Pro Cathedral in Brussels offers an "all-in-one" service


The Revd Augustine Nwaekwe

It felt like the Anglican Communion was gathered at Holy Trinity Pro-Cathedral in Brussels on 9 October for a liturgy which was described by the Revd Augustine Nwaekwe, the Assistant Chaplain in Brussels, as an "All-in-One" service. As Fr Augustine noted, "it incorporated baptism, confirmation, admission into the Church of England, "churching"- thanksgiving after childbirth, and a memorial thanksgiving service for the father of a member! 

Candidates for confirmation from Holy Trinity Brussels were joined by others from from St Pauls Tervuren and the English Church at Oostende. Clergy present included the Reverends Clifford Owen (Oostende), Gillian Wilton (Tervuren), Jack MacDonald (Leuven), Robert Innes, and Augustine Nwaekwe (Brussels). 

The 2 1/2 hour service had a distinctive African style, with the multi-lingual music provided by Holy Trinity's African Choir "Living Waters Singers" led by Dr David Mitchell. The name of one of the confirmands, Omotayo, means "a child is more than joy" in Yoruba. "More than joy" summed up the feelings of the day, which ended with an African banquet in the parish hall of the pro-Cathedral. 

It was an elated but exhausted bishop that Fr Augustine sent off on a train back to London after the festivities!




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