A musing about Worth & The House of Peers ...

Written by Peter Bingle, Chairman, Bell Pottinger Public Affairs



On Saturday I attended sung High Mass at the newly restored Worth Abbey. As the monks walked in procession onto the high altar and then sat in a semi circle at the back of the altar time stood still. This ceremony could have been taking place at any time over the last five hundred or so years. The vagaries of the secular world seemed strangely irrelevant. Here was a coming together of people who believe in ritual, the sacred and mystery.



Music always plays a pivotal role in such ceremonies. The choice of two magnificent choral works by Anton Bruckner was a stroke of genius. Is there a more beautiful piece of choral music than Locus Iste? The words were perfect: “This place was made by God, an incomprehensible mystery!” For those of you who don’t know Bruckner’s choral music including three magnificent masses rush out to your local music store and buy them …



Everything was just perfect. The altar servers (all Worth boys) did not put a foot wrong. Service to the chaplaincy is popular at Worth and it showed. Worth is more than just a school. It is a community of people dedicated to service and serving …



Abbot Kevin’s homily was very moving. He used the example of an old boy who was serving his gap year in Australia when one of his friends became seriously ill. His first reaction was to email the monks and his old friends at Worth and ask for their prayers. As Abbott Kevin made clear, time spent at Worth has an enduring place in the lives of former pupils. It is a very special school.



One of the most interesting things about Worth is the fact that the monks are both other worldly at the same time as knowing (far more than the rest of us) what is really important in the modern world.



The one concession to modernity was the fact that the Mass was in English. Ever since I was a young lad I have always loved the Latin Mass. It is believed Pope Benedict has signed an ‘indult’ which will allow Catholics across the world to once again celebrate the Tridentine Mass whenever they want to. I hope this is true as there is something quite wonderful about the Tridentine Rite. Pope Benedict is proving to be a rather special Pope.



On the basis of my love of ritual and mystery, it will come as no surprise that I am opposed to any further reform of the House of Lords. Indeed, I think there has already been far too much reform. I would never have removed the hereditary principle which served this country so well. It is worth noting the words of Lord Tolloller in Iolanthe:



“When Britain really ruled the waves,

The House of Lords made pretence to intellectual eminence

Or scholarship sublime …”



“When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte

As every child can tell,

The House of Peers throughout the war

Did nothing in particular and did it very well …”



“And while the House of Peers withholds its legislative hand,

And noble statesmen do not itch

To interfere with matters which they do not understand …”



Of course, over the years politicians have found the temptation to tamper irresistible. House of Lords reform is once again being seriously considered by some of our most senior politicians including the Deputy PM. I cannot deny that I rather the fancy of standing for election to the House of Lords. I think Baron Bingle of Upper Belgravia has a certain ring about it and I would have much fun. But I must resist the temptation because in my heart I do not want to see any further change. In terms of where things currently stand I am minded to agree with Lord Mountararat who states that: “It so happens that if there is one institution in Great Britain which is not susceptible of any improvement at all. It is the House of Peers!”



Today’s musing has been about the glory that is Worth School and the House of Lords. In a secular world that consistently disappoints institutions such as these must be cherished and preserved.



In a modern secular world is there still a place for ceremony, ritual and mystery? Why is the Tridentine Mass still so important to many Catholics? Why do politicians want to reform the House of Lords when it works so well?