Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham
On Saturday 30th September at 10am we will celebrate Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham, to begin discerning the possibility of setting up a ‘Walsingham Cell group’ for this parish. If there is sufficient interest from parishioners, friends or people from other parishes, we will aim to meet monthly, and possibly make a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk in 2024.
What is The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham?
Known as England’s Nazareth or the ‘Dowry of Mary’ in the medieval period, Walsingham has welcomed pilgrims in modern times since 1922. In 1061 a prayerful Saxon woman called Lady Richeldis de Faverches had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary who took her in her contemplative imagination to Nazareth where the Angel Gabriel had asked Our Lady to become the Mother of Jesus. Lady Richeldis then built the first Holy House on the present site a short time after this vision. The original shrine was destroyed in the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538.
The Shrine was re-established at King’s Lynn in 1897 and the Anglican Shrine in 1922. The first Pilgrims’ Manual, written by Fr Hope Patten, Restorer of the Anglican Shrine and Vicar of Walsingham from 1921 until 1958 states: ‘In these days of materialism, unbelief and indifference to Christianity, the value of such a Shrine cannot be overestimated. Walsingham boldly witnesses to the truth of the Incarnation, to the indispensable part our Lord’s Mother plays in God’s plan for our salvation.’ (The Pilgrim Manual, 2023)
Some of you will know Walsingham well and have been on pilgrimage several times. Some of you will not know very much about this tradition, but might like to know more. Either way, it is our hope that those of you who are able may join us, as we begin to offer ourselves to this traditional devotion and to explore what spiritual wisdom might emerge.
In St Barnabas we have long had a devotion to Our Lady and there is a small local shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at the west end of the Church.
Want to know more?
Do contact the Vicar, Fr Christopher, or come along on Saturday 30th, where there’ll be an opportunity to talk after the Mass.
Our Lady of Walsingham, pray for us.
