Reports from around Britain

CANVASS1NG has not been the sole perquisite ‘---4 of the political pundits in the past fortnight. It has been going on intensively in Waterloo, Liverpool, for quite another reason. More than 50 volunteers have visited 930 homes in the parish of St. Thomas of Canterbury. Their purpose is to pinpoint a mission which opens on Sunday.
The canvassing team comprised members of the Union of Catholic Mothers, some of whom pushed their prams round on afternoon visits, men of the Young Men's Society. and Children of Mary. At each house they left a leaflet advertising the mission and filled up a census card. These will be used by the missioners on their visitation.
Described as a mission to Catholics and non-Catholics, it is being conducted by Fr. Kevin O'Brien and Fr. Antony Gilbey. Questions will be answered publicly each evening and several double-pulpit debates will take place in the church.
Pocklington centenary
Pocklington Catholics celebrated the centenary of St. Mary's Church this week. Building began in 1863 and the church was ready a year later. Constructed in local bricks, the church was never completed according to plans because of a recession in Pocklington industry ahich hit local Catholics rather hard.
• Fr. G. Croker, the parish priest, who has carried out continuous renovations to the church since his arrival in 1944, hopes to complete the building when the number of parishioners increases again. Catholics in the area have increased from 150 to 375 in the past 21 years.
Stilettos out Stiletto-heeled women were barred from the opening of a £365.000 school at Sunderland this week. The school serves the parishes of English Martyrs, St. Hilda's and Si. Better's. It was opened hi' the Vicar General of the diocese, Mgr. Cunningham.
St. Hilda's parish priest, Fr. Philip Smyth, said experience had shown that stiletto heels can mark the floors.
Stamford Hill recital The first organ recital to be given in St. Ignatius Church, Stamford Hill, by a visiting organist since the last ■Aar mill be held on October 27 at 8 p.m. The organist is Mr. Peter Hurford;of St. Albans Cathedral. The instrument was recently removed from a cramped position above the sanctuary to a gallery at the back of the church.
Banbury school
A new primary school is to be built at Banbury. The first stage will have three classrooms for 120 pupils, but eventually there will be seven classrooms for 280 pupils. St. John's, the present primary school, is full, and a disused preparatory school, St. Louis', has been acquired to take the overflow. The new school s% ill be built on land adjoining the site of a proposed Catholic church hall.
New Sheffield priest
Fr. George Collins, parish priest of St. Patrick's, Barnsley Road, Sheffield, will succeed the late Mgr. John Dinn as parish priest of St. Marie's, Sheffield. Fr. James Flavin of Si. Philip's, Middleton, Leeds, takes over from Fr. Collins.
Bradford centre Bradford now has a Catholic Centre. Situated in Sunbridge Road, the premises were recently vacated by the Catholic Bookshop. It will house Catholic societies needing accommodation, and mill be under the guidance of Fr. Thomas Ronchetti. Part of its maintenance costs will come from the sale of Christmas cards.
Day's pay for Y.C.W.
A thousand members of the Young Christian Workers each gave one day's pay last week, on the feast of St. Teresa of Lisieux, for the development of the Y.C.W. in England.
Record pilgrim 'airlift'
The All-Night Vigil Group took a record number of 700 pilgrims to Lourdes ihe last two weekends. They travelled in seven chartered planes from Cardiff, Bristol. Birmingham. London and Gatwick.
£300 for children
A collection at Leeds Cathedral last Sunday for the diocese's Children's Homes raised £300. It followed an appeal by the Homes' administrator, Fr. John Murphy.