SMALLEST PARISH

Fewer than a dozen to greet the Bishop
FEWER than a dozen Catholics will be in and around Lynford, Norfolk, when Bishop Parker of Northampton goes there tomorrow to make an episcopal visitation at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation and St. Stephen.
The parishioners never were many32 at the most. And now the clearance of neighbouring villages for a War Office battle-training area and for the planting of trees in Government rcafforestation schemes have reduced it to the smallest parish in the country.
Occasionally —when the Army's training season is on a few soldiers add to the congregation.
Fewer than a dozen parishioners, and six of these are children of one family. The parish priest, Fr. Archibald Hart, describes them as "very zealous."
Lytiford, near Thetford, has a permanent church built of the best flint, "which can last for ever," and soft stone.
It is nearly 75 years old and was built by a Catholic lady for Catholics in the household and among the tenants of a near-by great estate. It was consecrated nearly 70 years ago.