First Mass celebrated at Bletchley Park since World War Two

l-r: Maddie Read, Canon Bosco MacDonald, Barry Taylor

During the Second World War Mass was celebrated every Sunday in Hut 12 at Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire, (historic site of secret British codebreaking activities and birthplace of the modern computer), for members of GCHQ and the services. By the time GCHQ left Bletchley Park in 1946 this practice had stopped. However, on 25 January 2013 Mass was once again celebrated at GCHQ.

Some members of the GCHQ Catholic Community who attend Cheltenham's three Catholic parishes of St Gregory the Great, St Thomas More Centre and Sacred Heart's, as well as other churches in the area, meet regularly for lunch and although there have been two recent visits to Benhall by Catholic priests the idea to celebrate Mass has been growing.

With the imminent retirement of one of our group, Maddie Read, it seemed an ideal moment to arrange a Thanksgiving Mass both for Maddie and all who work here. It was thus a historical moment when, Canon Bosco MacDonald of St Gregory the Great and St Thomas More supported by Deacon Barry Taylor from Tewkesbury re-established that link with Bletchley Park.

Source: Clifton Diocese