Requiem for Fr David Higham

Oulton Abbey, Stone
Wednesday, March 11th 2009
7pm
(Sung Mass in Traditional Rite)

Father David Higham died at Oulton Abbey on Saturday 22nd November 2008. When I wrote a eulogy about him, I was overwhelmed by the response from people who knew Fr Higham, especially his old novices from Farnborough.

I only knew Fr Higham in his last couple of years in the context of his support for the Latin Mass Society in Worcestershire (my wife's birthplace), but I daresay that Oulton Abbey had great significance in his life. It was to this community that Fr Higham 'fled' both in the early 90s upon leaving Farnborough, and in 2008 upon being struck down by a Stroke. He must have cared compassionately for the sisters there as chaplain, and it was there he was compassionately cared for in his final days.

He was a testament to the fatherly love a Priest should have for his flock, and his consideration in providing the traditional Rites of the Church for his faithful was truly moving. When asked, he even gave Wendy her 'Churching' upon returning to Mass for the first time after giving birth, despite never having performed such a ceremony, understandably, in his many pre-conciliar years as Monk-priest!

We were very sorry to have been prevented from attending Fr Higham's funeral due to freak traffic conditions (although over 150 managed to attend), and hope to be able to pay our respects in this simple way.

Above: Fr Higham saying a Requiem Mass on Sunday, November 5th 2006