Have you noticed those young men in black cassocks, English, American and French, roaming the streets of New Brighton? You might have seen one or two of them on BBC2 on 27th July with The Hairy Biker, Dave Myers, when he visited New Brighton and the Dome to help with the restoration works.
They belong to The Dome of Home – that oasis of peace on the hill. But why are they here? These young men have seen the world in all its glory and are discerning whether they should escape the madness and materialism of this world as mediators for a better life for us all. In fact, we have three young men who are discerning their vocation and going to the most beautiful seminary of The Institute of Christ the King, near Florence this September. They are attracted by beauty in art and music to a traditional life and values. The rites are reminiscent of the traditional ceremonies that are part of our English Heritage. How appropriate that the Institute orientates these ceremonies towards the worship of God, and we can all be part of this here in New Brighton!
Training is a rigorous 7 years of academic study including philosophy and theology. During their training, they spend some of their time finding out how to care for and restore a church such as ours, and look after the people who ask for spiritual guidance, both Catholic and non-Catholic. The Institute have churches all over the world, from Gabon to USA. Here they have excellent role models in Canon Amaury Montjean, our Rector and Canon Scott Tanner, our very own, young English priest, himself a convert. About his life at the Dome, Canon Tanner says, “It’s great to live in a small community with another priest and a seminarian who is training for the priesthood — we are a support for each other! As ‘Canons’, our particular spiritual aim is to sing God’s praise throughout the day, with morning, evening and night prayer. Don’t hesitate to ask or ring me if I can answer any questions you may have about the building or about Faith.”
At The Dome, we have completed our second restoration project, with about a third of the building restored, supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, National Churches Trust, Latin Mass Society, Historic Cheshire Churches Preservation Trust and the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund. Here’s hoping for a third project so watch this space….!
Recently, the British Heart Foundation awarded us a Public Access Defibrillator and CPR Training kit and we held our first, very successful CPR Awareness Afternoon for the local community, with the help of Nick Blair from North West Ambulance Service. More awareness sessions will follow, possibly an evening so that working people can attend.
If you missed the Hairy Builder programme from The Dome, it‘s on iPlayer until the end of August and then we hope to get our own copy to play at the Dome for visitors… and we’re getting many more people, both individuals and groups sampling our Guided Heritage Tours and/or our services which are all in Latin. If you have never been but would like to see what it’s all about, we would be very happy to help:
Heritage Tours or volunteering – email: contactus@domeofhome.org or phone 07743235046
Spiritual matters—email newbrighton@icrsp.org or phone 0797 212 8097 (Can. Montiean) or 07763 277 697 (Can. Tanner)
Coming to Mass in Latin for the first time? Ask someone and we are more than happy to help you. We are all learning but remember what it is like!
Times of services: Sundays: 8.30am: Low Mass. 9.45-10.15am: Confessions. 10.30am: Sung Mass. 5.30pm: Sung Vespers & Adoration
Weekdays: Mass & Adoration everyday: see details at back of the church.
- Church is open everyday 83m until 8pm! Just pop in for peace and sanctuary.
- Youth group: Meet last Friday of the month at 6.30pm.
What’s on at the Dome?
Heritage Open Days:
- Sun 4th Sept Church open all day
- 10.30am Sung Mass with Gregorian Chant
- 3-5pm Guided Heritage Tours with cream tea refreshments
- 5.30pm Sunday Vespers with Benediction
Church open daily throughout the week
- Sat 12th Sept 11am-1pm Guided Heritage Tour/Refreshments
- Sun 13th Sept 4-5pm Guided Heritage Tour/Refreshments
- Sun 13th Sept 5.30pm Sunday Vespers with Benediction
Organ and Violin Recital
Sunday 18th September
- 2.30pm Guided Tour with Crosby Newman Society but all welcome.
- 3.30pm Refreshments
- 4pm Organ and Violin Recital
- 5.30pm Sunday Vespers and Benediction
Christmas Carols & ‘Midnight’ Mass
Saturday 24th December
- 10.30pm 12 Traditional English Carols, accompanied with Trumpet & Organ
- 11pm Mass