Readers will be familiar with of the names. I see some former TAC clergy too.
AISBITT Osmond John
ALLDRITT Nicholas Sebastian Fitzansculf
BENNIE Stanley James Gordon
BERRY Kenneth Percy John
BOUNDY David
CANN Christopher James
CORBYN John Robert
COPUS Brian George
GIBBONS Paul James
GILL Brian Alvan
GRIEVES Ian Leslie
GIFFIN Alan Howard Foster
GULL William John
HUNWICKE John William
MAUNDER John David
MINCHEW Donald Patrick
NARUSAWA Masaki Alec
READER-MOORE Anthony
STAFFORD David George
WATTS Franklin Charles
WESTON Ivan John
So where are all the naysayers, who said it would never happen, now? Come on. Where are you? (Cf. Matt 8:26.)
Fr Hunwicke!!! Te Deum Laudamus!!!
Yes! Shame, he even gave up his fine blogging for this.
According to the man himself it was something he posted on the blog that caused the trouble in the first place. I can hazard a guess at what but I don’t want to stir things. I would very much hope that he will start to publish again in some form.
That was also the very first name I was looking for in the list!
Despite this very unfortunate delay, Msgr Newton kept showing his steady support for Fr Hunwicke, e.g. by somewhat ostentatiously appointing him to deliver the annual Latin sermon in January (which is normally done by a priest and thus required a special indult). I really admire Fr Hunwicke for his patience and humility. This once again confirms that the UK Ordinariate gets kind of ‘creme de la creme’ as far as clergy are concerned.
The list is much longer than probably anyone could expect. Tentative announcements a month or two ago seemed to indicate half a dozen or so ordinations only.
I am not that familiar with TAC to identify anyone else than Fr Maunder, so I would greatly appreciate it if our host could indicate how many former TAC clergy are there on the list altogether. Fascinating, how some former splits in the Anglican Communion come to the end within the Ordinariate framework.
Fr Gill is the former Vicar General of the TTAC.
Well yes, Fr John Maunder. And I also see Fr Brian Gill, who of course is the former Vicar General of TTAC.
The really strange name on that list is Fr Franklin Watts. The only clergymen of a similar name that I can find are an archdeacon in the Charismatic Episcopal Church and a possibly deceased Canon in the Anglican Church of Australia.
Re: Franklin Watts – there’s a comment on an old post on the Anglo-Catholic with a comment (“Frank Watts”) giving a short autobiography. http://www.theanglocatholic.com/2011/06/fr-longenecker-on-the-ordinariates/
Good catch. Given he says he is an American it’s possible he is/was the CEC clergyman that I stumbled across.
Thanks for that link. It seems that it might be really the same man, as he mentions former ministry in RAF chaplaincy and UK residence, and further writes (in June 2011): “God has not opened the door here for me in the UK Ordinariate. Please keep me and my family in your prayers, that God would give us the grace to know His will and to do it.”
If he is to be ordained now, it is really a magnificent story of trust and faith.
Small correction – Fr Newton does not have the invitation to deliver the Latin Sermon in his gift. See Part 6 of the Regulations of Congregation for the Conduct of Ceremonies in Congregation, and certain other Ceremonies of the University of Oxford: “6.13 On the first day of Hilary Full Term a Latin Sermon (to be preceded by the Litany read by one of the Proctors or by another member of Convocation appointed by them) shall be preached in the Church of St Mary the Virgin by persons nominated in turn by the heads of the colleges and societies, in the customary order of seniority”
In other words the invitation to Father Hunwicke was from the University and was a manifestation of academic support. Father Newton as Ordinary agreed that Father Hunwicke should do so – after all as Anglican Bishop of Ebbsfleet he had preached at Father Hunwicke’s licensing for thc Church of St Thomas-the-Martyr in 2007!
And if you enjoy reading Latin here is the peroration: “Ideoque et nos, tantam habentes impositam nubem testium, Omnipotentem deprecemur pro Ecclesia, quam pacificare custodire adunare et regere sic dignetur ut per orbem terrarium Deo Patri, Filio, et Spiritui Sancto sit Gloria et magnificentia, imperium et potestas, et nunc et in Omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.”
[which I haltingly construe as "Therefore, surrounded by so great a company of witnesses, let us ask Almighty God to grant His Church such peace, protection and unity that throughout the world there may be ascribed to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, glory and praise, sovereignty and power, now and for evermore. Amen."]
It is good to know that whatever the obstacle was thought to be, Father Hunwicke’s time of trial is now over!
Mourad, thanks for clarification that it was not Msgr Newton who appointed Fr Hunwicke. Nevertheless, the information about the Latin Sermon was somewhat ostentatiously put on the UK Ordinariate’s website. The relevant announcement read: “John Hunwicke, who is well known for his erudite writing on liturgy and Classics, gave the sermon in the University Church of St Mary the Virgin on Sunday 15 January, the first anniversary of the establishment of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham, with the permission and blessing of the Ordinary.” Maybe I am wrong, but when I first read it, I really felt that there was also some message of on-going support behind the face value of the press release.
I cordially disagree with the Once-and-future Fr Hunwicke on a number of issues, but even some of his most implacable detractors recognised that his ministry as a priest in the Church of England was exemplary. I was distressed when I learned that his ordination as a Catholic priest was to be deferred, and I rejoice to learn that the matter is shortly to be put right. The Catholic Church was enriched by his reception as a layman, and it will be further enriched by his renewed priestly service.
Giffin is I’m assuming Dr GRIFFIN, late Rector of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe in the City of London
Some names are indeed surprising. Compared to my previous projection I had posted here in the comments, 5 Anglican Priests (some of them already received as laymen in the ordinariate) I expected to be ordained finally will not, and on the contrary 10 that I hadn’t heard of will be. One is a surprise, because no later than March, he was still trying to have his marriage convalidated. I’m happy he sorted this out. The only sad thing is that, again, there is no Church in Wales Priest in the batch… (Fr. Gill’s group is in Presteigne, Wales though) even though many had expressed an interest in the ordinariate. Next year, I hope!
+ PAX et BONUM
If I recall correctly Dr Kirk was on your list too. Any idea what the story is there? I know one or two former clergy have decided not to go forward for ordination but I’d be surprised if he was one of them. Also when you say that 5 you expected to be ordained “finally” will not, do you mean that they won’t be ordained at all or just that they won’t be ordained this year?
Dr Kirk remains an Incumbent in the Church of England until 30 June of this year. I’d imagine there would be some difficulty if he were publicly announced to be a candidate for priestly ordination into the Ordinariate at this stage.
Thanks for that.
I dont know, I only know that they aren’t on the official list. Yes, Fr. Kirk is one of them; 2 other are very old, and that’s a possible explanation.
+ PAX et BONUM
I don’t think age per se should be a barrier to any great degree. Unless I’m totally losing my memory I’m almost certain that one of the ordinands in the West Country last year was close to 90 years old.
I didn’t mean that Mgr. Newton would have refused them, but that they would have themselves decided not to burden themselves with the necessary steps for ordinariate priesthood (formation session each month in London, the possible care of a group etc…).
There was one who I expected to be ordained last year, and I was very surprised when he wasn’t. However, I know know the reason, and I understand. To his lasting credit, he has simply laid down his priestly ministry and taken up another, which he is pursuing with customary gusto!
Please pray for those not on this list who probably should be.
God willing, it will come to pass… All in His good time..
I keep looking for the name of Fr Stephen Smuts somewhere!
The diaconal ordinations will be on Saturday 26th May at 10am in Westminster Cathedral.
And for 6 of the deacons to be, priestly ordination will follow within days!
This is such an exciting time to be in the Catholic Church!
Dr. Kirk retires from his position as Vicar of St. Stephen’s, Lewisham, on 30 June of this year, on the 40th anniversary of his ordination in the Church of England.