Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Easter Monday at Dorchester-on-Thames


As has been the custom for a few years now, a High Mass in the Extraordinary Form was celebrated in the lovely gem of a church of St Birinus in Dorchester-on-Thames, near Oxford on Easter Monday. The parish priest, Fr John Osman was the celebrant, and he was assisted by fr. Lawrence Lew OP as deacon, and Fr Guy Nichols Cong. Orat. as sub-deacon. fr. Lawrence also preached the sermon which can be read here.

Singers from the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, led by Christopher Hodkinson, sang the Gregorian chant propers, and Sheppard's 'Plainsong Mass for a Mean' which alternates chant and polyphony beautifully. After Mass, the sacred ministers and the choir processed to the grave of Mary Berry, foundress of the Schola Gregoriana of Cambridge, to pray for her and to sprinkle her grave with the newly-blessed baptismal waters of Easter.

Above and below are some photos from the Mass taken by Dr Joseph Shaw, and more photos from his set are online here.



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