Belfast born Fr John Gribben, a Church of Ireland
clergyman, who is a member of the Community of the Resurrection is
heading the effort to refurbish the Community’s chapel at Mirfield in
Yorkshire.
And his brother George is helping him.
An appeal for lots for auction towards meeting a £2-million repair and
refurbishment bill has produced unexpected treasures for the Community
of the Resurrection, Mirfield.
The 300 lots donated so far range from a silver First World War field
communion set to an original cartoon of Desperate Dan autographed by
the artist, Ken Harrison.
They also include the passport and other
memorabilia of Archbishop Trevor Huddleston CR.
The appeal for funds to repair heating and wiring in the Victorian
chapel was launched in 2009.
Work has already begun, but it has revealed
structural problems with a section added to the building in the 1930s.
Fr John Gribben CR, who came up with the idea of an auction last autumn,
said: “Almost immediately, we had enquiries and offers of items. Some
were very acceptable, but others I had to say ‘No’ to.”
The sale will be handled by his brother, George, an auctioneer in
Belfast.
“He is giving his services entirely free, and, as a charity
auction, there will be no commission; so buyers and sellers get the
best possible deal.
“We set a target of £10,000-plus, and I feel confident that we will
achieve this, but I have set my own hopes much higher. I say to friends
and well-wishers: ‘Please keep the donations coming.’”
The sale will be held in the refectory of the College of the Resurrection on 22 October.
“When the auctioneer visited Mirfield, he was bowled over by the house
and the refectory,” Fr Gribben said. “He says it is a perfect venue for
such an event: graceful and romantic, a perfect background for antiques
and memorabilia, where each lot carries a story.”
Other lots include a 19th-century edition of Don Quixote, once owned by
Cardinal Manning; football boots worn by the Manchester United defender
Wes Brown; Lord Archer’s autograph; and a watercolour by the Yorkshire
artist Simon Palmer, donated by the Benedictine Sisters at West Malling,
Kent.
The Community is offering two oak tables and six chairs by the
craftsman Robert “Mousey” Thompson.
“Some of the brethren are quite sad
at the loss of the Thompson furniture,” Fr Gribben said, “but we love
the church more.”
Fr Gribben served as curate-assistant in the Parish of Dunmurry with the late Canon RC Ellis.