A point I did not pursue in my previous post is concerned again with the fabric of Downside. In the interview with Abbot Nicholas he talks about securing the future of the abbey church. It is of course a listed building, but apart from the local congregation, and presumably on occasion, the school, who will use so splendid a church? Although it might well have some appeal to visitors it would be deeply sad to see it reduced to a tourist attraction maintained by a charitable trust, There is also the future of the very substantial and important library.
Is there any other community willing to take on the church and community buildings? Doubtful in this day and age of declining communities and few vocations. The ICKSP have done wonderful work in taking on the ‘Dome of Home’ in New Brighton, and St Walburga and The English Martyrs in Preston, but Downside might be a bit much even for them.
One idea occurs to me - move the cathedral of the diocese of Clifton away from its bizarre pyramid in Bristol and install the cathedra, the Bishop, his Curia and ancillary staff in the monastic buildings and use the spectacular abbey church to maximum effect for what it was built, the worship of Almighty God. It might be a bit off centre in the diocese but is probably as accessible as getting in and out of a bustling city.
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Downside also has an extremely important collection of relics, probably equal if not better than the Oxford Oratory. It includes the only known relic of St Anne Line and the largest section of the Holy Cross in the UK. I am a little concerned what will happen to this.
Thank you for this. I had thought about mentioning the relics but rather assumed that the community will take those with them to their new home. That said to take them away from the chapels where they are kept, such as the skull of St Thomas of Hereford kept in the easternmost chapel as I recall would be a new “Stripping of the Altars“. It is terribly sad.
Thank you for this. I had thought about mentioning the relics but rather assumed that the community will take those with them to their new home. That said to take them away from the chapels where they are kept, such as the skull of St Thomas of Hereford kept in the easternmost chapel as I recall would be a new “Stripping of the Altars“. It is terribly sad.
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