THE
P RTAL
Walsingham Supplement
would not associate with any of these? Bishop Lindsay
laughed and said, “The question does exercise my
mind! Our Pilgrim clientele is mixed and I am glad
it is. Walsingham is in some ways the flag-ship of the
Anglo-Catholics, but it can never be our possession! We
must share the space graciously and with generosity.”
Page iii
are sensitive times. There is a rawness between us
all. We wonder about the future and that brings its
anxieties. Anglo Catholics with reservations about the
ordination of women wonder about what will happen
after women bishops.
The departures to the Ordinariate have not been easy
to accept. I hope, as time goes by, what is difficult for
There is a light that burns for Jackie’s husband on the people will become less difficult. One of the reasons I
wall of the Holy House at Walsingham. He died a few was pleased when the Ordinariate was put under the
years back, so it means a great deal to her, as indeed do Patronage of Our Lady of Walsingham was because it
all the lights that burn there for those who keep them. would help us to be as together as we can be, and help
keep relationships alive.
She asked Bishop Lindsay if it was right to keep her
light there? He replied, “Of course the light must burn
Bishop Lindsay’s advice to Ordinariate Catholics is
for your husband at the Holy House. We pray for the to “Keep coming to Walsingham! I want you to come.
Ordinariate here. But we must also admit that these Mary wants you to come!”
Attachments to the Anglican Shrine
Come with confidence!
Jackie Ottaway and Ronald Crane met with Father Alan Williams,
Director of the Roman Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
The day
following our meeting with Bishop Lindsay, we went to Elmham House in Walsingham. Fr
Williams greeted us with enthusiasm, and took us to a warm and comfortable room. As he served the coffee,
Jackie asked for his reactions when he heard about the Ordinariate.
“OK,” he said, “I cannot give you a
simple answer. There must be a preamble.
I am a cradle-catholic, and have been
Shrine Director since 1993. I went away,
and then came back. I have got to know
the Anglo-Catholic world gradually.
It has been a delight. On the one hand
I have seen many cross the Tiber. I had
heard hints and rumours of course. On
the other hand, I am delighted about the
Ordinariate. Anything that helps people
into full communion with the Catholic
Church is good. I am interested that the initiative
came from Rome. The Anglos-Catholic movement is
bigger than just the UK of course, But we are still in
the early stages.”
Implications for the Catholic Shrine?
Jackie continued to ask Fr Alan about the implications
of the Ordinariate for the Roman Catholic Shrine. He
replied, “I hope it will be a challenge. When I first
came to Walsingham relations between the RC Shrine
and the Anglican Shrine were good and relaxed. We
are sister Shrines with real differences, but a common
purpose. This will have added richness with the
Ordinariate. I do not quite understand it yet, but senior
clergy, clergy and laity will see all th is in
a wider context. The Ordinariate of Our
Lady of Walsingham will have a home in
Walsingham eventually.”
Ecumenical Relations in
Walsingham
With regard to Ecumenical relations
in Walsingham, Fr Alan stated, “We
are committed to working together in
a positive way, and being open with the
Anglican Shrine. It is complicated at the
moment with the Ordinariate, but it is important to
keep our business as usual with our Sister Shrine. I
understand life at the Anglican Shrine is not easy. But
we have a common mission in Walsingham. Many
Pilgrims walk the Holy Mile between the two Shrines.”
Ronald asked if the two Shrines could work better
together. Fr Alan said, “We need to be practical. The
staff at both Shrines are very busy most of the time.
The Anglican Shrine is the flagship of the Anglos-
Catholic movement; we act as host to many dioceses,
parishes and organisations who come on Pilgrimage.
We only organise one Pilgrimage a year. It is in
September and was our National Pilgrimage, now