A Century!

On this day (4 May), a hundred years ago, the first Mass was offered up at Fisher House. The Black Swan had been bought the year before by the Cambridge

University Catholic Association (CUCA). After much work, a chapel was ready for the celebration of the Eucharist. The day was chosen with purpose. It was the Feast of Bl. John Fisher and Companions. St John was not executed until 22 June 1535 but on 4 May of that year, the first five Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation died. Four of them were Cambridge Men: St John Houghton, St Richard Reynolds, St Augustine Webster and Bl. John Hale. They were joined at Tyburn by St Robert Lawrence.

The Chaplain was Fr John Lopes (1922-8) but he invited Mgr Nolan, the first Chaplain to the University (1896-1905), to celebrate the Mass. They were joined by the Bishop of Northampton, Rt Revd Dr Cary-Elwes, who preached. He was guided to his throne by the Chaplain and the officers of CUCA. It is said that after the Mass, Mgr Nolan had tears in his eyes.

We thank God for the gift of Fisher House and for its hundred years as a place of worship. That we still have our own chapel in the heart of the University Town is because of the dedication of CUCA, the Chaplains, and the generations of students. Tomorrow, at the Fisher Mass, we can give God the praise He always deserves and pray for those who have gone before us.