A religious relic linked to one of Christianity’s earliest figures has been handed to a Spalding church.
St Norbert’s Catholic Church was last week visited by Fr Ritchie Vincent, archivist and secretary for social communications in the archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore in Chennai, India.
He previously served as a custodian at the tomb of Saint Thomas in the same city.
It’s said to be the grave of one of Jesus’s followers who brought Christianity to India.
While attending mass in Spalding last week, Fr Vincent present a small container of soil from the tomb to local priest Fr Jim Burke.
Fr Jim said: “It was a real privilege to welcome Fr Ritchie Vincent to our parish and to receive this relic.
“It creates a direct and tangible connection to Saint Thomas himself and to the early church.
“Moments like this remind us that our faith is part of something much bigger, reaching across countries, cultures and centuries.”
Fr Vincent said: “I had heard many good things about Project St Thomas and the work being done here to support people. When I visited, I could see that for myself — it is a place of welcome, service and genuine care for others. It was my honour to bring this relic from the tomb of Saint Thomas and to share that connection with the people here in Spalding.”
Tracey Carter, Relationship Manager at Project St Thomas, said: “It was incredibly special to welcome Fr. Ritchie Vincent to Spalding. To receive a relic from the tomb of St Thomas is something very meaningful, not just for the church, but for our wider community.
“At Project St Thomas, everything we do is about bringing people together, supporting those who need it, and creating a place where people feel they belong. To have that recognised by someone who has served at such an important global Christian site was really powerful.”
