By Con McHugh

The parishioners of St Gregory’s, Stratford-upon-Avon, gathered on the evening of Wednesday 16 July for the annual Mass in the Guild Chapel. The Chapel's history dates back to the 13th Century.

Mass was celebrated by Parish Priest Fr Oliver Holt, OSB and this year the Mass was in honour of Stratford’s local martyr, Robert Dibdale, who was born in Shottery in 1556. He probably attended the same school as Shakespeare, now called King Edward’s School, which is adjacent to the chapel. He left Stratford to be trained as a priest in Rheims and Rome and returned to join the secret mission in England, mainly based in recusant houses in Buckinghamshire. He was martyred at Tyburn in 1586. 

The Mass included music from the same Elizabethan period by Wiliam Byrd and Thomas Tallis. 

The Mass Booklet also includes a summary of Blessed Robert Dibdale’s short life as well as information on the selection of Music used for the Mass.

Among the congregation were the Mayor of Stratford, Cllr Dani Hunter, who is also a parishioner and Rev Emma Harrington, one of the Associate Vicars at Holy Trinity church. 

St Gregory the Great parish has a second chapel originally dedicated to Our Lady of Peace. In 1998 at the silver jubilee of its opening Archbishop Couve de Murville suggested that the name of Blessed Robert Dibdale should be added to the dedication.

Fr Oliver said: “Thanks to everyone who helped to make the Guild Chapel mass in honour of Blessed Robert Dibdale a great success. I was very pleased to see so many people present. I was delighted that Rev Emma Harrington, one of the Associate Vicars at Holy Trinity took part by reading the first reading. The acoustic of the Guild Chapel is very different from both our churches and it was good to see so many parishioners realising that they really can sing!" 

Mass Booklet

St Gregory the Great parish website

Guild Chapel website

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