Cardinal Vaughan's home up for sale

BY BESS TWISTON DAVIES
THE ANCESTRAL home of Cardinal Herbert Vaughan is to be sold at auction next year.
Courtfield, an idyllic property on the Welsh borders is currently occupied by the Mill Hill Missionaries, the order Vaughan founded.
His family had owned Courtfield since the 16th century and Cardinal Vaughan himself was born there in 1832. However, in 1950, the Vaughans sold Courtfield to the Mill Hill Missionaries who now run a retreat centre there. Early next year they plan to sell the 50-acre Herefordshire property, under an auction arranged by the Charity Commissioners.
"There are several reasons for the move," •said Fr Christopher Fox, administrator of the retreat centre.
"We're short of personnel here. We have a lot of priorities with our missions, there's the cost of updating it in line with the Disabilities Act and it is the ancestral home of the Vaughan family and it is our particular wish that it should go back to them."
Patrick Vaughan, a relative of Cardinal Vaughan, is reported to be interested in buying Courtfield and hopes to keep open the chapel for Mass.
It is currently a parish run by the Mill Hill Missionaries. They will say their final Mass at the church. a listed building dating from 1875, on January 4. Archbishop Peter Smith of Cardiff will attend.
We have 50 to 60 massgoers here and Patrick Vaughan would love to keep the parish on," said Fr Fox.
"The archbishop says he couldn't supply a priest but Patrick Vaughan says he might try to get a retired one".
Mr Vaughan, who owns land and property adjoining Courtfield, which is situated mid-way between Monmouth and Ross-onWye, declined to comment.
A Catholic prayer-group, however, is protesting against the auction of the property, which houses a national shrine for vocations — given that two of Cardinal Vaughan's sisters became nuns, and two of his brothers were priests.
"It is very sad," said one member, who did not want to be named.
"There is such a need for retreats and this makes you wonder where Catholics will wind up.
"There is nowhere more beautiful than Courtfield. It is the most peaceful place you can imagine.
"Courtfield is a national shrine for vocations and you can only have those if you care for the Christian family and few Christian families can afford a holiday.
"Many are broken by financial pressure. It is a very long shot but we've been praying that the Church would hold out but now we know that it is for sale.
"'This is everyone's business if we give money to the Mill Hill fathers. Many many Catholics are heartbroken about losing this place and their wishes are not taken into account. If they sell this off I don't know whether there will be many places left in England for Catholic families.
"It is a great retreat place for schools to go to. There is a Vaughan interested in buying it but he is said to wish to pull down the home and turn it into luxury flats and there has never been more of a need for a place for family retreats."
She added: "Every Catholic family needs a retreat, a holiday where they can build their faith.
"England has never needed evangelisation more. We need a nerve-base from which to restore the faith and Courtfield would he the ideal place."
Courtfield has an illustrious history. Its name changed from`Greenfield' to Courtfield when the future Henry V. Harry of Monmouth, was nursed there in the 1380s.
The house contains the "king's room" where the future victor of Agincourt is popularly supposed to have been nursed.
It was purchased in 1563 by the Vaughans, a Welsh family who allegedly trace their descent from the legendary Sir Caradoc, one of the knights of the Round Table.