Church of England flock turns Catholic
Half of congregation follow ‘amazed’ Vicar
By Paddy Cooper
A VICAR and half his congregation are leaving their church to become Catholics.
Father Christopher Pearson of St Agnes’s CofE Church in Kennington is leading a group of around 45 people into a new haven created by the Vatican for Anglican traditionalists.
He and his flock joined parishioners at St Wilfrid’s RC Church in Lorrimore Road for Ash Wednesday Mass last week.
It marked the start of a journey that will end with them being received into the Catholic Church just before Easter.
Controversy has been raging in the Church of England for years over many issues, from women priests to gay rights, but in 2009 the Vatican issued an order from the Pope setting up a special group for those who wished to convert.
This group, called The Ordinariate, has attracted about 30 CofE churches across the UK and five in central London.
Father Pearson, 46, who has been in charge of St Agnes’s for 15 years, said there was no bad feeling among those leaving and those left behind.
He said: “If anything, I set the bar too high – I’m amazed anyone came with me.
“I said to my congregation, ‘Unless you completely believe in doing this, 100 per cent, don’t’.
“I have no real problem with women priests or civil partnerships, but they are a bar to unity.”
He also paid tribute to Father Gregory Moore, the 81-year-old parish priest of St Wilfrid’s, for his help and advice.
Father Moore said that he was delighted to welcome the people from St Agnes’s.
He said: “St Wilfrid’s is an ordinary, homely parish and we hope they will indeed find a home here.”
One member of the congregation making the change was David West, 58, from Caterham, who has been a member at St Agnes’s since he was six months old.
He said: “It’s a real wrench.”
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