|
A Snapshot of Catholic England in the 1950s
by
Riichard Collins
Three siblings in this photograph and, left of the celebrant,
Francis Scholes, future Editor of the Toronto Star
Those were the days. We were happy in the knowledge that we belonged to a Faith that claimed to be the one true Faith where there was no such thing as liturgical change. "I can categorically state" said Fr Barry, dipping his hand into a bowl of olives. "That there will never be laymen or women on the sanctuary" (apart from male altar servers, that is). And we believed him, certain that rubrics and doctrinal truths were just that. Parish notices were read out before the homily and special attention was paid to donations in the collection plate. Weekly totals of the offerings were announced and special votes of thanks given to the three donors of the ten shilling note (50 pence) and the two donors of the one pound note and the donor of the five pound note (gasps of breath at this stage). The average weekly wage was less than five pounds so a donation of that size would be today's equivalent of more than five hundred pounds! There were no ten pound notes then. |
REPLY: John Nolan June 28, 2013 7 I much preferred serving at funerals; the rite was more impressive, they were on a weekday so you got out of school, there was a ride to the cemetery in a big black car. By 1960 half-a-crown was on the stingy side and in my parish it was a rare best man who tipped you five bob. |
Reply: jadis June 30, 2013 I can only think of one 'bad' practice and that was the overnight fast before receiving Holy Communion at Mass the next day." Agreed. My grandmother - a diabetic from the age of 35 to her death at 56 in 1946 - was unable to take Communion for years (any sort of dispensation was unknown to her). Also the nonsense about swallowing toothpaste or water when brushing your teeth. Again this was probably over scrupulosity, but it terrified first communicants. My father got half a crown in 1926 for serving at his Grandfather's funeral - but this was a bit of an event. By the mid 60s this was my weekly pocket money, and would buy an Enid Blyton paperback in WH Smiths. |
Return to top or Back to Heston Parish main menu