform based on the shared values of Christian churches. These include support for prisoners’ children and families; investment in restorative justice and empowering churches, faith communities and organisation to continue providing vital services. The report was researched and collated by PACT (The Prison Advice Care Trust).

Catholic sailor Russ Fairman, from Hampshire was among 27 people to be honoured with the British Citizen Award at the Palace of Westminster, celebrating outstanding contributions to society. Fairman, a long-standing supporter of Stella Maris, undertook a sailing pilgrimage around the UK in 2023 to raise funds and awareness for the maritime charity.

Global school feeding charity Mary’s Meals is taking part in the official activities of the Youth Jubilee, including the 2 August in Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, where the Jubilee gathering this week was expected to draw an estimated 1.5 million pilgrims. 

The parish of St John the Baptist in Perth last week welcomed the Superior General of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart Of Mary, Mother of Christ to a Mass celebrating the Feast of St Bridget of Sweden, patronss of Europe. Rev Dr Mother Maureen Akabogu was visiting Sisters who have been based in the St Ninian’s Convent in the city for several years. Parish priest Fr Elias Gweme offered thanks for the Sisters’ “presence, witness and service among us”. 

A new church walking trail has been launched in Edinburgh. The initiative, jointly launched by the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Scotland, takes in two Catholic churches, St Andrews Cathedral and St Patrick’s in the Old Town’s Cowgate, in addition to such historic churches as St Giles’ Cathedral, the Canongate Kirk and Old St Paul’s, most of which are open through the week and weekends.

The Joint Lectionary Project representing bishops of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand met in Maynooth last week to review the text of the readings for Sundays and Solemnities. The three conferences have been working together since 2023 to develop a new Lectionary based on the Revised New Jerusalem Bible. Texts for weekday Masses and the celebration of saints will be completed by May 2026, and Masses for the sacraments and funerals by the end of 2026.  Fr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, a member of the Lectionary Project, launched his book Preparing for the New Lectionary during the meeting.

“We are really indebted to our grandparents,” Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said in his message for the World Day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. He expressed his gratitude to them for reminding people of the past and for nurturing a love of God and a hope and confidence in the future. On Sunday the Catholic Grandparents’ Pilgrimage took place in Knock Shrine, Co Mayo. Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam reminded the faithful that Pope Leo has called on every parish to become involved in a “revolution” of gratitude and care through regular visits to the elderly and support networks for them.   

Around 50 fifty members of the Dominican Sisters in Ireland have signed a public letter denouncing the “indiscriminate” destruction of lives in Gaza. The Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Catherine of Siena, Cabra issued the letter following their general chapter. Demanding an end to violence and the return of hostages, the Sisters called for the opening of border crossings to allow humanitarian aid in to Gaza and for an end to collective punishments such as starvation or forced displacement as weapons of war.

More than 6000 people climbed Croagh Patrick for the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage, fewer than previous years according to organisers. Speaking to The Tablet, Archbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam stressed that though Reek Sunday, “is an important once a year event” the mountain “is open 365 days of the year”. The pilgrimage coincided with the All Ireland Football Final, the celebration of World Day for Grandparents in Knock and other events.  Pilgrims now climb Croagh Patrick throughout the year, he said. For the first time this year ceremonies on the summit included an ecumenical service.

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