On Wednesday 19 October, Corpus Christi Church in Covent Garden celebrated the 60th anniversary of consecration with a Solemn Mass. Fr Alan Robinson was the principal celebrant and Bishop Robert Byrne preached the homily.
The church was the first in England since the Reformation to be dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament, a re-affirmation of the teaching of the Church on the Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Opened on 20th October 1874, it could not be consecrated until 1956, when the building debt of £8,000 was fully paid.
A survey around the time of opening listed over 2,000 Catholics in the district allocated to the new parish, which covered Covent Garden, the Strand, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. Today, the church remains a welcoming presence for locals and visitors to the area.
After Mass, Fr Alan officially launched the Sodality of the Blessed Sacrament, which will meet every first Thursday of every month for Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and for a social gathering afterwards. Those interested in joining the sodality are invited to contact the parish on 020 7836 4700 or at www.corpuschristimaidenlane.org.uk.
More photos are available here.
