THE
P RTAL
October 2012
Page 9
The Ordinariate at Walsingham
Will Burton reports on an excellent Pilgrimage
It takes
just one and a half hours driving to get from my home near Ely in Cambridgeshire to
Walsingham. The journey was made in glorious sunshine last month when I, along with five hundred others,
went to the Shrine of Our Lady for the Ordinariate Pilgrimage. At first, not to Walsingham at all, but to the
charming village of Houghton-le-Dale just a mile up the road. Here the medieval Slipper Chapel stands, a
proud reminder of days gone by when England was a Catholic Country.
Chapel full of people
Next to the Slipper Chapel, stands
The Chapel of the Reconciliation, built
to resemble a Norfolk barn. There was
time for Confessions before Mass began.
By Noon the Chapel was full of people
for the Sung Mass. Fr Mark Elliot-
Smith played the organ, Alex Lloyd -
among others - sang and our Ordinary,
Mgr Keith Newton was the Principal
Celebrant. He was joined by
forty Ordinariate priests, the
congregation comprising of,
mostly, Ordinariate Faithful.
a day of joy
Mgr Keith’s homily was
straightforward, moving,
and inspiring. He told
the story of a Vicar who
removed the Crucifix from
outside his Church in case
it shocked people. He told
us that we ought to be shocked by the Cross! The
Cross being at the heart of what it is to be a Catholic
Christian. Although we kept the memorial of Our Lady
of Sorrows, overall it was a day of joy. The glorious
sunshine continued through lunch. Old friendships
were renewed, and new ones forged.
over. Many made their way home, but
I and a group of friends, decided to
drive to Cromer for some supper at
The Old Rock Shop Bistro in Hamilton
Road. Here we enjoyed a splendid, yet
inexpensive, supper. Supper over, we
walked down to the Pavilion Theatre
at the end of the Pier for the Summer
Seaside Special variety show. This was
the perfect ending to a perfect day.
A wonderful show in
the romantic little theatre,
keeping alive the English
tradition of end-of-the-
pier shows. Long may it
continue. When the sun
shines as it did that day,
there is nowhere on earth
more splendid than East
Anglia in general and
Norfolk in particular.
Buckfast, Nunraw or Pluscarden?
Mind you it is a bit far to travel if you happen to
live in the West Country or Scotland! Perhaps other
Pilgrimages could be arranged at Buckfast Abbey in
Devon and Nunraw Abbey near Edinburgh ... or even
Pluscarden Abbey near Inverness! It would give those
who live in the West Country and Scotland the chance
Rosary Procession
to enjoy the wonderful experience of an Ordinariate
We assembled for the Rosary Procession along the Pilgrimage. Attentively the Ordinariate Pilgrimage
old Railway Line and into Walsingham itself. As we could alternate between them?
walked we recited the Sorrowful Mysteries, and then
the Mysteries of Light. The prayer was as deep as the thanks
sunshine bright. Into the village we walked and right
One must not end on a downbeat note. It was a
up to the Anglican Shrine where Bishop Lindsay splendid day and thanks are due to Fr Jeff Woolnough
Urwin was waiting for us. He welcomed us to the and all those who arranged things for us, and to Fr
Shrine and we joined in an ecumenical act of worship Alan Williams the Priest Director of the Shrine.
-“Sprinkling“.
drive to Cromer
Mgr Keith dismissed us and the Pilgrimage was
The Ordinary’s Page
will be back next month...