Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham
The Shrine of Our Lady at Walsingham was established in 1061. This Holy House was built and a religious community took charge of the foundation, with papal approval the Augustinian Canons built a Priory (c 1150). Walsingham became one of the greatest Shrines in Medieval Christendom. After the destruction of the Shrine during the reformation, Walsingham ceased to be a place of open pilgrimage, however some Catholics still secretly visited the ruins at night even with the penalty of death hanging over them, Devotion was necessarily in secret until after Catholic Emancipation (1829. In 1896 Charlotte Pearson Boyd purchased the 14th century Slipper Chapel, the last of the wayside chapels en-route to Walsingham, and restored it for Catholic use. In 1897 by rescript of Pope Leo XIII, the sanctuary of Our Lady of Walsingham was restored with the building of a Holy House as the Lady Chapel of the Catholic
Church of the Annunciation, King’s Lynn. Opening times are in the link. https://www.walsingham.org.uk/shrine-opening-times/
The shrine is located in the midst some of England’s most stunning countryside, it Is very out of the way and the shrine is a short walk away from the original grounds of the abbey which is located in the village. There is a reasonable level of facilities in the shrine with a visitors centre, café, giftshop, toilets and picnic area. The chapel is very modern but does fit into the surrounding landscape. The Nuns, brothers and staff where all very welcoming and helpful. The guest accommodation was closed but there are cheap local options available,
Walsingham makes for a very pleasant day trip from London and has a peaceful air about it. Highly recommended to have GPS working once you head past Kings Lynn as its very isolated.
