Bath like Chester, is a city full of surprises, with a threefold history of Roman/Medieval and Regency periods; an historic racecourse, riverside walks and warm Bath stone Georgian houses and civic buildings including the Guild Hall (where it is hoped to share in a Civic Reception) with much besides; a magnificent Georgian extravaganza with a Roman bath at its base and a great medieval church at its heart.

A poignant year of anniversaries of the Great Schism between East & West in 1054 and the Sack of Constantinople in 1204, not to mention the sorrows of tensions between the communities of Islam and Christianity around the world, highlights the call for forgiveness and reconciliation even today. The 2004 pilgrimage of the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham from the Anglican shrine to places throughout England reminds the ESBVM of its early link with that holy place of reconciliation destroyed in 1534 but now once again a point of pilgrimage for Anglicans, Orthodox Christians, Free Church & Roman Catholics. Set by the River Avon and surrounded by hills, Bath's role as a center of healing and recreation has been a constant one. Its Roman name was Aquae Sulis, the Waters of Sul, a local Celtic deity renamed Sulis Minerva by the Romans. Bath Abbey, once the co-Cathedral of the Bath & Wells diocese, was a Benedictine monastery before the dissolution and counted the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury, St.Alphege, among its abbots. The church - under the dedication Sts.Peter & Paul - was rebuilt in the years leading to the Reformation, probably the last Tudor church to have been begun before that event, on the site of a previous building in which Edgar had been crowned first King of the English in 973 AD. Half completed and left in a state of dereliction, it was sold to the City's M.P. who gave it to the City in 1572. Queen Elizabeth I's 'Lantern of the West' plays an important part in both the City of Bath and the Church of England's Diocese of Bath and Wells. The Orthodox Parish in Bath dedicated to Saint: John of Kronstadt (a 19th Century Orthodox saint), under the Patriarchate of Constantinople, was founded in Bath in 1980, functions liturgically in English, and is totally committed to ecumenical cooperation. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Bath was one of the principal residences of the English Benedictines and it was one of their number Bishop Augustine Baines who purchased Prior Park. Downside Abbey was established south of the city in 1814. Nevill Ward's Walcot Chapel connects the occasion with a much revered member of our society and the Methodist District in which he served where the ESBVM has many good friends not least among them being Dr.John Newton of Westbury on Trym (one of our esteemed patrons).

Bath Spa University College at Newton St.Loe is set in the Duchy of Cornwall property of Newton Park, built c.1762-5 for Joseph Langton. It is a fifteen-minute drive from Bath and within three miles of the rail and bus stations. The rail station is on the London-Bristol main line. The nearest airport is Bristol.

A Musical event open to the general public as well as Congress participants will be presented in the Michael Tippet Centre on the Tuesday evening by a renowned scholar of Medieval Music, Dr Mary Remnant, entitled:

‘Minstrels praising Our Lady on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela’      more information > / PDF version

and Art works of Marian interest will be exhibited in the Michael Tippet Gallery during the Congress month.

Times of meals etc will be given at the Opening Session on Monday. Full Accommodation in en-suite single rooms £330 for all 5 days, in other rooms £280 for all 5 days (kitchens on all floors with access to tea/coffee making facilities): non-residential (but including lunch) £30 per day. Further enquiries & Booking forms - which must be accompanied by deposit of £30 payable to ESBVM - on application to the Congress Secretary at ESBVM Headquarters, 11, Belmont Road, Wallington, Surrey, SM6 8TE : e-mail: membership@esbvm.org.uk

The Local Congress Committee consists of Miss Amanda Hill, the Revd. Marian Atkinson (formerly in Bath), Dom Aidan Bellenger, Prior of Downside, the Rev. Yves Dubois (of The Orthodox Christian Community in Bath), Mr Joe Farrelly KCSG (Hon. Associate General Secretary), Mr. Dwight Longenecker, the Revd. David Prothero (Vicar of St. Mary the Virgin. Bathwick),the Revd Peter Slocombe (P.P. at Burnham on Sea and a long serving member of the ESBVM), the Revd Norman Wallwork (our ESBVM Liturgy Secretary), and Fr.Bill M. McLoughlin OSM. (Hon. General Secretary & Local Congress Chairman).

WORSHIP

As usual the daily communal religious service is a high point of our prayer that they may all be one and will take place with each tradition by turn taking responsibility for the arrangement of one of the daily central Congress Services usually in the form of a Conventual Eucharist and celebrated as indicated in the programme. We hope for a richness of liturgical and ecumenical celebration, drawing on the gifts of congress participants, strengthening us in our resolve to grow in unity while respecting all that guides us within the discipline of our respective traditions Congress Members are asked to attend these liturgies, and to respect the rules about reception of Holy Communion laid down by the tradition responsible for the celebration of the particular Eucharist concerned. Those not receiving Holy Communion are invited to come forward with those communicating and to cross their arms across their breast and bow their heads, thus indicating to the celebrant that they wish to receive a blessing. The Ecumenical Office of the ESBVM will be employed daily and with the full involvement of all traditions of the society.   

The Southwark Cathedral Girl's Choir from St. George's Cathedral Southwark - established in November 2002 to uphold the rich tradition of Catholic music and provide opportunities for the Cathedral community to embrace this heritage in worship and to develop opportunities to support liturgical music making in the Southwark Diocese and the wider Christian community - under the leadership of Mr.Ben Saul, B.A., ARCO, The Assistant Organist at Southwark Cathedral & Director of the Girls' Choir, - will be the Choir in Residence at the Ecumenical Congress from 9th-12th August and will lead the music at the main Congress liturgies during their time with us.

 At the Orthodox Divine Liturgy and the Akathist the music will be led by a choir from the Orthodox Christian Parish of St.John of Kronstadt in Bath together with congress participants.

 At the Friday main Congress Liturgy led by the Methodist tradition, it is hoped the Choir from the Anglican church of St.Mary the Virgin, Bathwick Hill will lead the music.

Daily Morning (usually at 9.00am) and Evening Prayer will take place. A worship area in Michael Tippett Centre Auditorium will be available daily for those wishing, in consultation with the Liturgy Adviser, the Revd Gerald Tedcastle, to make additional arrangements for prayer and non-conventual Eucharists. Outside the official programme, Roman Catholic Holy Mass to be offered each day, with a principal celebrant from among priests taking part in the Congress, on first day, 9th August, for travellers arriving at 12 noon and thereafter at 7.30 am on 11th - 14th August. Other traditions will announce additional worship opportunities.

PROGRAMME

Monday 9^th August

Registration from 11 a.m.

1.00 p.m. Lunch - College facilities available by prior arrangement.

3.15 p.m. Opening Session

4.15 p.m. Tea

5.00 p.m. Lecture I. 'Models of Mary Today' - development of points from a paper presented at the Chester Congress by Fr Chris O'Donnell, O.Carm (Roman Catholic), Lecturer at Milltown Institute, Dublin, Ireland.

6.30 p.m. Dinner

8.00pm An Evening Reception in the Aix-en-Provence Room, The Guildhall, Bath & Presentation of the Collected Papers of the ESBVM 'Mary is for Everyone' and 'Mary for Heaven and Earth'.

 Tuesday 10^th August

7.45- 8.45 a.m. Breakfast.

9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer

9.15 a.m. Lecture II. 'Image & Pilgrimage : The Virgin Mary in the Late Middle Ages' by Dr.Diana Webb, Dept of History, Kings College, Strand, London

10.45 a.m. Coffee.

11.05 a.m. Depart for for Prior Park College with brief visit to Mansion House - former home of Ralph Allen 'Builder' of Regency Bath.

12 noon Conventual Eucharist - Roman Catholic Holy Mass at Prior Park College.

1.30 p.m. Lunch. At Bath Spa University College. Free time

4.15pm Tea.

5.00 p.m. Lecture III. "Von Balthasar's Kenotic Mariology." by Dr.Francesca Murphy (Roman Catholic) Reader in Divinity and Religious Studies, School of Divinity, Philosophy and History, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

6.30 p.m. Dinner

7.45pm Ecumenical Office of the ESBVM in the Michael Tippett Gallery

8.00p.m. Musical Entertainment presented in the Michael Tippet Centre Auditorium by Dr Mary Remnant:'‘Minstrels praising Our Lady on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela’      more information > / PDF version

Wednesday 11^th August

7.45- 8.45 a.m. Breakfast.

9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer

9.15 a.m. Lecture IV. "The Virgin Mary, a Jewish woman" by Fr.Dominique Cerbelaud, O.P.

10.45 a.m. Coffee.

11.05 a.m.Depart for Wells.

12 noon Conventual Anglican Eucharist in Quire of Wells Cathedral 1.00pm Talk by Acting Dean in Quire

1.20 p.m. Packed lunch available from College and Eaten at Wells.

2.00 p.m. Guided Tour of Wells Cathedral.

3.30 p.m. Depart from Wells

4.30p.m.Tea at Downside Abbey

5.45pm Vespers / Ecumenical Office of the ESBVM in Downside Abbey Church.

6.30 p.m. Depart from Downside Abbey

7.00pm Dinner

8.00pm Lecture V. "Mary as a Sign for the World according to Islam." A communication by His Excellency Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald leading into a panel discussion with Imam Rashad Ahmed Azami of the Bath Islamic Centre, Fr.Dominique Cerbelaud, O.P.and the hoped for participation of Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein, Director of The Elijah School, Jerusalem, offering an inter-religious dialogue on Mary the Mother of Jesus.

9.00pm The Bar will be open.

Thursday 12^th August

7.45- 8.45 a.m. Breakfast.

9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer

9.15 a.m. Lecture VI. Sadly due to ill-health, Fr.Leo Spicer, OSM had to withdraw.from the programme, but we are indebted for a paper on"The Immaculate Conception - addressed in particular to friends who are not Roman Catholic" by Dr.Kieran Kennedy (Roman Catholic)

10.30 a.m. Coffee.

10.50 a.m. Depart for Bath.

11.15 a.m. Conventual Eucharist - Orthodox Divine Liturgy in St.John the Evangelist Church, South Parade, Bath Packed lunch available from College.& Eaten in St.John's Parish Hall.

Time to visit City of Bath.

Tea.ad lib.

4.15 p.m. Visit to Bath Abbey

5.00pm Evensong / Ecumenical Office of the ESBVM in Bath Abbey

7.30 pm Festive Dinner with Guests of the Society..

Friday 13 August

7.45- 8.45 a.m. Breakfast.

9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer

9.15 a.m. Lecture VII. The Dormition in Orthodox Theology & Prayer by The Rt Revd Kallistos Ware, Bishop of Diokleia (Orthodox Christian)

10.30 a.m. Coffee

11.00 Depart for Kingswood School.

12 noon Conventual Eucharist - Methodist Tradition - at Kingswood School , Bath

1.30 pm Lunch at Bath Spa University or College Packed lunch available from BSUC& Eaten at Kingswood School. Free time in Bath

4.30pm Tea at Walcot Methodist Chapel

5.00 .pm. Ecumenical Office at Walcot Methodist Chapel

6.30 pm Dinner

A free evening to relax and socialize in the Bar, while some may wish to go out privately for the evening.

Saturday 14 August

7.45- 8.45 a.m. Breakfast.

9.00 a.m. Morning Prayer

9.15 a.m. Lecture VIII. "The Immaculate Conception in the Ecumenical Dialogue with Orthodoxy." by Dr. Virginia M. Kimball (Orthodox Christian) Professor of Religious Studies, Merrimack College, Andover, Massachusetts, USA

10.30 a.m. Coffee

11.00a.m. Lecture IX. Dr.John Newton (Methodist) : 'The Revd.J.Neville Ward of Bath "A Methodist Mariologist" revisited.'

12.15 a.m. Congress Closing Service of Prayer - The Akathist in the Michael Tippett Centre Auditorium..

1.00p.m. Lunch (by prior notification) & Departure

LOCAL PATRONS OF THE CONGRESS

The Revd A.Ward Jones, Chairman of Bristol Methodist District; The Rt Revd Kallistos Ware, Bishop of Diokleia ; The Right Revd Peter Price, Bishop of Bath & Wells; and the Right Revd Declan Lang, Bishop of Clifton.

PATRONS OF THE SOCIETY

His. Eminence Cardinal Edward Cassidy, formerly President, Pontifical Council for Promotion of Christian Unity

His Excellency Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain

The Most Revd Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury

His. Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, Archbishop of Westminster

His. Eminence Cardinal Cahal Daly, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh

The Most Revd Patrick Kelly, Archbishop of Liverpool (Roman Catholic)

The Rt Revd Mervyn Alexander, Bishop Emeritus of Clifton (Roman Catholic)

The Rt.Rev.Lord Carey of Clifton

The Rt Revd Eric Kemp, formerly Bishop of Chichester (Anglican)

The Revd  Dr.John Newton, formerly Moderator, Free Church Federal Council,

The Revd Dr. Frances Young, O.B.E..

The Revd Dom Alberic Stacpoole OSB.

Mr J P Farrelly KCSG

 

                                                                MODERATORS

The Rt Revd Howard Tripp, Auxilary Bishop of Southwark (Roman Catholic)

The Revd Norman Wallwork, (Methodist)

The Rt Revd Kallistos Ware, Bishop of Diokleia (Orthodox)

The Rt Revd Christopher Hill, Bishop of Stafford (Anglican)

 

                                                     OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY

Hon. General Secretary                          Rev Fr William M. McLoughlin OSM

Associate General Secretary                  Mr J P Farrelly KCSG

Hon. Treasurer                                       Mr Frank O'Brien

Conference Treasurer                             Miss Amanda Hill

Press Secretary                                     Miss Amanda Dickie

Publications Secretary                           Mr.David Carter

Constitution Secretary                            The Revd Victor Cassam

Promotions Secretary                             Mr.Geoffrey Dignum