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Father Tim Finingan

Fr Timothy Finigan gained a first class degree in Philosophy and Psychology at Oxford and then went to study theology at Rome where he specialised in Patristics and the History of Theology, also gaining a diploma summa cum laude in Latin Letters under Fr Reginald Foster. Ordained in 1984, he has spent his priestly life working in parishes in the Archdiocese of Southwark. He has combined this with a ministry of teaching and writing. He currently teaches sacramental theology at St John’s Seminary, Wonersh, and dogmatic theology at St Hugh’s Charterhouse, Parkminster. He was editor of the Faith Magazine for eight years and continues to contribute to the journal. His recent publications include articles on the Immaculate Conception for the Franciscans of the Immaculate, and articles on Humanae Vitae and the Gospel of Life. He writes a regular column for the Catholic Herald and a popular blog “The Hermeneutic of Continuity.” He has also written and lectured on the traditional Roman liturgy. Following Summorum Pontificum, his parish was one of the first to have the usus antiquior celebrated every Sunday as part of the parish schedule.

Lecture: The Life and Works of Fr Adrian Fortescue

Thursday, 29th of October 10.00

Fr Adrian Fortescue (1874-1923) was a man of great erudition who held doctorates in a variety of subjects, was able to lecture in eleven languages, and was an acknowledged authority on liturgy, history and art. Much of his life was devoted to pastoral ministry in the parish of St Hugh of Lincoln in Letchworth where he built a Church, partly funded by the sales of his book The Ceremonies of the Roman Rite described which he dismissively claimed to have written turpis lucri gratia. Although he had a great love of the Roman Rite of Mass, he was scathing about the Roman Curia of his time and what he considered an over-reaction to the heresy of modernism. The lecture will give an overview of some of the characteristics of Fr Fortescue’s life and character as well as celebrating his contribution to the dignified celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.