WALSINGHAM ON THE 16th JULY

Yesterday, 12 members of the Redbridge and Havering Ordinariate Group went to Walsingham to join the Pilgrimage of Reparation and Consecration organised by the Ordinariate and led by Monsignor Keith Newton. We stopped en route for breakfast at Walkers in Brandon Woods where we met others making the same journey. Sadly the weather became worse and when we arrived at Walsingham it was just pouring with rain. We made our way to the Anglican Shrine Café for Coffee and some of us indulged in the wonderful Norfolk Shortbread they sell.

We had arranged to hold Mass at the Barn Chapel as, of course, we were not allowed to receive at the Mass at the RC National Shrine. It had been our intention to eat lunch, after Mass, in the Shrine Grounds but it was really pouring with rain so we enjoyed our lunch in the Barn Chapel. We thought that the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament would be cancelled although we were unable to actually find out any details, so we decided to visit the Flower Festival taking place in the village this week-end

The flowers in the Roman Catholic Church, the Methodist Church and the Church of St. Mary were absolutely stunning. Sadly I didn’t have my camera with me so I wasn’t able to photograph any but one of the group had theirs so it may be that I will be able to put some on the blog in the future.

We returned to the Abbey Grounds but again were unable to get much information except, as we thought, Benediction had been cancelled. We decided to go to the Shrine Grounds and wait and see what would happen. Eventually the Procession arrived carrying a Statue of Our Lady of Walsingham and then there was a service of Sprinkling in the Shrine Church which we attended.

Whilst we were in Walsingham it was good to see Bishop Lindsay Urwin whilst we were waiting in the village. After a quick cup of tea/coffee in the Shrine Café, we left and drove to Swaffham for a Fish & Chip supper at Old Mother Hubbards which was excellent.

It was not what we had intended but the weather ruined our plans but never-the-less we had a really enjoyable day.