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On Saturday July 6, parishioners in Thetford gathered in the presbytery to celebrate the 198th anniversary of the opening of the parish church.
Built in 1826, the Catholic church in Thetford was built before Catholic Emancipation and Queen Victoria was not even queen yet and when Pope Leo XII was in the Vatican.
Dcn Justin Cross, parish deacon also acknowledged the occasion during his homily and noted that there are not many churches in East Anglia that have continued to serve the local community from the same building for nearly 200 years and still going strong.
The parish community came together to celebrate in small informal way, and Fr Pat Cleary, parish priest gave a small toast to the church and wished it another 198 years of serving the town.
It is hoped that in two years time, the community of Thetford will commemorate it’s 200th anniversary with a party where local dignitaries will be invited to attend.
A parishoner remarked that if if the bricks could take, what tales they would say. As Fr Pat is a keen cricket supporter, he used the phrase, ” St Mary’s 198, not out!”
Roger Hall, parish historian is currently compiling a history of the parish which will culminate in a parish book ready for the 200th anniversary.
