Cardinal Nichols celebrates Vespers at Henry VIII’s palace
February 11, 2016
At the invitation of London’s Anglican bishop, Cardinal Vincent Nichols led a Vespers service on February 9 at Hampton Court Palace, a British royal residence from the reign of Henry VIII until the eighteenth century.
It is believed to be the first act of Catholic worship that has taken place there in over 450 years.
Prior to Vespers, which was celebrated mostly in Latin, Cardinal Nichols and Anglican Bishop Richard Chartres held a public discussion.
“The task that you and I – and all that we represent – the task that we face is to do our utmost to ensure that the Judeo-Christian tradition, values and beliefs that formed the character of this country are not lost,” said Cardinal Nichols. “At the moment I think we are losing them by default and we have somehow taken our eye of the ball.”
“It is a matter of life and death that together we point to the true and living God,” said Bishop Chartres. “How long we will survive the erosion of that theological foundation is a moot point.”
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Further information:
- The unique choral tradition at Hampton Court Palace Chapel Royal brings faiths together (Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace)
- Catholic Vespers at Henry VIII’s Chapel Royal (Anglican Communion News Service)
- After More Than 450 Years, Catholicism Returns To King Henry VIII's Palace (NPR)
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