It is said that in the 11th Century the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the Lady Richeldis who lived in the Manor of Walsingham which belonged to the King and Saint, Edward the Confessor. Richeldis was commanded to build a replica of the Holy House at Nazareth in honour of the mystery of the Incarnation. When she asked where the house was to be built, a spring of water appeared at her feet, a spring which was found to have wonderful healing powers. Walsingam quickly became known as England's Nazareth and attracted pilgrims of every station and status from all over Europe. Pilgrims flocked to Walsingham throughout the Middle Ages, but the Sanctuary, together with the image of Our Lady was destroyed in 1538, on Henry VIII's orders, prior to the suppression of the monasteries.
Although there was little left of the shrine, devotion to Our Lady continued at Walsingham until 1922, when Father Hope Patten, newly arrived in the parish, had a reproduction made of the ancient image, copied from the mediaeval seal of the Priory, and set it up in the Parish Church. Immediately, pilgrims began to return to Walsingham, and Fr. Hope Patten quickly realised that it would be necessary to build a new shrine. Once again, as the quest began to determine where the shrine should be built, a new spring of water appeared, and during the past 75 years many pilgrims have benefitted from the healing power of its waters.
In addition to its original focus of witnessing to the truth of the Incarnation, to the indespensible part Our Lady played in God's plan for our salvation, and to the reality of life beyond the grave, Walsingham now provides a very visible sign of all that we hold in common with our brothers and sisters in the Roman Church.
Each year a group of pilgrims from Borden and other local parishes travels to Walsingham for a weekend spent in deepening our faith and our fellowship.
To prevent Walsingham from becoming a "once a year" experience, pilgrims have joined to form the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham and Saints Peter & Paul. Apart from praying for one another and for other pilgrims, members of the Cell and all others who are interested in Walsingham are especially invited to the following acts of worship each month;
First Wednesday: Eucharist followed by the Rosary
First Saturday: Evening Prayer including Benediction
Third Saturday: Mass of Our Lady
There is a small replica of the image of Our Lady of Walsingham in the niche to the south of the altar in the Lady Chapel
