Very high Mass held at Brighton’s observation tower

Several Anglo-Catholic churches came together to organise a Eucharist, with the money raised from ticket sales going to local community projects.

Fr Robert John Norbury, the vicar of St Paul’s Church on West Street in Brighton, said he enjoyed the experience, despite having a fear of heights.

 

He told Premier: “We started singing God’s praises as we started ascending.

“Being able to pray for our city as we rose up over it was really special.”

Lifting spirits this #weekend clergy from the Wagner group of churches perform High Mass, or iMass – here above Brighton. Have a lovely weekend everyone! #WeekendWisdom#liftingspirits#ThoughtForTheDaypic.twitter.com/DFjdsAU4Z5

— British Airways i360 (@BA_i360) September 8, 2018

 

Between 50 and 60 guests were joined for the 9am service in the capsule by the Bishop of Chichester, Rt Rev Martin Warner.

Referring to his acrophobia, Fr Robert said: “It was fine.

 

“It [the capsule] wobbled a bit, it was like going up in a lift, it was a little unsettling.

“But there is nothing you can do about it, so you get on with it.”

Other churches forming part of the Wagner group of congregations in Brighton also took part, including the Church of the Annunciation, St Bartholomew’s, St Martin’s and St Michael’s and All Angels.

 

Fr Robert added: “We would have liked to have had a lot more people but I think people having to be there at 8.15am was a difficult call.”

Opened in August 2016, the British Airways i360 is 162 feet high – making it 20 feet taller than the London Eye.

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Dozens of people attended a special Mass service on Saturday morning where prayers were said over Brighton from the city’s iconic British Airways i360 observation tower.