Wednesday 17th July 2024
Annual Mass at West Tofts - 6pm
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Bishop Norman addressing the congregation at the end of Mass on his last celebration as President of the Guild. About 90 attended the Mass, including the Horatio Singers who sang Byrd's Mass for four voices as the setting.
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This church in Thetford Forest, Norfolk, containing a chancel and chapel by Pugin, is under the patronage of the Guild of All Souls.
The village was compulsorily abandoned in WW2, since when it has been part of the Army’s Stanford battle training area. St Mary’s, the only complete building which remains, is usually inaccessible to the public.
Two services are permitted each year; a carol service in Advent arranged locally and a Mass arranged by the Guild each Summer.
All members and friends are welcome.
Light refreshments afterwards
Click here for photos of our 2023 annual Mass.
O.S. GRID REF: TL836929 / Postcode: IP26 5EN
Please arrive via the A134 or West Tofts Road
The village was compulsorily abandoned in WW2, since when it has been part of the Army’s Stanford battle training area. St Mary’s, the only complete building which remains, is usually inaccessible to the public.
Two services are permitted each year; a carol service in Advent arranged locally and a Mass arranged by the Guild each Summer.
All members and friends are welcome.
Light refreshments afterwards
Click here for photos of our 2023 annual Mass.
O.S. GRID REF: TL836929 / Postcode: IP26 5EN
Please arrive via the A134 or West Tofts Road
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Recent and Previous Events
09.30 - Mass (optional) in Chantry Chapel
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35 people attended this immensely thought-provoking and useful conference, exploring the subject of child bereavement and resources available to support grieving children and young people
Keynote speakers: Lucy Coote Community Ambassador and Mental Health Trainer of Rosedale Funeral Homes in Norfolk and Suffolk. Lucy is a bereavement support facilitator; educating people nationally on supporting the bereaved and ensuring others know what support there is both locally and across the UK. She is also a qualified First Aider, Mental Health First Aid Trainer and a member of the Norfolk SPIG (Suicide Prevention Intervention Group): Lorna Vyse, Children's author, specialising in bereavement support books, and until recently, Families Team Child Bereavement Specialist of charity ‘Scotty’s Little Soldiers’ developing and delivering support to bereaved military children and young people through its four Family Programmes. Previously Lorna worked for ‘Nelson’s Journey’ supporting bereaved children and young people in Norfolk. Heidi Foster. Play Specialist and Wellbeing Team Member - The Nook: - Norfolk Children's Hospice, part of East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) supporting families and caring for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk |
Annual General Meeting and Annual Requiem
Thursday 9 November 2023
The Guild's AGM and Requiem were held at St Stephen’s, Gloucester Road. The Solemn Mass was celebrated by the President of The Guild, The Rt Revd Norman Banks, and the preacher was The Rt Revd Paul Thomas, Bishop of Oswestry.
Thursday 9 November 2023
The Guild's AGM and Requiem were held at St Stephen’s, Gloucester Road. The Solemn Mass was celebrated by the President of The Guild, The Rt Revd Norman Banks, and the preacher was The Rt Revd Paul Thomas, Bishop of Oswestry.
Annual Mass - St Mary's, West Tofts
26 July 2023
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Once again many old friends and supporters gathered to fill the church for a beautiful liturgy. A Memorial Mass of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, Parents of Our Blessed Lady, was celebrated by the President of The Guild, The Rt Revd Norman Banks, and Chantry Priest, Bishop Robert Ladds SSC. The preacher was Father Harri Williams. Splendid choral accompaniment was provided by the Horatio Singers. Refreshments kindly prepared by Maureen Howard were served afterwards. St Mary’s, West Tofts, contains a chancel and chapel by Pugin and is under the patronage of The Guild of All Souls. Situated in Thetford Forest, near Mundford, the village was compulsorily abandoned in WW2, since when it has been part of the Army’s Stanford battle training area. The church, the only complete building which remains, is usually inaccessible to the public. Two services are permitted each year; a carol service in Advent arranged locally and the Mass arranged by The Guild each Summer. |
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2023 Day Conferences
How are you doing? ...
exploring the reality of mental health and a Christian response to it
The conferences were held in May at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and in September at St Wilfrid Cantley, Doncaster. They were led by Mrs Michaela Suckling, RGN, a Parish Nurse of St Matthew Carver Street, Sheffield, and The Revd Canon Paul Cartwright, Parish Priest of the Priory Benefice in the Diocese of Leeds, a Police Officer and Mental Health First Aider. Issues explored included:
exploring the reality of mental health and a Christian response to it
The conferences were held in May at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and in September at St Wilfrid Cantley, Doncaster. They were led by Mrs Michaela Suckling, RGN, a Parish Nurse of St Matthew Carver Street, Sheffield, and The Revd Canon Paul Cartwright, Parish Priest of the Priory Benefice in the Diocese of Leeds, a Police Officer and Mental Health First Aider. Issues explored included:
- Myth busting mental health issues
- How poor mental health can present
- How to discuss mental health and thoughts of suicide and when to seek help
- Having solution-focused conversations
21st September 2023 - St Wilfrid Cantley, Doncaster
11th May 2023 - Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
15th March 2023
150th Anniversary Celebration at St Stephen's, Gloucester Road
'O Valiant Hearts': The First World War, the Church of England and Prayer for the Dead - a lecture prepared by Fr Robert Beaken and delivered on his behalf by Dr Colin Podmore MBE
Sung Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by the Bishop of Richborough
Reception and Book Launch: 'Father Tooth - a Biographical Memoir'
Father Tooth
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Click here to read Colin Podmore’s short address on the re-issue
of the booklet and the founding of the Guild of All Souls, given at the Guild’s 150th Anniversary celebration on 15 March 2023. |
Annual Requiem - 2022The Guild's Annual Requiem was held on Thursday 10th November 2022 at St Stephen's, Gloucester Road.
The preacher was Father Philip Barnes, Vicar of St Stephen's. Click here to read his sermon. |
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All Souls Day
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GAS Day Conference: 19th May 2022
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Click here for links to The Compassionate Friends and other organisations and charities offering support in bereavement. |
We include some photos taken during the conference below.
Online Conference
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Mass from the Guild of All Souls Chapel : 24th June 2021
Spiritual and Pastoral Care of those with Dementia
The Revd Dn Corinne Smith, Former Hospital and Hospice Chaplain for Older People's Medicine
Is your church dementia friendly?
Maureen O'Neill, Director of 'Faith in Older People'
Living with Loss
Zena Aldridge, Research Fellow, Dementia UK, Hon. Lecturer University of East Anglia
All Souls Day, 2nd Nov 2020
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Annual Mass at West Tofts
24th June 2019
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The Celebrant of the Mass on a gloriously hot Summer evening was the President of The Guild, The Rt Revd Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough and the preacher was Fr Andrew Greany, Chantry Priest of The Guild. The setting for the Mass was Byrd Mass for Four Voices, rendered beautifully by the Horatio Singers, who once again voluntarily offered their services in helping to make this such an uplifting occasion.
Refreshments kindly prepared by Maureen Howard were served in the churchyard afterwards. [Photographs below courtesy of Graham Howard.] |
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2019 Day Conference:
'Now and at the Hour of our Death'... .The Church's Ministry of Healing
*The 2019 day conference at Walsingham was held on 27th June at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. Bishop Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough and President of The Guild welcomed nearly 50 participants.
The following Presentations were given:
The following Presentations were given:
- ‘Ministry of Healing in the Local Church’ by The Revd Fr Philip Gray SSC, Vicar of Mendlesham, Suffolk;
- ‘Healing Ministries at Walsingham’ by The Revd Fr Andreas Wenzel SSC, Shrine Priest, Walsingham;
- ‘Anointing with Holy Oil and the Last Rites’ by The Revd Fr Peter Needham SSC, recently Chaplain of Barnsley Hospital, now Vicar of Athersley and Carlton, Diocese of Leeds
