by Frances Gumley

The parishioners at Downham Market, the small Norfolk town which shot to prominence when Fr Oswald Baker, their former parish priest, championed the Tridentine cause, have received a new parish priest after a three year wait. But they have no presbytery for him to live in because Fr Baker refuses to move.
Bishop Alan Clark of East Anglia was present at the induction ceremoney of Fr Peter Brown the new parish priest, last weekend. For the last three years Downham Market has been served from Our Lady of Pity, Swaffenh am.
Fr Brown is still faced with a legacy of problems from Fr Baker's Tridentine stand.
Fr Baker's refusal to move in answer to requests from Bishop Clark, means that Fr Brown has to run his parish from a bungalow half a mile away, while Fr Baker uses the presbytery as a base from which he travels round Tridentine Mass centres all over the eastern half of England.
Fr Brown is philosophical about the presbytery. He said on Monday that the was very happy in the bungalow, which presented "a very workable arrangement".
He was full of praise for his parishioners, who have helped him to furnish his new home. "I have been overwhelmed by gifts. I suppose it's because the people are so pleased to have a priest of their own again."
He has not given up hope of one day occupying his presbytery. He has visited Fr Baker and thinks he may be reonsidering his position.
"I know Fr Baker is a man of honour," he said, "and I feel he
would not want to trespass on property belonging to people with whom he has little sympathy and whom he regards as heretics. I am sure that as a man of honour he is making preparations to move."
Fr Brown said that his bungalow had cost the diocese £13,000, but that it was an investment and would be sold as soon as Fr Baker moved out of the presbytery.
For all Fr Brown's optimism, it looks like being a long-term investment. Fr Baker has already told Bishop Clatk he has no intention of moving, and he is not a man who changes his mind easily.
This week he firmly denied , having any plans for either cooperating with Fr Brown or vacating the presbytery. "I will stay put until the end of my days," he said.