St Chad’s is a parish church in the Catholic tradition of the Church of England. This is a tradition that is often described as ‘Anglo-Catholic’. Prayer is a part of the sacraments; especially Mass. The word ‘sacraments’ means to recognise the holiness of The Almighty in tangible, apprehensible material. Things like water in baptism, or bread & wine at the Lord’s Supper.. The oils of blessing and anointing. And an infinite number of things we ‘make holy’ in the Great Seven Sacraments. The Bible, although not a sacrament in the church’s understanding, also reveals the presence of Christ, read aloud in the assembled faithful at Mass and read privately at in our own room.There were many parishes established in the East End and elsewhere in large cities that grew then from the Oxford Movement. Some went hand in hand with Religious Communities of women who ministered in some of the most deprived and intensely populated towns and cities. (cf:(www.stsaviourspriory.org.uk) These parishes were to re-establish the Eucharist (Mass) as a means of placing all the sacraments at the forefront of their social outreach and mission. The Real Presence of Jesus Christ was acknowledeged on the altar and in the people.The Anglo-Catholic worship tended to move away from a largely ‘word’ orientated service. Their emphasis was the ‘visual’ and incarnational in style and theology. Jesus said: ‘I have come that you may have life, and life in abundance’. (John.10.10) .We try to build on, and revitalise that vision for our generation. Even in these days of ‘livestreaming’, catholic parishes put the emphasis on our communal and tangible presence at the sacraments. Personal prayer & daily meditation is centred through the community Celebration of the Eucharist, the summit of our own prayer.

The Lady Chapel is used by some Christian Orthodox visitors and has some beautiful Icons that were donated. A candle burns there daily for Peace on Earth. Especially at this time in the Ukraine and in Gaza and the Middle East.