We are a parish in the Old Catholic Church in Europe (OCCE).
We meet for worship at 10.30am every Sunday morning. Weekday services are held and details of these can be found on the 'What's Happening' link.
Fr. Martyn is available for Baptisms, Funerals, Weddings, and Blessings of Civil Partnerships. He can be contacted on 02380 465851.
Fr. Martyn offers an Independent Ministry. We believe that the main stream churches alienate so many different people. Whoever comes to our church will be welcomed, whatever their background, race or sexual orientation. We are not here to judge individuals, but to accept them as they are. Individual spiritual growth is offered. We offer worship in the Catholic Tradition, and are Orthodox in our teachings about Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We have a strict policy on child protection in place in the parish. The clergy are never placed in the position of being alone with children under any circumstances.
Parochial Clergy
The Rev'd. Canon Martyn Douglas - Parish Priest
The Reverend Canon Martyn Douglas is the Parish Priest of St. Francis, Southampton. He has over twenty years experience in parochial ministry. Fr. Martyn trained for the Anglican Priesthood at St. Stephen's House, Oxford. His orders were regularised in October of 2007 by the Right Reverend Dennis Beevers. He now serves on the Bishop's Chapter as a Canon and is Rector of Formation, looking after the training needs of ordinands and the post-ordination training of the clergy.
Fr. Martyn enjoys photography, reading, walking the dogs, and at weekends a nice glass of red wine! Fr. Martyn has a particular devotion to St. Francis, and has an ambition to travel to Assisi one day to see the church he re-built. The real Francis was a high-spirited and rather wealthy young man, on the road toward economic success and military glory. He renounced it all to follow the gospel. The ideas and values that he personified - simplicity of life, nonviolence, humility, love of the creation, are worthy ones for us all to follow.
The Rev'd. Terrence Merrifield - Assistant Priest
The Reverend Fr. Terence Merrifield
is the Assistant Priest of St. Francis, Southampton. Fr. Terry assists
Fr. Martyn in the parish by helping celebrate mass and by preaching.
Fr. Terry is receiving ongoing theological training within the OCCE
and looks forward to the challenges that lie ahead.
Our Bishop
The Right Reverend Dennis Beevers
Titular Bishop of Dunstanburgh
Metropolitan Bishop of the OCCE
Bishop Dennis is the second Metropolitan Bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Europe. He was elected by the Bishop's Chapter and the Apostolic Mandate was issued on March 18 2007. He subsequently was consecrated on July 8th 2007 as Titular Bishop of Dunstanburgh with right of succession to the Metropolitical See by the then Metropolitan Bishop, +Robert McBride assisted by Bishops David Bowler SCR and Anthony Earl-Williams OSP. Bishop Dennis succeeded Bishop Robert as Metropolitan in April 2008 upon +Robert's retirement.
Prior to becoming a Bishop, +Dennis was parish priest of St Maria Gorreti, Barnsley an inner city parish in the North of England and was also Vicar General for the North and a Canon of the Bishop's Chapter. He is widely acknowledged as a sensitive and gentle pastor and his considerable experience gained as a Reader in the Church of England developed his vocation to priesthood. After completing the "Bishop's Certificate in Religious Education," further studies and training, +Dennis was ordained priest in the Missionary Society of St Benedict by Bishop David Bowler and so began his career in the Sacred Ministry.
Bishop Dennis's interests include gardening, reading and for many years he ran a family florist business with his brother in Barnsley. He has a particular devotion to St Therese of Lisieux "the little flower" as well as a keen interest in the writings and teachings of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. +Dennis is also interested in spiritual healing and celebrates a weekly ecumenical healing service in Barnsley.
The Bishop's Coat of Arms