St Peter’s Organist Honoured for 55 Years of Service
March 12, 2025
Parishioners, clergy, and friends gathered in great numbers at Our Lady and St Etheldreda, Newmarket, to celebrate a truly momentous occasion – the 60th Anniversary Mass for Fr Anthony Foreman.
The Mass, held to mark six decades since Fr Anthony’s ordination to the Ministerial Priesthood, was not only a tribute to his dedicated service but also a celebration of the priesthood of all the baptised. Additionally, the congregation took the opportunity to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone of St Etheldreda’s, which took place on 27 August 1964.
The church was filled with a joyful and reverent atmosphere as clergy and parishioners gathered to give thanks for Fr Anthony’s long and fruitful ministry. Many who attended were from the Newmarket parish, but a number of familiar faces had travelled from Fr Anthony’s former parishes, a testament to the deep and lasting impact he has made throughout his years of service. The Mass was an occasion not only to honour one man’s journey but also to acknowledge the wider vocation to the priesthood shared by all the baptised in the Church.
The liturgy was enhanced by the beautiful music provided by organist Christopher Moore, FRCO, and the accomplished singing of Charles Boyle, which added to the solemnity and joy of the celebration. The Mass was concelebrated by numerous clergy who have worked alongside Fr Anthony over the years, many of whom he counts as dear friends. Their presence was a visible sign of the bonds of fraternity that have been nurtured throughout his ministry.
Following the conclusion of the Mass, Fr Anthony addressed the congregation, offering a heartfelt and engaging reflection on his sixty years of priesthood. His speech was filled with gratitude, warmth, and humour as he recounted key moments from his journey in the service of God and His people. He spoke of his baptism at the Church of St Edmund in Bury St Edmunds, his ordination as a priest on 12 March 1965 at the Church of Our Lady and the English Martyrs (OLEM) in Cambridge, and his very first Mass, celebrated in Newmarket. His words painted a vivid picture of his dedication to the priestly vocation and the many lives he has touched along the way.
Fr Anthony also took time to reflect on the parishes he has served over the years. From 1965 to 1974, he was Assistant Priest at OLEM, Cambridge, followed by a period as Assistant Priest at St George, Norwich, from 1974 to 1976. His first appointment as Priest in Charge came in 1976 at Our Lady and St Etheldreda, Newmarket, a role he held for a decade until 1986. Later, he became Parish Priest at Our Lady, Stowmarket, where he ministered from 1989 to 1995. Throughout these years, Fr Anthony’s pastoral care, wisdom, and kindness have been deeply valued by his parishioners, many of whom still cherish his presence in their lives today.
The celebrations did not end with the Mass. A buffet lunch was provided in the parish centre, where attendees had the opportunity to continue sharing memories and expressing their gratitude to Fr Anthony. The gathering was filled with conversation, laughter, and a profound sense of community, reflecting the very spirit of the priesthood he has embodied throughout his ministry.
The 60th Anniversary Mass was more than just a commemoration of Fr Anthony’s ordination; it was a heartfelt expression of thanksgiving for a life devoted to service, faith, and community. It was a powerful reminder of the vital role of the priesthood – not just for those ordained but for all the baptised who share in the mission of the Church.
As Fr Anthony looks back on his 60 years of priesthood, he does so with a heart full of gratitude and a deep appreciation for the journey he has travelled. And as those who gathered to celebrate with him returned to their homes and parishes, they carried with them the enduring legacy of his ministry – a ministry defined by faith, friendship, and unwavering commitment to the service of God and His people.
Photographs from the day can be viewed here.
