Latin Mass Society of England and Wales

The Latin Mass Society of England and Wales (LMS) is a lay Catholic association that promotes the Church's traditional Latin liturgy. It was founded in 1965, the final year of the Second Vatican Council, to seek the preservation of the older rites and of Latin in worship (Wikipedia). It is affiliated to the International Federation Una Voce; its chairman, Joseph Shaw, is also the federation's president (The Remnant).

The 1971 indult. The Society organised a petition that Cardinal John Heenan of Westminster presented to Paul VI. The resulting concession, dated 5 November 1971, allowed bishops in England and Wales to authorise celebrations with the former Roman Missal for particular groups; the LMS says it is often called, informally, the "Agatha Christie indult" (Latin Mass Society). In 2021 Cardinal Arthur Roche, in a letter to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, wrote that the older Mass had been "abrogated by Pope Saint Paul VI" (Catholic World Report/CNA).

Recent positions. In November 2025 the apostolic nuncio to Great Britain said Leo XIV would not overturn Francis's restrictions but would grant two-year dispensations to bishops who request them (Catholic News Service). On 3 February 2026 the LMS and FIUV issued a joint statement of concern about the SSPX's planned consecrations (Una Voce Canada). At a symposium at the London Oratory on 12 February, Shaw said: "We've waited patiently for Pope Leo to consider relaxing Latin Mass restrictions — the SSPX has now thrown a hand grenade into this" (OSV News). After the excommunications he said he disagreed with the Society's decision and that the LMS had continued to cooperate with local bishops (Detroit Catholic/OSV News). The Remnant published a reply arguing that such distancing signals division among traditional Catholics (The Remnant). In July 2026 the Italian blog Messa in Latino published a conversation with the Society on the ancient rite, schism and Traditionis custodes (Messa in Latino).