Mary's Dowry Productions

  • Home
  • Mary's Dowry Productions

Mary's Dowry Productions We make Catholic films! We're based in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton, U.K. Our DVDs are available on our website.

We started in 2007 with parishioners, friends, families and local schools to have fun presenting Saints and Martyrs on film.

The beautiful summer poppy fields in our local area, telling the story of Saint Frideswide of Oxford. It's so important...
13/08/2024

The beautiful summer poppy fields in our local area, telling the story of Saint Frideswide of Oxford. It's so important to share nature and beauty to uplift and bring joy and hope in our productions https://vimeo.com/ondemand/frideswide

Despite being expelled from seminary and getting into trouble with his fiery temper and often blunt wit, this pious and ...
13/08/2024

Despite being expelled from seminary and getting into trouble with his fiery temper and often blunt wit, this pious and truly devout Englishman joined the Benedictines and returned to England as an outlawed Catholic priest to minister to the persecuted Catholics. https://www.marysdowryproductions.org/alban-roe-high-stakes-434-p.asp

Christian hagiographies focus on the lives & the miracles, ascribed to men & women canonized by the Catholic church. Ma...
28/07/2024

Christian hagiographies focus on the lives & the miracles, ascribed to men & women canonized by the Catholic church. Mary's Dowry focuses on sharing the stories of women & men in historical England. We re-create visuals of their lives in a unique way www.marysdowryproductions.org
Pics showing, Saint Bede, Saint Edmund Campion, Saint Margaret Clitherow films.

Other Nursery Rhymes are also thought to refer to the troubled times of the Reformation in England. One of these is Mary...
28/07/2024

Other Nursery Rhymes are also thought to refer to the troubled times of the Reformation in England. One of these is
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary:
Mary, Mary, quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockle shells
And pretty maids all in a row.
This has been happily recited by children for hundreds of years. Its innocent sounding verse may have strange and dark
origins. It is thought to refer to the turbulent reign of Mary I. When her Father, Henry VIII severed links with the Pope to
divorce her mother Catherine, it led to a deep rift between the King and his daughter. Mary was banished from Court and
sent to live under virtual house arrest at the Palace of Beaulieu in the Essex countryside. Mary was the only child of Henry
and his first wife, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon. Henry had initially doted upon Mary and even broke Royal
protocol by giving her the title of Princess of Wales. But all this changed when no male heir was born of the marriage.
Henry was now intent on divorcing Catherine and getting a male heir with another wife, Anne Boleyn. As a result of the
divorce Catherine lost her title of Queen and Mary was declared illegitimate and demoted from Princess to Lady and lost
her position at Court.
Mary did eventually succeed to the throne. There was no male heir born to Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth was the only child of
that marriage and Anne, her mother, was executed on trumped up charges. Henry’s son born to his third wife, Jane
Seymour, succeeded his Father as Edward VI. He was only ten years old when he came to the throne and reigned for
only six years – the first Protestant King of England and Ireland. Edward’s attempt to secure the throne for his Protestant
cousin Lady Jane Grey, failed and so Mary came to the throne to become the last Catholic to do so.
Mary immediately set about reversing all the Religious legislation of her father Henry and her half-brother Edward. She
released Catholics who had been imprisoned for their faith, among whom was Bishop Stephen Gardiner, whom she
appointed as Lord Chancellor and was given the honour of crowning her as Queen in October 1553.
In the rhyme she is Mary quite contrary because of the virulence with which she sought to restore the Catholic faith, leading
her to be known in history as ‘Bloody Mary’. Gardiner, who was her great supporter and confidant is alluded to – it is
thought – in line two of the rhyme: How does your garden grow? Under Gardiner various instruments were used to torture
prisoners seen as enemies of the Catholic cause. This explains the reference to cockleshells and silver bells – forms of
thumbscrew. Maidens, or maids denote devices used for beheading. The picture evoked by the rhyme is not as charming
as it seems!

Excellent article by our parish priest today in the newsletter:A very well-known Nursery Rhyme is Old Mother Hubbard. In...
28/07/2024

Excellent article by our parish priest today in the newsletter:

A very well-known Nursery Rhyme is Old Mother Hubbard. In its original form it has only two verses
each consisting of three lines:
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To fetch her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare
And so the poor dog had none.
This allegedly goes back to the sixteenth century and to the breach brought about by King Henry VIII with the Papacy.
Criticising the rich and the powerful – especially the King- was highly dangerous and could lead, at best, to a day in the
stocks, where ill-wishers would come along and pelt the one found guilty with stones or rotten vegetables. At worst the
offender could be hanged, drawn and quartered or burned alive. Anonymously penned rhymes, pretending to be nonsense
verse for children provided a safer means of expressing your opinion about contentious events and the people behind
them as well as keeping alive vital information.
Some historians believe that Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard is the Catholic Church and the resources and powers it had
at its disposal. The Old Mother is Cardinal Wolsey (1470-1530), one of the most important and powerful churchmen of
the sixteenth century. He was Lord Chancellor in the court of Henry VIII. When Henry wanted to be divorced from
Catherine of Aragon, he sent Old Mother Hubbard (Cardinal Wolsey) to the Pope (the cupboard) to obtain a bone (the
divorce) for the dog (Henry). On finding that the cupboard was bare (Rome would not sanction the divorce) Wolsey fell
out of favour with the King, who took his newly built palace at Hampton Court from him, all his property was forfeited to
the crown and he was arrested and charged with high treason but died before his trial. The poor dog did not get his bone
but he got other riches from Mother Hubbard and he broke the link between the Papacy and the Church in England. The
earliest references to Old Mother Hubbard go back to 1591.

We filmed in the beautifully scented lavender fields near Chichester, West Sussex to share them with you in some of our ...
23/06/2024

We filmed in the beautifully scented lavender fields near Chichester, West Sussex to share them with you in some of our films about the Saints and English Martyrs! What striking colours. A shame the incredible smell couldn't be captured too!

We filmed in the vibrant poppy fields in the village of Sompting West Sussex to present the story of Saint Frideswide of...
23/06/2024

We filmed in the vibrant poppy fields in the village of Sompting West Sussex to present the story of Saint Frideswide of Oxford!

Sussex stone walls, wheat fields, historic churches and graveyards are just some of the beautiful local thing we incorpo...
10/06/2024

Sussex stone walls, wheat fields, historic churches and graveyards are just some of the beautiful local thing we incorporate into our filmmaking. Beauty, nature and local scenery is very important to Mary's Dowry Productions.

We built a working cart for use up the Sussex hills for our Saint Cuthman of Steyning production when filming for his li...
10/06/2024

We built a working cart for use up the Sussex hills for our Saint Cuthman of Steyning production when filming for his life. Our local scenery is important to our filmmaking, Sussex downs, sheep and local hills are great backdrops!

We were delighted to be able to film the enchanting fallow deer in Petworth park for some of our film productions over t...
07/06/2024

We were delighted to be able to film the enchanting fallow deer in Petworth park for some of our film productions over the years. We love to include uplifting scenery, ruins, castles, animals and nature from our local areas of West Sussex in our film making. Here is a screenshot.

We like to include old houses, animals, flowers, nature, walks, forests, south downs, costume, and all things interestin...
07/06/2024

We like to include old houses, animals, flowers, nature, walks, forests, south downs, costume, and all things interesting and uplifting from our local area of West Sussex in our film making over the years. Here are some screenshots from a filming day near Chichester several years ago.

We love to share footage of ruins, forests, doorways, nature, birds, fields, walks, hills, costume, insects, castles, ol...
07/06/2024

We love to share footage of ruins, forests, doorways, nature, birds, fields, walks, hills, costume, insects, castles, old houses and more in our films over the years. Here are some screenshots from our filming in Bedham ruins here in Sussex.

Saint John Southworth was a Catholic priest in 17th century England and the only Martyr to be executed for the Catholic ...
04/06/2024

Saint John Southworth was a Catholic priest in 17th century England and the only Martyr to be executed for the Catholic Faith and his Catholic priesthood during the rule of Oliver Cromwell.

Saint John came from a good Catholic family in Lancashire who chose to pay hefty fines to the government rather than give up the persecuted Catholic Faith. He was called to the sacred priesthood so travelled secretly abroad. Saint John Southworth was ordained a Catholic priest at the English College in Douai and entered England as an illegal Catholic missionary priest, determined to take the outlawed Sacraments and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to the persecuted English people.

The City of Westminster in London was the missionary ground chosen by Our Lord for his faithful friend and servant Father John Southworth to minister to the countless persecuted and suffering souls of 17th Century anti-Catholic England. https://www.marysdowryproductions.org/john-southworth-instant-video-download-579-p.asp

Have you visited the Sistine Chapel Reproduction in Goring by Sea? The only full copy in the world.Featured on Celebrit...
04/06/2024

Have you visited the Sistine Chapel Reproduction in Goring by Sea? The only full copy in the world.

Featured on Celebrity Antiques with actor Brian Cox, this astounding and informative journey with artist Deacon Gary Bevans takes us step by step through a five year Catholic work of art which still draws thousands of visitors from around the world into English Martyrs Catholic Church in West Sussex to see the finished Sistine Chapel Reproduction.


In 1993, sign writer Gary Bevans completed the only known copy of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel Ceiling on the roof of his local Sussex parish church. In this film he takes us through the whole process of the painting from his inspiring trip to Rome in 1987 to its completion five and a half years later. With never-before-seen footage from Gary's own video camera, which he kept on the scaffolding tower, a variety of photographs, interviews and details, the viewer will see the ceiling as it was before any painting began, watch Prophets appear from nowhere, visit the tower and tour the church, see Old Testament scenes and figures and astonishing architectural details painted directly onto the roof and so much more. The narration is by the artist and the film was produced in 2007 by his family. https://www.marysdowryproductions.org/how-i-painted-the-sistine-chapel-ceiling-instant-video-download-580-p.asp

Prepared to give his life for the beloved Catholic Faith and for love of Our Lord, Saint Polydore refused to retreat fro...
04/06/2024

Prepared to give his life for the beloved Catholic Faith and for love of Our Lord, Saint Polydore refused to retreat from the dangerous of Elizabethan England. He was eventually tracked to the home of Saint Swithun Wells by none other than the fiercest hater of priests, Richard Topcliffe, and here he literally bargained for the Body of Christ. Mass had not yet finished so Saint Polydore Plasden agreed to surrender on the condition he was permitted to conclude the Holy Sacrifice. Incredibly, Topcliffe agreed. Saint Polydore meticulously consumed every last fragment of the Eucharist so that Our Lord would not suffer sacrilege at the hands of the enemies of the Mass and then peacefully surrendered.

Topcliffe was filled with particular rage as Saint Polydore Plasden bore a most heroic witness for the Catholic Church before the enormous crowds at Tyburn, London. He would have had him suffer a most terrible death had Sir Walter Raleigh not stepped in.

This great Elizabethan English countryman and priest was canonised one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales. https://www.marysdowryproductions.org/defender-of-the-eucharist-saint-polydore-plasden-instant-video-download-547-p.asp

Our Lord guided Saint Bertha to be a great example and influence upon the King of Kent as well as in assisting with the ...
04/06/2024

Our Lord guided Saint Bertha to be a great example and influence upon the King of Kent as well as in assisting with the restoration of England’s Catholic Faith. Saint Bertha was given a Roman church where her confessor offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and she spent much time in prayer. This ancient church was Saint Bertha’s private chapel before the arrival of Saint Augustine to Kent on Pope Gregory the Great’s English Mission. When Saint Augustine arrived, Saint Bertha had paved the way with her husband to offer welcome and hospitality to the missionaries. The Queen was very helpful and influential in the reception of Saint Augustine to England. Pope Gregory the Great held Saint Bertha in such high esteem that he personally wrote her a very beautiful letter complimenting the Queen of Kent on her piety, knowledge of the Catholic Faith and her learning.

Saint Bertha is a great Catholic figure for England and the Catholic Church, especially today, for she has left us a holy and inspiring life dedicated to assisting in the evangelisation of others towards the Truth as well as her great love for England. https://www.marysdowryproductions.org/bertha-queen-of-kent-instant-video-download-564-p.asp

Address


Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mary's Dowry Productions posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Mary's Dowry Productions:

Videos

A selection of our films.

THE LAST WELSH MARTYR
THE LAST WELSH MARTYR

Trailer for a film by Mary's Dowry Productions 'Our Lady of Walsingham' - Dowry of Mary
Trailer for a film by Mary's Dowry Productions 'Our Lady of Walsingham' - Dowry of Mary

Saint Edith Stein Trailer
Saint Edith Stein Trailer

New Saint Edith Stein Trailer

Why we are called 'Mary's Dowry Productions'
Why we are called 'Mary's Dowry Productions'

Why we are called 'Mary's Dowry Productions' - 1 minute interview byte (taken from our 2012 documentary 'An Inside Look at Mary's Dowry Productions):

GUY FAWKES AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT
GUY FAWKES AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT

Taken from our film 'St. Nicholas Owen: The Priest Hole Maker', this excerpt looks at GUY FAWKES AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT for 5th November.

Making Blessed Alexandrina da Costa film
Making Blessed Alexandrina da Costa film

Taken from our documentary 'An Inside Look at Mary's Dowry Productions' ©2012 - Making Blessed Alexandrina da Costa film, behind the scenes etc...:

Three English Martyrs
Three English Martyrs

Three English Martyrs:

Trailer for our 2011 film presentation of the life of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. The production is available on DVD worldwide through AMAZON and Mary's Dowry Productions online shop.

Trailer for Saint Robert Southwell film (due for release on DVD 2015).

Shortcuts

  • Address
  • Alerts
  • Contact The Business
  • Videos
  • Claim ownership or report listing

  • Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Share