Page 22 - The Portal Magazine - December 2024

THE P RTAL December 2024 Page 22

Great Blessings

on the South Coast

Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane visit Christ the King,
Langney, Eastbourne

ANGNEY IS a district of the south coast town of Eastbourne. The Ordinariate’s presence is at the
LChurch of Christ the King, 3 Princes Road, BN23 6 HT. This a modern building situated on a major
road junction with a large roundabout. Opening the door and entering into the building is an entry into a
beautiful and holy space. The church is large with a number of ancillary rooms. On the Sunday we attended
there were just shy of one hundred and fifty folk present.

The welcome was warm and friendly. else’s building felt like one was like a
All ages and every continent were Troublesome Aunt who had outstayed
represented. All engaged with the mass, her welcome. Then he thought, “Well, I’m
prayers and singing. The serving team was the Parish Priest here now. I can be more
unobtrusively efficient. It was a pleasure to generous to the Ordinariate Group.”
be part of the worship that was obviously a
Anabel Rock
weekly occasion. After mass, tea and coffee Anabel Rock Plans were made to move the Ordianriate
were served in one of the halls, before to Christ the King, from Easter 2021 and
Ordinariate members and friends enjoyed a they have been at the church for nearly
shared lunch. four years now. Fr Neil took over from a
priest who had been at Christ the King for
This is a well led and deeply spiritual twenty two years. It has been a long journey.
Ordinariate Group. It was a joy to be The first thing Fr Neil did was to move the
part of it, if only for one Sunday. After Tabernacle back to the centre. There were
lunch we were able to chat with Fr Neil other adjustments that were required. Not
Andrew Leach
Chatfield. He told us that he was at Our Andr e w L each everyone was happy with these changes, but
Lady of Ransom as an assistant priest. others welcomed them. Some folk who had
When the priest retired from here Fr Neil left returned.
was asked whether he would take over as
the parish priest. He was pleased so to do Fr Neil told us that as Parish Priest he
so and will have served seven years come loves his people and will defend them to the
February next year. Having taken over death. That is the bottom line for him. It has
as parish priest, he found a few issues. taken a lot of adjusting. Teaching the correct
The Ordinariate mass was celebrated faith is important. It is troubling how many
at St Agnes but being in somebody Colin Catholics do not know their own faith. Ø
olin
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