10th Anniversary of Portugal Day – 9 June 2024
Three hundred years ago this year, the Portuguese ambassador to the Court of St James founded and built the first embassy and chapel on the site of what is now Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street. This chapel provided a place of worship for the many Londoners who otherwise were barred by law from the celebration of the divine liturgy.
This year marks another Portuguese anniversary which is the tenth year since the church re-established formal links to the modern embassy. His Excellency the Ambassador of Portugal has been a regular attendee at our annual Portugal day where we celebrate the historic link. We were happy to welcome members of the Portuguese community in London, many of whom came wearing national dress and entertained us afterwards with music and dancing in the parish hall.
When offering a few brief words at the end of Mass, the Ambassador was keen to point out that he now views the relationship with the church as an important aspect of our two countries’ mutual longest alliance.
This was also the last Portugal day for Msgr Keith before his retirement and he was asked to sign the Book of Honour.
15 June 2024
