8,000 PILGRIMS AT INGATESTONE
`C.H.' CORRESPONDENT
TO the village of Ingatestone, near Chelmsford, last Sunday converged 8.000 Catholics from all parts of Essex to honour 40 martyrs, three of whom are associated with the county, 111. John Houghton and 111. Ann Line (both born in Essex) and Bl. John Paine, who was martyred, hanged, drawn and quartered at Chelmsford.
The pilgrimage celebrations took place in the grounds of Ingatestone Hall. home of the Petre family since 1539. The Tudor Mansion has been a centre of Catholicism in Essex ever since. In the chapel Mess was said continuously until the present church in the village was opened in 1932. It was from the Hall that Bl. John Paine exercised his ntlnistry and where he was
arrested and taken for trial and a martyr's death.
The celebrations began with an historical pageant which consisted or member. Of drama groups representing the individual martyrs, whilst a commentary on the life and death of each was given over the public address system.
'towards the end of the pageant heavy rain fell and consequently the sermon which followed was considerably curtailed by Fr. Michael O'Dwyer.
Although the rain eased as Mass was due to begin, it was announced that Holy Communion would not be distributed owing to the poor weather conditions. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at an open-air altar by Bishop Wall of Brentwood.
Double
The music of the Mass was composed by William Byrd who lived near Ongar, F-esex, and who was Music Master to the first Lord Petra. Whilst at Ingatestone Hall he composed the beautiful "Mass for Four Voices" which was sung during the Mass by the Brentwood Diocesan choir under the direction of Fr. Michael Bonfitto. F.S.C.J. (Elm Park) who also composed the music for the English Martyrs hymn, the words being adapted from Bl. Henry Walpole by Mgr. Daniel Shanahan, J.C.D., Chancellor of Brentwood Diocese, The attendance of 8.000 was nearly double the numbers anticipated by the organisers and amongst those present, in addition to nearly 100 priests and 200 nuns were the present Lord Petre, Mr. William Teellng. M.P. and Mr. Nicolas Throckmorton, whose family also has close association with the English Martyrs. Stewarding and transport organisation was in the hands of the Brentwood Province of the Knights of St. Columba,