GSS South London Chapters (LG5&6) Epiphany Festival

Epiphany Festival 2006

The 2006 Epiphany Festival was held on Saturday 7th January at St Nicholas Church, Plumstead, London SE18, by kind permission of the Vicar, Fr Andrew Stevens SSC.

The day began at 12 Noon when Fr Andrew Stevens, Vicar of S.Nicholas, Chaplain to Holy Redeemer Chaplain and Forward in Faith Regional Dean for Southwark, led the singing of the Angelus at the Crib prior to a Solemn Concelebrated Mass of the Feast of the Epiphany at which he was the Principal Celebrant. He was joined by the preacher, Fr Tim Bugby; the Warden, Fr David Moore and six other Priests Associate of the Guild. Fr Desmond Banister, NSM Curate at St Anselm, Hatch End and Headmaster of Quainton Hall School was the Deacon and Bro Christopher Noke, a final year ordinand at SEITE and a member of the Incarnate Word Chapter. Councillor Craig Aburn, the Guild Master of Ceremonies and Group Councillor, was assisted by Bro Reg Martin, the MC of St Nicholas and Treasurer of the Holy Redeemer Chapter, and members his serving team plus others.

The Mass was sung to Victoria's Missa Quarti Toni and we are very grateful to James Holmes for organising the music and the choir and to Fr Mark Elliot Smith for playing the organ.

The ceremonies proper to the feast were celebrated, namely the Proclamation of the Feasts for the coming year and the Blessing of Chalk.

The customary hot lunch was prepared and served by Barbara Aburn, Craig's mother, and was well received, as usual, by over one hundred hungry festival-goers. Our grateful thanks to her for all her hard work before and on the day and to her team of helpers.

After lunch the day continued with Solemn Guild Office, Sermon, Procession to the Crib and Benediction at which the Warden officiated and Fr Timothy Bugby ssc, Superior-General of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament preached. His sermon was greeted by a spontaneous round of applause - apparently a first for him. To read Fr Bugby's sermon in full, please click here.

It was a joy and a privilege to welcome our Warden, Fr David Moore, our Secretary-General, Councillor Terry Doughty and several past and present Group Councillors and many members who had come from far and wide to celebrate our festival with us. It was particularly nice to see Peter Graham, formerly Group Councillor for Bristol who, now a Roman Catholic, still supports the Guild.

We are very grateful to Fr Andrew Stevens for allowing us to use St Nicholas Church and Hall once again and for producing the service booklets for the day. Thanks, also, to everyone who helped in any way with preparations and on the day. It was another joyful festival and, we pray, a worthy offering to our Lord.