After three years of curacy, Fr Nigel will be moving on from St Benet’s to be the assistant priest at St Michael’s, Croydon. Sunday 20th September will be his last Sunday with us. I hope people will make a special effort to attend the 11.00 am Mass on that day in order to say farewell and to thank Fr Nigel for his work and presence amongst us.
Please see below some details about that celebration.
New COVID restrictions
It is with great disappointment that we have to announce that plans for a celebratory glass of champagne in our parish garden have had to be cancelled because of the new COVID restrictions on assembly which come into force on Monday. Our parish celebration will consist, therefore, in the Parish Mass at the end of which will be a time of thanks and farewell to Fr Nigel, along with the presentation of a farewell gift. It will not, however, be possible to hold any sort of social gathering.
Spatzenmesse
The 11.00 am Mass will be accompanied, as a special celebration, by a small professional choir performing Mozart’s Sparrow Mass. This will take place in complete conformity with requirements for social distancing. This should add an extra sense of solemnity and celebration to the Mass. There will still be no congregational singing, however.
Farewell Gift
We will make a presentation to Fr Nigel of a farewell gift. If anyone has not yet contributed to this, please make an online electronic payment to our parish PCC account. The account details can be found here.
Church capacity
You are reminded that St Benet’s can hold a maximum of 40 people for public worship under present COVID regulations. You are advised to arrive early to ensure you have a seat for the Mass. If we run out of seats, you may be asked to come back to a later Mass.
Fr Peter Anthony
