Bishop Norman Banks presided and preached at the Richborough Family Festival held in the Nave at St Albans Cathedral on Saturday, 4th August, 2018. Following the well-attended Mass the Bishop welcomed guests to the garden at Parkside House where drinks were served and picnics eaten before the Bishop gave a short Bible Study. The event concluded with a large number attending Choral Evensong in the Cathedral.St Ambrose Church, Bournemouth, organised a 20-seater coach, which was quickly filled in response to the Bishop's invitation. Arriving early there was plenty of time for refreshments and comfort before the 12 noon Solemn Mass on the feast of St John Vianney. This was attended by "Richborough congregations", from around Bishop Norman's area, which filled more than two-thirds of the cathedral nave and provided an opportunity to meet old and new friends. After the Mass there was a picnic lunch in the garden of Parkside House (the "bishop's palace"), where drinks were provided, and the Bishop gave a short Bible Study. There was also time to enjoy the lakeside walks in the adjacent Verulamium Park before returning to the Cathedral for Choral Evensong which was sung by the choir of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Lexington, Kentucky (USA) in the Quire. All this took place during the exceptionally dry and hot 2018 summer and was very well received.
