Has anyone ever been to Walsingham?

[benedictine]

Has anyone ever been to Walsingham?

[TomUK]

I go yearly.

[benedictine]

What's it like? Do you pray the Rosary?(I'm asking that becosue you have a rosary in your signature.)

[TomUK]

I only ever go with my Parish and much of the pilgrimage is done through the Parish so it's really up to who you go with. Certainly Marian devotions are integral, but you won't be frowned on if you don't pray the rosary. I'd definitely recommend you go though if you are ever in England as it is without a doubt the most peacful place i've ever been to.

[benedictine]

ACtually, I was asking about you, not the pilgrimage. ;)

[TomUK]

Oh, i do occasionaly but it's not an integral part of my daily prayer. I sometimes like tp use my rosary to pray alternative prayers such as the Anglican rosary or i just make a structure up and use it that way.

[Bonifatius]

Hi Benedictine,

I have not been to Walsingham yet but am planning to go there this year, around Pentecost. I hope to be able to make it for the National Pilgrimage on May 16 and was looking for cheap flights yesterday ...

Greetings
Bonifatius

[Mic]

Forgive my ignorance, please, but what's Walshingham?

[Bonifatius]

Forgive my ignorance, please, but what's Walshingham?

Hi Mic,

have a look: http://www.walsinghamanglican.org/index.htm

Every year the National Pilgrimage brings thousands of people to Walsingham (including the Archbishop of Canterbury!).

Greetz
Bonifatius

[Mic]

Thanks, Bonifatius.

Interesting.

[TomUK]

From Wikipedia:

Walsingham (full name Little Walsingham) is a small market town in Norfolk, England, famed for its religious shrines in honour of the Virgin Mary.

Mid-way between Norwich and Kings Lynn, Walsingham became a major centre of pilgrimage in the 11th century, following a vision of the Virgin Mary to Saxon noblewoman, Richeldis de Faverches in 1061. A priory was built on the site, which grew in importance until its destruction in the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry VIII in 1539.

Since 1900 Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Marian shrines have been restored in Walsingham, and pilgrimages are held through the summer months. The Anglican National pilgrimage takes place on Spring Bank Holiday (the Monday following the last Sunday in May).

[UberLutheran]

Other places to visit:

- Stratford-on-Avon
- Canterbury Cathedral
- Aldeburgh (home of Benjamin Britten)
- Westminster (home of Henry Purcell)
- Westminister Cathedral (view ashes of Purcell, Händel, Vaughn Williams)
- Down Ampney, Gloucestershire (home of Ralph Vaughn Williams)
(Anecdote about Ralph Vaughn Williams: Later in life RVW was visiting an American university, and was asked to listen to a piano composition by one of the star music students. After listening to half an hour or so of tortured dissonance, RVW thanked him and said "If by chance a tune should occur to you, dear boy, don't hesitate to write it down.")
- Cheltenham (home of Gustav Holst)
- Scotland (definitely!)

[AveMaria]

*Giggling hysterically about the Ralph Vaughn Williams story*