The Vicar General, Bishop Elect Damien Mead, visited the Church of Our Lady of Walsingham and St Francis, Rochester, to rededicate the Church and bless the replacement doors, tabernacle and a statue of St Michael the Archangel. The Parish Priest Father Raymond Thompson presided at Solemn Evensong and Benediction, during which Father Mead preached and blessed the Church. As visitors to this site will know the Church was badly vandalised during Holy Week and although it has been in use since then the work in restoring the Church and making it secure has only just been completed.
After Evensong Father Thompson, on behalf of the congregation, presented Father Mead with a new ‘simple’ Mitre for his future ministry as Bishop.