Author Archives: Scott Anderson

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About Scott Anderson

Formerly an Anglican priest (ordained 1975) I was received into the Catholic Church in February 2012, and ordained to the Diaconate on 27th July 2013 and on 29th October 2013 was ordained to the priesthood by the Archbishop of Southwark Peter Smith. After a spell in London (Precious Blood, Borough) I became parish priest of Pont Rémy in the Diocese of Amiens, northern France. I am deeply committed to the Ordinariate as a gift of the Holy Spirit in the search for unity. Like many Ordinariate members I feel a personal gratitude to the late Pope Benedict, together with loyalty to our Holy Father, Pope Leo. My blog tries to make a small contribution to the growth of the Ordinariate by asking questions (and proposing some answers) about the 'Anglican Patrimony'. I shall be ever grateful for the years in France, a wonderful ending to the years of parish ministry. Back in the UK I am attached, very happily, to the parish of Holy Trinity, Dorchester (HTD) and help out where needed in the Catholic parishes of South Dorset.

Were we really Catholics?

Posted on 29/03/2021 by Scott Anderson

Soon after the vote in the General Synod of the Church of England in 1992 to ordain women to the priesthood, a colleague of mine expressed his sense of anger: “Once I was a bitter Catholic; now I am just … Continue reading →

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And after the virus?

Posted on 17/05/2020 by Scott Anderson

I was on the ‘phone recently, one Thursday evening, to some friends in the UK. A few minutes before 9pm they said they had to ring off, as it was time to stand in their front porch and applaud the … Continue reading →

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The language of the liturgy

Posted on 08/05/2020 by Scott Anderson

At the Reformation the Catholic Mass emerged from behind the screen and became visible: the Anglican liturgy emerged from behind the screen and became audible. Compare and contrast, as they used to say in exam papers, the mediaeval building with … Continue reading →

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Can you teach an old priest new tricks?

Posted on 01/05/2020 by Scott Anderson

Yes, you can!  My sister and her husband in England suggested that we might put my new acquired competence with Skype to spiritual use. So today the three of us recited the Office of Lauds on Skype. Slight problem with … Continue reading →

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Holy Mass from the Divine Worship Missal (the background)

Posted on 29/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

    I imagine that many of us during the confinement will have set ourselves a task or project. I have several, including learning to say the Ordinariate Use of the Mass. Perhaps you are surprised by this, but I … Continue reading →

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Geoffrey Kirk

Posted on 27/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

Yes, I was always a bit scared of Geoffrey. I had no reason to be as he was always attentive and charming. The first real personal contact I had with him happened like this. I had noticed the growing use … Continue reading →

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Shall we learn again to pray for the dead?

Posted on 19/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

In the aftermath of the First World War, with so many young men dead, and their bodies lost for ever in some foreign field, the British learned again to pray for the dead. “Now when the bells for Eucharist  Sound … Continue reading →

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Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion – aren’t they?

Posted on 14/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

Poor old Eamonn Holmes! Got it in the neck for some comments  on his morning TV show  about baseless conspiracy theories which link the coronavirus outbreak to 5G technology. OFCOM received 419 complaints from viewers after he said  the media … Continue reading →

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Extended Communion – a new take

Posted on 13/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

I remember the frustration of Anglo-Catholics some years ago when the General Synod decided to tackle the issue of ‘extended Communion’. For the best part of 100 years an increasing number of parishes had been ‘reserving’ the Sacrament, so that … Continue reading →

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Confinement – the French way

Posted on 13/04/2020 by Scott Anderson

Here are a few reflections on current life (during this time of confinement) in a small country parish in France. You will have gathered that I have continued my ministry here as parish priest way beyond the original one year … Continue reading →

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