The 100th anniversary of the first public mass held in Birchington since the Reformation has been celebrated at Birchington’s Catholic church, Our Lady and Saint Benedict.

Mass was celebrated by Abbot Paulinus Greenwood, eighth Abbot of St. Augustine’s Abbey, Ramsgate. This was appropriate, since the mass 100 years ago was celebrated by Fr Egan who was to become the first Abbot of Ramsgate.

Mass began with a procession of nine altar servers, the church’s centenary banner, Rev Deacon James Burleigh and Abbot Paulinus Greenwood.

After the well-attended service, there was a further procession to the church’s outdoor grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes where the congregation said a Hail Mary for Canon William Clements, the parish priest who is in hospital, and sang the Salve Regina on this special feast to Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Refreshments in the church hall followed with the chance to view photographs and text of the church’s 100 years were on display.

The service on August 15 was also the first time the church used its new flagpole. The flag of Vatican City flew during Mass and the church will also fly the Union flag on appropriate dates. The next major event is an outdoor mass at the church on September 7.