Cardinal celebrates 175th Anniversary Mass at Farm Street Church

Image: MMazur/CBCEW

A Solemn Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady (Monday 9th December) completed a year of Jubilee celebrations at Farm Street, marking 175 years since the church was opened by the Jesuits in Britain.

The Mass included a trumpet concerto (Vivaldi's only solo work to include brass instruments), a choir singing hymns which entered the church led by the Processional Cross, Holy Communion and blessings, music by composers Luca Uggias, Christopher Walker, and Eric Thiman, and a homily by Cardinal Nichols, which you can read here.

Farm Street Church opened its doors on 31st July 1849, on the Solemnity of Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Jubilee 175 commenced on 8th December 2023, with a Solemn Mass celebrated by His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James's.

The celebrations this year included an exhibition on the history of Farm Street Church, arranged by the British Jesuit Archives, a fundraising concert by pianist Bobby Chen, an ecumenical pilgrimage to Canterbury, a morning visit by the Household Cavalry, and a Jubilee Ball at the Savile Club.

Commenting, Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, parish priest at Farm Street Church, said: "This was a wonderful celebration of thanksgiving for all that Farm Street has been about throughout 175 years as a place of welcome and oasis of prayer in the centre of the city. We have given thanks throughout this jubilee year for how so many have embraced the Catholic faith, returned to the Church, where Catholic artists, writers and musicians have flourished, and where we have reached out to the poorest who are so much at the heart of the Farm Street family."

To mark the year, the team at Farm Street also launched an anniversary campaign to raise £175,000, which was surpassed thanks to the generosity of so many. These funds will be divided among several important parish projects:

• Refurbishment of the wooden floor of the church

• Essential repair work to the roof of the church building

• Continuing reduction of the parish deficit

• Support of Catholic Listeners, an initiative of the diocese

• Ongoing charitable works of the parish and other capital expenses

Reflecting on this significant moment for Farm Street, Fr Dominic concluded: "But a jubilee is more than giving thanks. It has been a time for renewal of our mission and the incredible £200,000 raised will be used well as we look forward to carrying out our mission with new resolve and inspiration in the years to come".

For those who were unable to attend the Solemn Mass, you can watch a recorded livestream HERE - The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 9th December 2024 - YouTube.

You can view You can also download the Order of Service by clicking on this file link