THE
P RTAL
Advent Supplement
The painting of the pelican feeding her young (a
symbol of the Eucharist) in the lunette over the sacristy
door is all that remains today of these works.
Page iii
been blessed by the Pope on the day the Rescript for
the Shrine was granted, it was brought to King’s Lynn
on the 19th August 1897.
Bishop Leo Parker of Northampton consecrated the at the railway station
church on the 6th August 1947, a new tabernacle and
Not only were the Catholics of Lynn and district
stone alter being placed in the sanctuary at that time. at the railway station to receive the statue, many had
come from all parts of
In the 1960s, following
England and the whole
the
Second
Vatican
route to the new church
Council, the church
was lined by the people of
was refurbished, seating
Lynn, who were reported
capacity increased and the
to be very respectful, even
sanctuary was re-ordered.
reverent.
salute for Our
The High Altar was
Lady’s return
reduced in size and
brought forward to allow
A halt was made at the
Mass to be celebrated
Red Mount Chapel (built
with the priest facing
in 1485) in The Walks
the people, and to focus
where the people saluted
all attention on the
Our Lady’s return with the
celebration of the Mass, the Tabernacle was moved Salve Regina. An annual procession to the Red Mount
to a new position at the top of the side aisle and all commemorating this event continued until 1984.
the wall paintings were obliterated. The Crucifix, is by
Mr Michael Clark, was fixed on the back wall of the
On the following day, 20th August 1897, the
sanctuary in June 1969.
first public pilgrimage to Walsingham since the
Reformation took place, led by Father Philip Fletcher
restoring the ancient Shrine
and Fr George Wrigglesworth.
When Fr George Wrigglesworth came to Lynn,
Walsingham lay within the area of the King’s Lynn a procession from the railway station
Mission. He was keen to revive devotion to Our Lady
There was a procession from Walsingham railway
of Walsingham. With the help of Father Philip Fletcher, station to the Slipper Chapel where prayers were
co-founder of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, he offered and visits were made to the Priory ruins.
petitioned Pop Leo XIII to incorporate a restored shrine
to Our Lady of Walsingham in the church at Lynn. His
The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom continued to lead
Holiness gladly assented and granted a Rescript on the pilgrimages to King’s Lynn until 1934 when it was
6th February 1897, restoring the ancient Shrine of Our at last possible to restore the National Shrine to the
Lady of Walsingham at King’s Lynn.
Slipper Chapel at Walsingham.
Holy House of Nazareth at Loreto
The Shrine Chapel is a reproduction, on a reduced
scale, of the Holy House of Nazareth at Loreto. The
altar, too, is a copy of that at Loreto. Until the 1960s the
Shrine was lit by fifteen hanging lamps representing
the Mysteries of the Rosary and the ceiling was painted
to depict them.
stop and pray in the Holy House
Pilgrims continue to visit the Shrine in King’s Lynn
today. Next time you are on route to Walsingham, do
not just curse the traffic around Lynn. Why not make
a stop and pray in the beautiful Holy House? Say your
prayers and then make your way to Walsingham.
Maybe, on the way home, you could stop again and
offer prayers of thanksgiving for your Pilgrimage in
Statue blessed by the Pope
this, the first Catholic Holy House of Our Lady of
Since the likeness of the original Walsingham statue Walsingham since the Reformation? The Parish Priest
was not known at the time, the Pope directed that a new will be pleased to see you.
statue be copied from the picture of Our Lady venerated
Fr Peter Rollings
in the Roman Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin,
The Catholic Rectory, North Everard Street,
the titular church of Cardinal Pole, who died in 1556,
King’s Lynn, Norfolk. PE30 5HQ
the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury. The statue
Telephone Tel: 01553 772220
was carved in wood at Oberammergau, and having