Archbishop Emeritus Kevin McDonald of Southwark and Bishop Angaelos, the General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain, talked about the book’s aims and purpose at the launch. Speaking in the Week of Prayer for Christian unity, the two leaders, who are co-chairmen of the Catholic-Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum (C-OORF), emphasised the importance of ecumenism.

Archbishop McDonald said: “This is a reminder that there is a global aspect to ecumenism, and particularly today with the Arab Spring and with the impact of those unfolding events for all the Christian churches in North Africa and the Middle East. It’s a good time for us to recognise that there is an international dimension to ecumenism and we all have a stake in it. We’re all part of it. So I invite you therefore to take it, to read it, and to invite others to do the same.”

Bishop Angaelos said: “It’s very important for us to see how we can witness together. We get so tied up in theological discourse sometimes that we forget that the common life of Christianity we live today has a real implication on the ground. We are facing threats of increased secularism and increasing marginalisation of religion in general and Christianity in particular. I think being members of first century churches, we really do need to both live and also introduce to people the wealth and meaning and value of what it is to witness and live our Christianity today.”

C-OORF was established on March 1 2007 and consists of episcopal members of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales department of dialogue and Unity. The forum meets twice a year to share common cultural and social concerns which call on common witness, rooted in shared belief in the Scriptures, sacraments and tradition.

Fr Guy Nicholls was deacon and Brother Richard Duncan subdeacon. Fr Anton Guziel, parish priest, was Master of Ceremonies.

Bishop Terence Brain of Salford and Bishop Philip Pargeter, retired Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham, were present on the sanctuary, together with Fathers from the London and Oxford Oratories, including the Oxford Provost, Fr Daniel Seward.

Fr Robert Byrne, Fr Dominic Jacob and Fr Richard Duffield, who left the Birmingham Oratory in September 1990 to found the Oxford house, were also there to say a last goodbye to their former Provost.

The Oratory Church is also the parish church and it was packed to its doors for the sung Latin Mass. Members of Fr Winterton’s family, including his nephew Michael Winterton, parishioners, and former parishioners, and priests from the Archdiocese of Birmingham were among the great company of mourners.

Also present were representatives of many of the organisations that Fr Gregory had been involved with over the long decades since his ordination in March 1963 as priest of the Birmingham Oratory. 

After the welcome by Fr Chavasse, a message from Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham was read by the vicar general, Canon Timothy Menezes.

After the Requiem Mass the funeral cars made their way solemnly along Hagley Road at the start of their journey to the Oratory House at Rednal on the outskirts of Birmingham, where Fr Winterton was buried in the small, secluded community graveyard.

The earlier drizzle had stopped and the sun was gently breaking through the late January clouds as Fr Chavasse said the final prayers. The coffin was lowered gently into the newly dug grave situated not far from where Blessed John Henry Newman was buried on August 19 1890.

It was a deeply emotional but memorable moment as this last in a long line of much-loved “old-style” Birmingham Oratory Fathers, going back to Blessed John Henry Newman, was laid to rest.

The centre is a remarkable refuge and support for those sleeping in doorways in this part of Southwark. It was founded by Nannette Ffrench, an Irish-born Sister, who had recently returned from working as a nursing Sister in Africa when she witnessed the tragic conditions of the homeless sleeping rough in this area. Her latter years in Africa were spent as a surgical theatre Sister in a hospital in what was then Rhodesia. The fighting had become extremely fierce and the hospital and its theatre were in the thick of it as it was the only source of help for both sides.

When peace came Nannette had reached retirement age and, in accordance with the conventions of her order, she was recalled to the mother house. She was enabled to renounce her religious vows and, in her own words, regarding her future “it was now up to God”.

She came to London and was fortunate to be offered temporary accommodation in an old school by the Archdiocese of Southwark. She slept on a floor on a mattress for the first six months until she was able to sort herself out in her new life. By now she had become painfully aware of the misery and utter hopelessness of this neglected section of our society littering the streets in a wealthy city. She approached the late Bishop George Henderson for the use of a property and, when he asked what she would do with it, replied by saying she did not exactly know at the moment but “would open the doors and see who God let in”.

That is exactly what happened. The archdiocese handed over the keys of an unused nursery school at 6 Melior Street which has now been developed as the current centre of operations. An old car number plate was found on which was printed “Manna Centre” and nailed to the wall claiming the building for the homeless. The title was adopted from the gift of bread from a local Italian baker in the early days: truly manna from heaven.

Initially, pots of tea and a wash-up was all that could be offered, until Nannette’s powers of persuasion provided greater facilities.

The Centre now serves breakfast and lunch to over 200 people seven days a week. It also offers shower and loo facilities for both men and women every day of the week. A clothing service provided by parishes in the archdiocese offers services twice weekly and is operated by volunteers.

An advice service, with specialised Eastern European advisers, in addition to general advisers, helps movements from homelessness and poverty to a more stable housing and independent living. Altogether 1,657 clients accessed services in the past year.

Of the 330 seeking help with accommodation and who had access to benefits in Britain 56 per cent were placed in accommodation.

Getting medical treatment without a fixed address is a major problem. Nurse practitioners hold surgeries twice a week and when necessary are able to refer clients for further medical help. In addition there is access to osteopaths, a chiropodist, an optician and a dentist.

All this would not have been possible without the financial support of supporters and sponsors. Running costs have increased to £32,000 a month and so more publicity is vitally needed to maintain and improve its facilities.

Crucially, without the financial support of the archdiocese providing the premises none of this would have been possible. The future is going to be difficult as it is for the whole country facing austerity measures. But the magnificent team, which has been in place for many years, is confident that there is always hope on the horizon. The area around Melior Street and Borough High Street may not be as available to visitors, or volunteers, as that of the Passage in Westminster, but they are always welcome.

Nannette is still extremely active and in recent years founded another charity African Mission which, as its name implies, is active on the African scene.

There has been a strong ecumenical relationship between the local Baptist and Catholic communities. While their church was being rebuilt St Joseph’s Catholic church welcomed the Baptists’ Mothers and Toddlers group to its pastoral centre and Baptist services were held at Holy Cross Convent’s school hall. It was the first time Bishop Hendricks had preached in a Baptist church. He was welcomed by the Rev Johnny Pozzo, the minister, and shown the new premises. At the end of the service the bishop and the minister gave a joint blessing.

Readers from different local churches read Scripture readings and dramatised texts prepared for Churches Together in Britain and Ireland by the Polish churches on the theme of “We will all be changed”.

Bishop Hendricks said that the service reminded us that there are many ways in which we are changed by our Christian experience. He said that he found dialogue with other Christian communities very stimulating, and we needed to look on what we learn from other churches in terms of “as well as”, rather than “instead of”. It enriched his faith, he said, to learn from other churches and challenged him to rethink his own attitudes and beliefs.

“This is what motivates me: not only my hope that one day we will be visibly united, but also that here and now I have the opportunity to grow in my own understanding, with the help of my brothers and sisters from the other Christian traditions,” he said.

“So I don’t think we have anything to be afraid of, in accepting that ‘We shall all be changed’. My experience of other churches does challenge me to re-think my own attitudes and beliefs – but this is not a threat. It actually enriches my own faith.”

Afterwards, the bishop chatted to members of the congregation over refreshments before going to visit the local ecumenical night shelter that opened that evening at St Joseph’s Catholic church, in conjunction with Kingston Churches’ Action on Homelessness.

Parish priest Fr Peter Edwards said that the bishop was very impressed and sat chatting with the homeless men and women, who included a Muslim man, as they finished their supper.

Sister Elizabeth joined the Benedictine community at Ryde six years ago when she was 19. Bishop Crispian of Portsmouth, who has not been well, delegated his role to Fr Abbot Cuthbert Brogan of Farnborough, who was accompanied by the two young juniors from his community.
Sister Elizabeth belonged to the Oratory parish in Oxford and five Oratorians were present, including the Provost Fr Daniel Seward who preached the homily.

Canon Thomas Farrell of Coventry, Fr Finbar Kealy, prior administrator of Quarr, Fr Nicholas Spencer, also of Quarr, and Fr John Redver-Harris of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham were also present in the sanctuary.

After the Creed Sister Elizabeth came forward with a lighted candle singing in Latin “Now with all my heart I follow you… I seek your face.” After pronouncing her vows she sang the traditional threefold Suscipe with arms held up in prayer and signing the chart of her vows on the altar, she received the monastic cowl and then prostrated for the Litany of Saints and the Prayer of Consecration. She then received the black veil, gold ring and book of the Divine Office.

Sister Elizabeth’s mother died when she was a novice and so her profession ring is her mother’s wedding ring. Sister Elizabeth then placed her two joined hands between those of Mother Abbess, to signify her obedience, after which she received the kiss of peace from each member of her community.

Guests heard Fr Mark Woodruff of the Catholic League give an interesting talk about unity, the Catholic Church and the ordinariate and the part played in this by The Portal magazine.

Mgr Keith Newton, the Ordinary of the personal ordinariate, praised The Portal for its first year of service to the ordinariate and announced that from now on it is an official publication of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. The news was greeted with loud applause.

Mgr Newton congratulated the editorial board, its co-editors, Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane, and its writers on their initiative and imagination in starting The Portal and wished the magazine well in future years.

Paul, still only 15, has just been offered a place to read Mathematics at Churchill College, Cambridge. But there is more to Paul’s success than meets the eye. Chavagnes’ headmaster Ferdi McDermott, has been building up a formidable educational tradition from scratch over the last 10 years in an impressive 19th-century former seminary near Nantes.

Mr McDermott said: “What I have sought to create here is a community of Masters and pupils who live, work and pray together in a purposeful atmosphere. We have had British pupils go on to Oxford in the past, but Paul is our first Cambridge success and our first Frenchman to achieve such a distinction. I think he sees in it a continuation of the same community-based but individualised learning experience he has been enjoying here.”

In no sense, though, is young Paul a typical “swot”. He said: “I have been given responsibilities at Chavagnes as vice house captain and assistant scout patrol leader.

“I have also served Mass, been active in various clubs and played a decent amount of sport, including competitive rugby. There have also been debates, and plays in English, such as Macbeth, Arsenic and Old Lace and Much Ado About Nothing, in which I played Claudio. The College has also allowed me to pursue advanced study of Latin and Greek, Spanish, German, French and English as well as my favourite, Mathematics and Sciences. I love it here.”

Paul’s success is symptomatic of what can happen when a boy “gets stuck in” in a way just not possible in the French system. A recent rise in admissions from French families seeking “a typically British education” has transformed Chavagnes into a rich cultural mix, where English pupils pick up French almost as quickly as the French pick up English, according to Mr McDermott.

Why do English pupils come to Chavagnes? Mr McDermott said: “Fees are about half the price of the UK average for private education. We also attract families seeking the more intense sacramental life, and the smaller class sizes.”

“It’s a great life out here, and I thank God for looking after us. But we have to keep asking the English boys to bring us back marmite and proper teabags after each holiday. French gastronomy is all very well, but there are some essentials you just can’t get south of Dover.”

Phil Leonard, now a History student at Edinburgh University, worked undercover with award-winning television journalist Chris Rogers to expose the shocking practice of child sacrifice in Uganda. Their film was shown recently on BBC’s Panorama. Their research found that child sacrifice is far more common than anyone realised and that, worryingly, it seems to be increasing.

Mr Leonard said: “Jubilee Campaign’s research gives several reasons for the rise of this disturbing activity.

Sacrificing children between the ages of about three and 12 is believed to bring wealth and prosperity and, with the growth of a Ugandan middle class, more people wanting to secure success for their businesses, buildings or factories are paying large sums of money to witch-doctors to do this. Other factors are police inadequacy and lack of regulation combining with widespread superstition and poor education.”

Jubilee Campaign is trying to eradicate the practice through education, campaigning for changes in the law in Uganda, raising awareness (partly through the All-Party Parliamentary Uganda Group), and offering practical and financial help for surviving victims and their families.

Mr Leonard said: “I was talking to David Alton about his human rights work and he told me about the work of Jubilee Campaign, which he launched in parliament in 1987.

“Everything happened very quickly from that discussion and the day after my last university exam I was on a plane to Uganda.”

Educated at Cardinal Vaughan and Christ’s College, Cambridge, he taught Classics and Ancient History at Highgate School from 1965-80, followed by a brief period at Hemel Hempstead School.

When he was appointed head teacher at Finchley Catholic in 1983 it bore little relation to the proud and pioneering institution founded by Canon Clement Parsons in 1926. The school was heavily undersubscribed, discipline and academic performance were poor, and several of its buildings were virtually derelict.

Described by the Finchley Times as “an educational traditionalist with radical ideas”, the new head began to rebuild the reputation of the school, cracking down on bullying and classroom disruption, and ensuring that academic excellence was nurtured and celebrated.

He also rebuilt the physical fabric of the school, using the new financial freedoms provided in the 1988 Education Act to invest in new buildings and equipment, and to bring its classrooms into the computer age.

He secured the school an invitation to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee at Westminster Cathedral in 1986, and persuaded local MP Margaret Thatcher to pay her first visit to the school in two decades, opening a new technology block in 1989.

A devout Catholic, he strengthened the school’s relationship with St Alban’s parish in North Finchley and forged its first formal teaching collaboration with St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School for girls.

In 1997, to his surprise and delight, Finchley Catholic High School was one of just eight secondary schools in London awarded an Ofsted “Oscar” for excellence.

When he stepped down as head teacher in 1999, he left a school transformed. Canon Parsons created and built the school; Stephen Szemerenyi saved and restored it.

He was awarded the OBE in 2009 for services to education, and was living in semi-retirement with his wife Jan when he died on New Year’s Day after a short illness.

Dr Willey, deputy director at Maryvale Higher Institute of Religious Sciences, is one of six lay Catholics named to the 15-member list of consultors with the task of advising the recently formed Vatican council.

Consultors are available to offer advice on various issues and participate in various meetings.

A spokesman for the institute said: “This appointment is an honour and affirmation of the highest regard and speaks not only to the tireless efforts of Dr Willey but also to all of those who have served with and supported Maryvale Institute over the years.”

The council was established to promote the new evangelisation throughout the Church.