St Saviour's Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham

Here is a little history about how Walsingham, a little village about five miles from Fakenham, Norfolk, became a place pilgrimage.

In 1061 the Lady of the Manor of Walsingham, Richeldis de Faverches, had a vision of the Virgin Mary who instructed her to build a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth in Walsingham. With help from the  Virgin Mary and assistance of holy angels the house was built and quickly became the most popular place of pilgrimage in Britain. 

In the 12th century Augustinian Canons built a Priory to look after pilgrims and encased the Holy house in a chapel of stone to protect it. Kings and queens came to pray at the shrine.

In 1536 King Henry VIII, who had himself made pilgrimages to Walsingham, dissolved the monasteries and in 1538 his Commissioners came to Walsingham, broke up the holy buildings, seized valuable goods and the shrine was destroyed. The statue of Mary with the infant Jesus on her name was taken from the holy house and burned.

In 1921 Fr Hope Patten became the Vicar of the of the Parish of S t Mary Walsingham and wanted to revive pilgrimage to the village. He had a a wooden statue carved of Mary and the infant Jesus. It was copied from the original Priory Seal now in the British Museum. The statue was put in a side chapel of St Mary's Parish Church.

Fr Patten raised money to build a new shrine and in 1931 purchased land in the village opposite the Priory. The Shrine Church was designed and built to resemble the original shrine which incorporated the Holy House. The statue was taken from St Mary's Church and placed above the altar in the new Holy House where today pilgrims are invited to light candles and pray.

When the foundations were being laid a Saxon well was discovered. The water from the well is believed to have healing properties and pilgrims still come to drink the water for spiritual refreshment ot take it home for family and friends who are ill.

The shrine continues to be a place of pilgrimage to this day and the St Saviour's Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham meets to worship and to strengthen, renew and promote the spiritual benefits of pilgrimage.

The Cell is joined to the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham whose objects are:

* to honour Mary, the Mother of God and to deepen faith in the incarnation Our Lord Jesus Christ;

* to promote devotion to Our Lady and pilgrimage to Walsingham;

*to seek holiness of life through prayers, the scriptures and the sacraments.

We meet monthly to celebrate mass and sometimes there is an talk or address after the mass.

23 November     Votive Mass of our Lady                                 Said Mass at 10.00 am

8 December      The Immaculate Conception of the BVM      Sung Mass at 12 noon

31 December     Sung Mass of the Holy Family                        Parish Mass at 11.00 am                                                              

Further details about membership of the Society of Our Lady of Walsingham and the St Saviour's Cell can be obtained from the St Saviour's Cell Membership Secretary, Margaret Newlove                01723 512016

or from Fr David Dixon 01723 363828