Requiem Mass for Ann Widdecombe held at Buckfast Abbey

Close friends and family were among those at Buckfast Abbey in Devon this afternoon for the funeral of Ann Widdecombe, who attended Mass there regularly. The Mass was invitation only. A public memorial will be held later this year.

In his homily, published online by Buckfast Abbey, the Right Rev David Charlesworth OSB, Abbot of Buckfast, began by stating, “In our pain and in our sufferings, Jesus brings hope to our imperfect human condition… God doesn’t usually intervene to save us from pain, and death; rather he offers Divine Grace, which leads us to a share in life everlasting.”

He said that over Easter, Ann was always present at Buckfast for the Vigil Mass and faithfully attended Solemn Mass on Sundays and Holydays.

Sir Christian Sweeting is reported to have said that her faith was “not merely something she professed, still less something she confined to Sundays, but the foundation on which she ordered her life. She rendered an exceptional service to the church by demonstrating that faith need not be hidden or apologised for in public life. At a time when many regarded religious conviction as something best kept private, she spoke plainly and fearlessly as a Catholic,” the Abbot said.

He also referenced Peter Stanford in The Tablet, who wrote, “Friendship did not follow party lines, … Indeed she liked you better once you had survived a vigorous debate with her … In her long career in the public eye, Ann was more lampooned, insulted and sniggered at than almost any other politician, certainly any male politician. She was called many cruel names, … but she not only turned the other cheek, she laughed at every new jibe.”

The Abbot contined, “In this regard, Ann took Christ as her model. In the gospel of Saint Matthew, Jesus says: ‘So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.’ There is no doubt that Ann fearlessly upheld the moral and social teachings of the Catholic Church. Her voice regarding these issues certainly upset some. We have not been told the reasons for her murder, but in past centuries, and elsewhere in the world today men and women pay with their lives for holding fast to the Christian faith. As Tertullian, a Christian writer of the 2nd century, declared, ‘The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.’”

In the midst of the shock, clamour and sometimes unwarranted comment surrounding her death, our response is to pray for the repose of her soul, to give thanks for her fortitude, and offer Holy Mass in this Abbey Church which Ann called her safe haven, he continue.

Also present was the Archbishop Emeritus of Cardiff, George Stack. The first Scripture reading was read by Jem Widdecombe and the read by the Rev John Patrick, Deacon. The intercessions were read by the Very Rev Canon Mark O’Keeffe, Dean of Plymouth Cathedral. The Abbey Choir was directed by Matthew Searles, Master of the Music and the organ was played by Charles Maxtone-Smith.

Afterwards, Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “On behalf of the Bishops of Scotland, I offer our prayerful condolences to Ann’s family, friends and all who mourn her today. We join them in commending Ann’s soul to the loving mercy of God. Ann was a woman of sincere Catholic faith, sustained by prayer and the sacraments and was happy for her faith to be known publicly. We pray that Christ welcomes her into the peace of His Kingdom.”

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