Friday, August 12, 2011

Belfast Anglican monk rebuilds his order’s chapel

Belfast born Fr John Gribben, a Church of Ireland clergyman, who is a member of the Community of the Resurrection is heading the effort to refurbish the Community’s chapel at Mirfield in Yorkshire.

And his brother George is helping him.

An appeal for lots for auction towards meeting a £2-million repair and refurbishment bill has produced unexpected treasures for the Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield.

The 300 lots donated so far range from a silver First World War field communion set to an original cartoon of Desperate Dan auto­graphed by the artist, Ken Harrison. 

They also include the passport and other memorabilia of Archbishop Trevor Huddleston CR.

The appeal for funds to repair heating and wiring in the Victorian chapel was launched in 2009. 

Work has already begun, but it has revealed structural problems with a section added to the building in the 1930s.

Fr John Gribben CR, who came up with the idea of an auction last autumn, said: “Almost immediately, we had enquiries and offers of items. Some were very acceptable, but others I had to say ‘No’ to.”

The sale will be handled by his brother, George, an auctioneer in Belfast. 

“He is giving his services entirely free, and, as a charity auc­tion, there will be no commission; so buyers and sellers get the best possible deal.

“We set a target of £10,000-plus, and I feel confident that we will achieve this, but I have set my own hopes much higher. I say to friends and well-wishers: ‘Please keep the donations coming.’”

The sale will be held in the re­fectory of the College of the Resur­rection on 22 October.

“When the auctioneer visited Mirfield, he was bowled over by the house and the refectory,” Fr Gribben said. “He says it is a perfect venue for such an event: graceful and romantic, a perfect background for antiques and memorabilia, where each lot carries a story.”

Other lots include a 19th-century edition of Don Quixote, once owned by Cardinal Manning; football boots worn by the Manchester United defender Wes Brown; Lord Archer’s autograph; and a watercolour by the Yorkshire artist Simon Palmer, donated by the Benedictine Sisters at West Malling, Kent.

The Community is offering two oak tables and six chairs by the craftsman Robert “Mousey” Thomp­son. 

“Some of the brethren are quite sad at the loss of the Thompson furniture,” Fr Gribben said, “but we love the church more.”

Fr Gribben served as curate-assistant in the Parish of Dunmurry with the late Canon RC Ellis.