PATRONAL FESTIVAL at ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, GREAT ILFORD

Today Ann and I went to St Mary’s Church in Ilford for a Solemn Pontifical Mass to celebrate 180 years of the consecration of the church in 1831 and their Patronal Festival. The Principal Celebrant was the Rt. Revd. Robert Ladds SSC the Superior General of the Society of Mary.

The service commenced with the Angelus led by the Vicar Father Gareth Jones and this was followed by the Choir beatuifully singing the anthem Locus Iste by Bruckner. During the Introit a procession was made to the Statue of Our Lady at which we made a station. During the Communion the Choir sang Panis Angelicus by Casar Franck.

After Mass we gathered in the Church Hall for refreshments and this was followed by a Festival Grill at St. Mary’s Vicarage. It was  lovely service with an excellent homily by Bishop Ladds. It was good to see Mike Gapes MP amongst the guests. It was really nice to go back to St. Mary’s and see so many people we met and got to know when I helped there out during the interregnum.