On 23rd October, Bishop Terence Drainey of Middlesbrough blessed a new chapel at More House, the Catholic Chaplaincy building in the York suburb of Heslington.

More House is a Grade II listed building that was once the Anglican vicarage. It was purchased as a Chaplaincy building by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough in the 1960s when the University of York campus was constructed alongside Heslington village. In 1995, the Chaplaincy was entrusted to the Carmelite friars, whose Order originated in the Holy Land 800 years ago, and who first came to York around the year 1250. Today, More House is home to a community of four Carmelite friars, as well as the British Province of Carmelites’ Vocations and Projects Offices.

Bishop Terry celebrated Mass in the new chapel, which was renovated during the University’s summer vacation. University Chaplain and Prior of the community, Fr Tony Lester, OCarm, remarked:

“We have an open-door policy at More House, which welcomes anyone regardless of faith-background. More House is well used by students, staff and visitors at the University. A number of people use the various meeting rooms, including student societies, welfare support organisations, and the York Carmelite Spirituality Group. We decided to move the chapel from its previous first floor location to allow better disabled access, and a quiet place for prayer in the middle of a busy campus.”

More House chapel is open to members of the University weekdays during term-time when the Divine Office and the Eucharist are celebrated. The large number of students coming to Mass on a Sunday means that the liturgy is celebrated in a lecture room on campus, and many take part in the life of local parishes as well.

The new chapel is furnished in a simple but effective style typical of Carmelite communities. The organic colours of the wooden floor and furnishings are accentuated by a harmonious blend of eastern-style icons and western-style statues of Our Lady and St Joseph. Some of the furnishings were supplied by the enclosed Carmelite nuns at nearby Thicket Priory.

After celebrating Mass, Bishop Terry spoke to a large gathering of students organised by CASSOC, the Universityís Catholic Student Society. Bishop Terry spoke frankly and movingly about his calling to the priesthood and his first year as a bishop, before responding to questions from the young people.

For more information about the Carmelites and their ministries in York, please visit:

• www.york.ac.uk/univ/chap/
• www.carmelite.org
• www.laycarmel.org

Click here to see the photos

Johan Bergström-Allen

Carmelite Projects and Publications Office, York