Kent: First Mass since Reformation draws worshippers

Around 75 people attended a Sung Latin Mass at a disused church on Romney Marsh in what was the first Mass held there since before the Reformation.

Fr Marcus Holden celebrated the Mass at St Augustine's Snave, accompanied by the Victoria Consort who sang William Byrd's four-part Mass setting.
St Augustine's, declared redundant in 1983, is one of a unique group of medieval churches on a 100 square mile stretch of lowland marshland, now looked after by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust.

Marygold Turner, Latin Mass Society representative for Kent, who organised the Mass said: "It is a gorgeous old church, simple but dignified. Everyone said the Mass was marvellous. The church was pretty full, we couldn't have accommodated many more people. People came from London and locally and there were quite a few non Catholics there as well."

Members of the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust attended and Trust President John Doyle made a speech in which he welcomed the fact the church was being used.

John Hendy, who leads guided tours on behalf of the Trust said: "It was a totally uplifting and an extremely spiritual occasion with the words of the Latin Mass, Byrd's inspiring music, the tinkling of bells and the air filled with sweet smelling incense."

There are plans to repeat the Mass next year.

For information about the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust visit: http://rmhct.org.uk

For information about St Augustine's, visit: http://rmhct.org.uk/our-churches/st-augustine-snave/