...and to Lambeth Palace...

...for the launch of a fascinating new book, Reunion Revisited by Fr Mark Vickers.  This fills in many of the gaps in the story of Anglican/Catholic dialogue in the early and middle 20th century, and shows Cardinal Bourne to have been more sympathetic to the plight of Anglicans than has generally been thought. It all helps to add interesting background information to the establishment of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham so many years later, in the early years of a new century.

Lambeth Palace was most welcoming and  is all that it ought to be - panelled rooms, fine portraits, glorious gardens. It was a splendid evening. Lots of friends to meet and lots of good conversations. Among many others, I talked to Father Mark himself, of course, and  Fr Richard Biggerstaff of the St Barnabas Society, and to  Fr Nicholas Schofield archivist of the Diocese of Westminster,   Incidentally, Fr Nicholas has a feature, in the next issue of FAITH magazine, about British Catholics and the 1914-18 war...

Later, an agreeable walk along the Thames...I haven't actually ever walked that stretch on the southern bank between Lambeth and Westminster bridges before. Glorious views of Parliament, all glowing and mellow in the fading light.