Welcome to the Ordinariate Festival which is taking place in Eastbourne between the 13th and 15th October this year.

This will be the fifth Festival which has been organised, to help the laity of the Ordinariate especially to gather together to pray, socialise and grow in understanding of our faith and mission. Our groups are spread across England, Wales and Scotland, and this geographical distance creates some difficulties in forming our identity and sense of belonging. The Festival is a wonderful way of seeking to overcome some of these challenges.

The themes of each Festival have also sought to address our unique character and gifts, some of which were identified and published through the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith on 26 March this year. These gifts are seen as a unique contribution to the wider Catholic Church. The theme of this year’s Festival, Beauty, Truth, and Goodness, helps to emphasise aspects of the Ordinariate’s unique gifts which the Bishops and the DDF identified; and in particular, one of the document’s themes, “Evangelisation through Beauty…not as an end in itself, but insofar as it has the power to lead us to God” will be explored at the Festival this year.

The Festival falls into two parts: First, the talks, Mass, Mattins and Evensong which will be open to all and to which all are welcome! The second part — fellowship over shared meals and discussions with Bishop David — is limited in capacity and so restricted to Ordinariate members, associate members and those who have made their spiritual home within an Ordinariate group. To access this second part requires booking via this website. Numbers are limited because of space and catering purposes so early booking is advised. You don’t need to book for the public events: just turn up.

Whether you are attending only the open public events, or both the public and closed events, we are very much looking forward to seeing you this October in Eastbourne.

Donations are welcome, to help defray costs. If you are attending only the public events, you are welcome to give via our CAF donations page at any time up to and even after the Festival. For the sessions which need to be restricted, there is the opportunity to give a suggested donation of £40 in advance, towards the cost of catering, when you book.

Christ the King Church has parking available adjacent to the church or in surrounding streets. We’re also on a number of bus routes. All the public areas of the church are accessible; there is a loop system. You can get directions to the church by clicking the map in the sidebar or, on the mobile site, going to the Contact page and tapping the map.

There are lots of hotels in Eastbourne which you can book including Premier Inn and Travelodge.

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This year’s speakers

We are privileged to welcome David Clayton to give three addresses at the 2026 Ordinariate Festival. David is Provost of Pontifex University, Dean of its Faculty of Sacred Arts and author of The Way of Beauty. Accompanying David will be Andrew Goldstein of The Vigil Project.

Programme

The draft programme may alter slightly

Tuesday 13 October
15:00 Registration* and refreshments*
16:00 Welcome
16:30 Evensong
17:30 Session 0: Music in Worship: Andrew Goldstein
18:30 Mass of St Edward the Confessor
19:30 Supper*

Wednesday 14 October
08:00 Adoration/Confession
09:00 Mattins
10:00 Session 1: David Clayton
10:45 Refreshments*
11:15 Session 2: David Clayton
12:00 Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham
13:00 Lunch*
14:00 Pilgrimage/free time
16:30 Refreshments available*
17:00 Evensong
18:00 Time with the Bishop*
19:00 Supper*

Thursday 15 October
08:00 Adoration/Confession
09:00 Mattins
09:45 Session 3: David Clayton
10:30 Refreshments*
11:00 Closing Address: The Bishop*
12:00 Mass of St Teresa of Avila
13:00 Festival ends/Lunch available* (pre-book)



*These parts of the programme are intended for Ordinariate members and associate members, and those who have made their spiritual home within an Ordinariate group.

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