Tradition revived

MEMBERS of other denominations joined Bexhill's Roman Catholic Community on Sunday in celebrating the revival of a town tradition dating back a century.

Flags were flying outside St Mary Magdalene's Church as the first Corpus Christi procession to be held in the town in a generation assembled behind a pipe band from The Gael.

When newly-dedicated St Mary Magdalene's staged its initial Corpus Christi procession in June 1908 it made national headlines by being the first to do so since the Reformation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Rev Canon Dr Edward Bryant, Rector of St Peter's, was accompanied by members of his congregation as he joined Parish Priest Father Chris Spain from St Mary Magdalene's and his flock for Sunday's ecumenical gathering.

The procession followed Mass, celebrated by Father Chris.

Magdalen Road was closed to traffic for the event. As the procession formed up, Father Chris explained: "We have had a full church but because of the numbers we had asked people from other churches to go to their own Mass first.

"Corpus Christi is a celebration of the body of Christ, the great gift to us, when we take it out into the world.

"Today's procession has been masterminded by Father Thomas Swaffer, our assistant priest, and put together with the help of students and staff from St Richard's Catholic College."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Taking part were many of the 52 children who had taken their first communion that morning.

During preparations for the celebration, members of the church have been attempting to establish when it last held a Corpus Christi celebration.

Marisa Beale was taking part with her daughter, Imogen, eight.

Marisa said: "My daughter is wearing the headdress and veil I wore at my first communion and Corpus Christi procession.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I would have been her age so that would have been in the late Sixties."

As the procession made off , banners flying, to the skirl of the pipes and the singing of hymns, young people strewed flower petals along Magdalen Road.

The procession made its way to the grounds of St Richard's college where, after Benediction, a family barbecue was enjoyed. In addition to a beer tent and music, children's games rounded off another chapter in St Mary Magdalene's history.

The procession made its way to the grounds of St Richard's college where, after Benediction, a family barbecue was enjoyed. In addition to a beer tent and music, children's games rounded off another chapter in St Mary Magdalene's history.

Related topics: