Why did Norwood close?

Why did Norwood close?

Cost. The crippling capitation fee meant that a prospective member would be paying at least £100 a year. Add to this an increase in the golf club’s charges and the cost of sandwiches. The bar was not being used enough to justify a barman on some evenings.

Fr Keith offered us the use of the hall at Addiscombe for free. This has a bar but is rather large. We did hold a Mass in the church and invite people. The dementia awareness evening was a success but attempts at recruitment failed. Similarly the deanery evening where there were several circles represented.

Recruitment. Some pulpit presentations were well received. Bill Whitmarsh even got a clap at South Norwood but there were too few of us at the back of the church and so all one could do was give out leaflets. Too many parishes represented among brothers who had moved to other areas. An attempt to concentrate on Addiscombe, Upper Norwood and South Norwood did not bring results. Involvement at Becket school fete and Coloma fete gave us some leads but hose who came along did not seem at ease. Perhaps the golf club was “pretentious”? Dennis was the last new member and he resigned in 2020 as he could not get to meetings.

Did do a presentation at the Polish church in South Norwood but they have there own society of St Joseph and the disparity in cost was obvious. They are very involved in their parish.

Spiritual needs – no take up on special days of prayer or Signposts. Masses for vocations and deceased brothers poorly attended.

Retention. The grim reaper took his toll especially of past Presidents notably Vincent Cullen and stalwarts like David Barrett and Gerry Haines and so many others. Those who opposed moving into a parish hall because we are not parish based then promptly resigned! Younger brothers did not stay.

Attendance. On some evenings we were down to 4 and heavily outnumbered by visitors. The stalwarts Bill, Brendan X 2, Philip, Colin, Mike, Declan, myself kept it going but we were “kicking the can down the road”. Sadly some did not take office so we recycled presidents notably Bill 4 times!

Perhaps Catenians were not a high priority for some.

Province was supported by myself. Brendan Foley went to provincial weekends. I was usually the only brother who went to Provincial President’s Sunday and other functions. Even in my Provincial Presidential year I usually went alone. We went from very high visiting figures to very low but still retained those regulars visiting us. Beckenham, Bromley, Croydon, Dulwich, occasionally Blackheath and Chislehurst became our patch.

Widows received flowers every year and we did keep in contact but only Renee and sometimes Wendy came to functions. In fact May Supper and clergy supper were the only functions and frankly they were dull. President’s Sunday sometimes attracted a good crowd. Masses for deceased brothers sometimes did not happen and when they did, the attendance was poor. One success was when I moved this Mass to the summer and held it on Sunday evening at Virgo Fidelis followed by an Italian meal. For once we did not need support from other circles and the younger brothers and their wives attended in strength. The monthly weekday pub lunches faded out as those who came passed on.

Ideas like family walks fell flat – Sundays are for families, well bring them along!

Visiting the sick became a phone call or email.

What are we marketing? The refusal to change with the times e.g. not changing the meeting night to later in the week, trying a different time of day on occasion like a Sunday lunch, not knowing what we are for. The atmosphere after the meeting was always congenial and interesting but can you bottle that? Age gap is a problem too.

Beckenham have given us great support and we enjoy their functions but they refused to allow us to keep our name if we merged. In effect some have joined Beckenham while others went to Central circle, Dulwich or Croydon. Croydon circle misunderstood my plea for support and started visiting in strength. This did not really help. We did co-operate on pulpit presentations at St Mary’s but the real blow was when some joined Croydon who should have joined us.

Philip Chandler’s passing was the final blow. He had husbanded our resources well. At his funeral there were several who had been brothers and left – ironic really.

Will Catenians survive? Probably not as there is such a strong feeling that women cannot be admitted. Sons of brothers can join but “practising Catholic” remains a stop to those from other churches joining. The structure is a disaster - top heavy with a central council answerable to nobody.

Refusal to change from some directors. Not really listening to those on the ground is not good although I do have a lot of time for those who take office. Too much money spent on developing and travelling overseas which is great but India and Australia and Malta should now be left to get on with it. Not enough spent on marketing at home although thanks to Sussex catenians and others this is changing for the better.

Talk of devolving to provincial councils has not been realised and in any case provinces are too big (Dover to Victoria) and provincial councils are not well supported with the same faces carrying on.

It would be a great shame if the youth work went – Bursary fund, public speaking, Flame.

Catena has changed and many do not like the new format and content. Publicity is still needed in parish newsletters and local press.

Province 7 has seen the closure of circles which used to be strong South London. Norwood, Medway Towns, Dover, Ramsgate. Perhaps like Weald of Kent we would be better off closing and carrying on in a different format!

Ultimately it comes down to brotherhood and friendship. How strong are the ties in a time like lockdown? Who contacts who in such times? Are we just a funeral club? One priest after a pulpit presentation commented “It sounds like an unreformed golf club” and he was right. OK no need for ties but you still need a jacket!

These views are my own!

John Woodhouse