Smoke in the Sanctuary: A Novel [Paperback]

In brief, the Second Vatican Council, which took place in the 1960's, was intended to devise ways to modernise aspects of Catholic ceremonies in order to attract more regular churchgoers. The biggest consequence of this was the rewriting and translation of the Mass. The new Mass was introduced in England and Wales in 1970, and has divided Catholic opinion ever since. Its opponents generally regard it as a trivialised, anodyne version of the original. They take particular exception to the fact that the new version was imposed unilaterally on all congregations. It is now difficult to hear the original version of the Mass in Britain.

James Page is a traditionalist who tries to reintroduce the original version of the Mass in his parish. The story follows events across the parish in the wake of Page's attempted reforms, and depicts the often traumatic, but always entertaining consequences of Page's increasingly fiery encounters with the local opposition. His main enemies are a group of liberal Catholics revealingly entitled 'We Are Right', the New Labourish Monsignor Sloane and a group of Church folk singers who embody all that is most cringingly banal about contemporary Church music. Page has some allies, however; three elderly ladies known as 'the mice' spring vigourously to his defence, as does a local primary school teacher who objects to the imposition of a liberal religious education curriculum, as well as the Campaign for Real Catholicism, run by the unfortunate Hubert Drone.

Readers unused to ecclesiastical disputes will be surprised by the vivacity of what takes place (Those familiar with some may also have their expectations challenged!). Eventually Page has to withdraw, but not before many theological (and aesthetic) wrongs righted and many pompous feathers ruffled. Perhaps the novel's most impressive feature is the way in which serious (and potentially tedious) arguments are dramatised with pace and humour. Those unfamiliar with the recent history of the Catholic Church will easily be able to follow the varied plot, and will be entertained along the way. The style of writing is almost effervescent; similar to the novels of Anthony Powell, in which a wide social and historical canvas is also portrayed with deceptive lightness of touch. At times, Oliver's writing becomes more bitingly satirical. It is clear on which side of the debate the author's sympathies lie, though there is never any danger of his opinions' becoming tiresomely or intrusively didactic. Indeed, the one criticism I would level at this novel is the unbelievably wide social range of the characters in the parish. The advantage of this is that the dogmatic burden of the plot is shared widely among characters. Nonetheless, it is sometimes difficult to believe that many parishes contain such a perfect balance of age, temperament and sex.

Given the mind boggling range of subjects about which contemporary novels are written, many involving extensive and painstaking research, it is perhaps surprising that so little fiction exists about the different strands of Catholicism, which is lived experience for many. Oliver has therefore succeeded twice over: in addressing this important gap in the fictional market; and in writing an engaging debut novel, which can be recommended to Catholics and non Catholics alike.

Well Done Stevo!!!!!