Holy Trinity

After the death of Fr. Sheen, the benefice was put into suspension and there followed three uncertain years during which the diocese sought to find a satisfactory solution to the future of the parish, first by way of a dual-role appointment (in this case the Assistant Director of Education for the diocese Fr. Norman Botham) and then under Fr. Dennis Clements, a link with Christ Church, Bath. Holy Trinity was temporarily deprived of some of its customary devotions and Catholic privileges, but the Parochial Church Council was determined that its distinctive churchmanship should be fully maintained. Thankfully in 1975 the Right of Presentation by our patrons was restored, and in April 1976 Fr. Walter D. Speakman was instituted as Rector of Holy Trinity and Minister of Christ Church by the Right Revd. Frank West, the Suffragan Bishop of Taunton. Mass was now to be celebrated on three weekdays, and in 1977 a parish pilgrimage to Walsingham was organised.

Despite a recent theft of several items, Fr. Speakman insisted that the church must be kept open during the day as it was used by so many people for prayer and meditation. As a proof of this, extracts from two letters were published in the Parish Magazine, one of which read: "Truly God is in this place - He reigns over all from His Cross and Altar - this is as a Church should be. The uncluttered sanctuary and altar allows all to see the Mass. Don't let it be spoilt by closing up that open lovely sanctuary. I live out of Bath, but always say my prayers there." A visitor from Australia took up the same theme, writing: "A beautiful church, with superb Liturgy, and with Christ supreme reigning from His Cross and His Throne. Alleluia." How often today our present parish priest, Fr. Oakes, when referring in a sermon to Christ's redeeming Sacrifice, turns round in the pulpit and focuses all our eyes on the large hanging Crucifix.

In June 1977 Holy Trinity joined with Fr. Denys Goodman, the parish priest of St. Mary's, Bathwick, in giving thanks on the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, recalling with gratitude his care and concern for us during the time the benefice was in suspension.

One of our churchwardens, Richard Fielden, was at that time a member of General Synod. He recorded that "the highlight of the February group of sessions was Cardinal Hume's visit - his transparent goodness and humility won all hearts". It is also interesting to read Richard's entertaining comments in those somewhat uncertain days of liturgical revision, such as when he says: "Fr. Brian Brindley's assertion that Sundays after Trinity 'makes no sense at all' caused the Synod to reverse a previous decision that 'Pentecost' should be the subsidiary rather than the main title of those Sundays." - plus a change! There was also a welcome and more permanent change as his report continues: "Other members pleaded the causes of various saints who had been dropped from the Calendar by the Revision Committee, with the result that St. Catherine of Siena, St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Martin of Tours, and St. Edmund, King and Martyr, were triumphantly restored."

On Rogation Sunday 1978, at the beginning of the Solemn Mass and continuing the old tradition, Holy Trinity went into Queen Square in procession singing the Litany and praying for God's blessing on the fruits of the earth and the city of Bath.

Fr. Speakman was already 63 years old when he came to Holy Trinity, so it could be said that his was a "caretaker incumbency". In those two years, however, he did much to stabilise our financial situation and restore some of the Catholic joy and privileges. Many changes were taking place in the Church of England, particularly in the liturgical area; it would have been unwise for him to try to introduce any of these changes during his short tenure, but it was good that his successor was well prepared and ready to accept this challenge. After Fr. Speakman's retirement the benefice was put into suspension yet again, and on 17th December 1978 Fr. Alistair Haig was licensed as Priest-in-Charge.

In his first letter in the Parish Magazine Fr. Alistair referred to the sermon at his Licensing, in which the Bishop had acknowledged our position as an Anglo-Catholic parish and recognised the part the Anglo-Catholic movement plays in the Church of England as a whole. Fr. Alistair continued in his straightforward way: "I am pretty sure that if 'we as a parish' do not show signs of determination to open ourselves to the Spirit of God, we are very likely to be closed down...and I have already said that if the parish does not show signs of coming to life then I shall not stay for too long!" Later he comments strongly on the general outlook, saying: "If we as the Anglo-Catholic movement do not take our full part in a positive approach to the life and teaching of the Church, if we only bury our heads in the sand, and let storms pass over - or otherwise, merely face the storm without a firm anchorage in the true and deep Faith and the life and discipline of the Catholic Church - then we shall find that we shall end up either flat on our backs or flat on our faces; and the Church of England will go on its own way without us, and to its own loss." That was his Churchillian rallying call to Holy Trinity at the beginning of his ministry here.

Fr. Alistair did not waste much time. Mass would now be celebrated on five days a week instead of three, and the Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer would be said daily (except Mondays). Two months later a School of Prayer was started on Tuesdays at lunch time during Lent and, with Easter in view, Fr. Alistair began to encourage more of the congregation to think seriously about Sacramental Confession, pointing out that "being a Catholic is not a matter of dressing up in beautiful vestments or liking incense; it means accepting Catholic teaching and Catholic discipline. One of those disciplines is going to Confession, which helps us to progress in the Christian life." He also urged people to light candles at the shrine of Our Lady, pointing out that "to light a candle brings honour to the Mother of God, and it asks her prayers for yourself, or for someone else, and brings you into her presence and therefore into the presence of God."

During the difficult years preceding the appointment of Fr. Speakman, Holy Trinity was very much indebted to Bill Portnall for the spiritual leadership he gave as Vice-Chairman. In addition to arranging for priests to conduct some services, he himself as Sacristan and Sub-Deacon maintained the standard of liturgy and worship to which Holy Trinity was accustomed. At the age of eighteen Bill had explored the possibility of a vocation to the sacred ministry but sadly had been turned down because he did not have the educational requirements necessary. For the rest of his life he remained a faithful member of Holy Trinity, taking a prominent part in the life of the Church and, on his retirement at the age of 65, Fr. Alistair persuaded him to seek ordination again. After a short period at St. Stephen's House, Oxford, he was made Deacon at Holy Trinity in December 1981, to the great joy of the large number of friends present, and ordained to the priesthood the following July in Wells Cathedral.

In 1983 the diocese agreed to restore benefice status to the parish and Fr. Alistair remained as our Rector for a further six years, determined to put Holy Trinity "on the map" so far as the diocese was concerned. During his time with us extensive roof repairs and cleaning of the outside stonework were carried out, followed by interior structural alterations in order to provide a meeting room - made possible by a generous legacy from Miss Dorothy Killen, a life-long supporter.

In 1989, a few months before he left us, Fr. Alistair organised a diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham and invited the Right Revd. George Carey (then Bishop of Bath and Wells) to lead us. The Bishop replied that he would prefer to come "just as an ordinary pilgrim". He also gave three memorable addresses. While we were there we presented him with an icon of Our Lady to commemorate his 25th anniversary of priesting.

During the interregnum following Fr. Alistair's departure a group of lay people undertook to be responsible for weekday Evening Prayer, and this continued for four years throughout the next two incumbencies. In 1990 Fr. Peter Atkinson came to us but unfortunately his calm and peaceful stay was all too short, as the diocese of Chichester had other ideas for him. In his last letter to the congregation he wrote: "I have shared in the prayer and worship of a very special community of people with a very special history and tradition. The most important thing that a parish church can be - indeed, the only thing that a parish church can be - is a house of worship and prayer. That is Holy Trinity ."

After another interregnum Fr. Michael Fountaine was appointed - an enthusiastic and popular young priest until the 1992 "Vote" split the congregation. There followed a year of pain and the uncertainty of not knowing who would be leaving us and who would be staying. It was obvious that Fr. Michael would join the Church of Rome and sadly, at Easter 1994, over 30 church members left with him.

As with so many other Catholic parishes throughout the country, this was a traumatic and painful time for us, but it was also a testing time. Fortunately we still had with us Canon Geoffrey Northcott, who had retired to Bath four years previously, and once again Holy Trinity was given a rallying call. He told us that he would look after us during the interregnum provided that we kept the Daily Mass going, put the past behind us, and faced the future in faith; it would also be necessary for many of us to take on new responsibilities. It was so good that eight years later, at Fr. Geoffrey's funeral, Fred Bovett (who has served a total of over 20 years as Churchwarden) should be able to write: " What I conclude from studying and experiencing the events of the last 35 years of Holy Trinity is that the Holy Spirit is working His own agenda, fulfilment of which is made possible by persons recognising and responding to the task in hand. The evidence was plain to see at Fr. Geoffrey's funeral, for in that large congregation sat many of those ex-Anglicans. What a joy it was to greet them, for on this occasion we were one again with a common purpose."

Two other friends of Holy Trinity who supported us so well throughout that interregnum were the Venerable John Burgess, then Archdeacon of Bath, and the Right Revd. John Richards, then Bishop of Ebbsfleet and our Episcopal Visitor. Above all, we were so grateful to the Bishop of the diocese for his decision not to suspend the Living.

So we come to the present day, and to our Rector Fr. Graham Oakes, who has faithfully continued the Catholic Tradition. The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Revd. Jim Thompson, spoke memorably in his sermon at the Induction of Fr. Graham. He said: "We have had a little turbulence here. Thankfully we haven't had many churches in this diocese where the priest has decided to enter the training for the Roman Catholic priesthood. But in all these difficulties we've never once considered closing this church. We were never even tempted. We were never willing to consider leaving 5,000 people of the parish without its parish church and without its parish priest." The Bishop paid particular tribute to the people of Holy Trinity: "You've stuck to it most wonderfully, taken responsibility, and seen it through to this new beginning. I hope you will build a team of people to witness and to care in this community, not as some specialised shrine, but as a missionary congregation, to win people for Christ in the houses, streets, shops and offices of the parish." This, with Fr. Graham's guidance, we have tried to do. He has kept us as one united church family with his pastoral care and concern even though, as in so many other parish churches, we have the "two integrities" in our congregation.

As in the past, Holy Trinity continues to reach out to others. Fr. Graham insists on the church being kept open from Morning Prayer until after Evening Prayer, and many people come in for a few minutes (or longer) to relax, reflect, or say a prayer - and often they leave an intercession request or just a "thank-you". On Sunday mornings after the Parish Mass coffee is served and we are joined by several young men (and occasionally women) who are homeless or needy and have come to collect their "Genesis" lunch vouchers; they stay for a chat, often go and light a candle (which suggests they have done this before) and join with us in saying the Angelus. This we regard as an important part of our outreach in this Urban Priority Area.

Holy Trinity takes its full part in the life of the Church in Bath. We are regularly represented at meetings of Churches Together, and our Wednesday Fellowship and Lunch-time Julian Group welcome members from other churches. The world AIDS Day Vigil is held at Holy Trinity every year at the end of November - a very moving and haunting experience - and on the first Friday of every month the devotion of the Way of the Cross is made in prayer for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Our history has been at times painful and often fraught with uncertainty. There have also been long periods of deepening our spiritual lives through the steady teaching of the Catholic Faith and discipline by devoted parish priests. We give thanks for our heritage and the grace we have been given over the years to persevere. We look to the future with hope, committing ourselves with renewed strength to the task of building up the Kingdom of God, and confident that Holy Trinity will continue to play its part as a haven of Catholic Worship in the centre of Bath. Some years ago when "Pastoral Reorganisation" threatened our exsistence, a former Rector of Bath Abbey, Prebendary Geoffrey Lester, said at Bath Deanery Synod: "The City and the Church of England in Bath would be the poorer without Holy Trinity at the centre."

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