On the Monday before Christmas Father Francis Baverstock died at the Clergy House, Notting Dale—still in harness at 79, as we are sure he would have wished.

Father was an Honorary Guardian of the Holy House, but apart from that he had close connections with Walsingham for nearly 45 years. Father Reeves, the predecessor of the present Vicar, was a great friend of Father Baverstock, and gave him his title at Islington. Then, when at Holy Cross, S. Pancras, Father F. E. B. gave Father Hope Patten his title. While he was a deacon there in 1914 he was shown a small image of our Lady and Father Baverstock said "This is for Walsingham"—it was a present to Father Reeves who, just before he left Walsingham in 1920, put it on a bracket in the Lady Chapel. It now stands over the High Altar of the Parish Church. Father had often preached his clear, simple gospel sermons at the Parish Mass, and was much loved in this Norfolk village by those who knew him. He expressed a wish to be buried among us and this was done on 27th December. [He is buried in a grave just behind that of Fr Patten in St Mary's churchyard.]

Francis Baverstock is one of the last of a body of great Parish Priests of the Subtractarian School—which were men who made the best of what the Catholic Revival is today. Indeed we live on their sowing—he was always interested in "developments," somewhat impatient of certain innovations—but always willing to help if real hard work was being done for souls.

He was a Priest Associate of the Holy House from the beginning and had a great love for the Shrine and its Children's Home.

return to Our Lady's Mirror, Autumn 1952