Mass in St Alphege's, Bath

I was privileged to attend Low Mass last Sunday in the stunning Church of St Alphege in Bath, celebrated by Fr Boniface Hill OSB, of Downside Abbey, who was instrumental in the Latin Mass Society's Priest Training Conference in Downside last August.

It was attended by 40 people, and is a great step forward for the LMS locally, as there is no regular Mass in Bath. I hope it will become a regular event.

The church was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott; he described as a 'gem', and as one of his 'favourite' works, his 'first essay in Romaneque.' More recently, Michael Forsyth, author of the 'New Pevsner' guide, described it as 'without doubt the supreme example of 20th Century architecture in Bath'. It's importance has been recognised by being upgraded from Grade II to Grade II* listing.

Although the original altar and tabernacle were tragically destroyed, the baldachino has survived with the rest of the church. It is featured in Christopher Martin's 'A Glimpse of Heaven'.