Our History
The Origins of the Walsingham Association
The present-day Walsingham Association has its roots in three separate but complementary organisations — the Friends of Walsingham, the Walsingham Association and, the most active of the three, the Guild of Our Ladye of Walsingham.
The Friends of Walsingham
The Friends of Walsingham were known to be in existence by December 1935, when they were described as “recently formed to collect funds for the support and development of the land adjoining the Slipper Chapel”.
The organisation was founded by the Mariologist and historian Martin Gillett. Its purpose was to provide a regular income for the Slipper Chapel through members’ contributions, as well as funds to purchase any nearby property that might come onto the market.
The Walsingham Association
The original Walsingham Association was based in Walsingham. Bishop Youens served as President, with Fr Bruno Scott James and Fr Herbert as Directors. Claude Fisher was Secretary, supported by a group of priest and lay advisers.
The Association described itself as the more material counterpart of the spiritual Guild of Our Lady of Walsingham. Its funds were intended for “the restoration of Walsingham as the Catholic Pilgrimage Centre”.
Life Membership cost £10. Priest and lay members paid 10 shillings and sixpence annually, while priest and lay associates contributed at least 2 shillings and sixpence.
Boys and girls under 17 could join the Youth Chaplet for 1 shilling and threepence a year, including a badge.
Claude Fisher recounts that subscriptions and collections enabled the Association to pay the Bureau wages of a typist and a boy during 1938–39.
Its aims were clearly expressed:
“To bring England back to the Faith is the one object of the Association. To ensure the success of all our efforts, we most wholeheartedly desire the individual co-operation of the priests and Faithful in this country in fostering the ancient and powerful devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham.
For it was to Our Lady’s Shrine at Walsingham, unique in all Christendom, that our forefathers undertook the duties of prayer and pilgrimage. To this Shrine may all our countrymen return once again in Unity of Faith and Devotion.”
When the Bureau closed at the outbreak of the Second World War, the Association became dormant.
In 1943, Fr Brewer, who had responsibility for the Slipper Chapel, attempted to revive the Association. He appealed to members, explaining the financial difficulties facing the Chapel:
“I write to let you know the present situation at the Slipper Chapel. It has no endowment of any kind and income from the visitors has fallen to nothing, while insurance and maintenance charges have still to be met”.
A Novena before the Feast of the Annunciation was planned for members of the Association.
In 1947, Bishop Parker recognised the Association’s purpose as being “to endow The Slipper Chapel and the movement for devotions at Walsingham”.
By 1954, the Walsingham Association had been incorporated into the Guild of Our Ladye of Walsingham.
The Guild of Our Ladye of Walsingham
At the end of 1933, Canon Walmsley Carter of St Joseph’s, Sheringham, founded the Guild of Our Ladye of Walsingham.
Priest members promised to celebrate one Mass each year, on a specified Saturday, in honour of Our Ladye of Walsingham and in reparation.
Lay members promised, where possible, to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on Saturdays for the Guild’s intentions. For those unable to do so, the recitation of the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary was sufficient for Guild membership.
The Westminster Cathedral Branch
Cardinal Bourne established a branch of the Guild at Westminster Cathedral. Around 500 people attended its inaugural service, and a service was held every Monday at 8.15 p.m.
The branch’s membership card depicted a panel of the Westminster Cathedral pulpit. The pulpit commemorated Cardinal Bourne’s thirty years as Archbishop of Westminster, his fifty years as a priest, and the revival of national pilgrimages to Walsingham.
The Westminster branch organised many pilgrimages to Walsingham. In 1936, pilgrims travelled by special train from King’s Cross, departing at 9.30 a.m. and arriving at Walsingham at 1.50 p.m.
On arrival, they formed into procession. A procession of the Blessed Sacrament proceeded to the Slipper Chapel grounds for Pontifical Benediction and a sermon.
Pilgrims then had an opportunity to make a short visit to the Shrine before the special train departed from Slipper Chapel Halt at 4.40 p.m., arriving back at King’s Cross at 9.01 p.m.
In January 1947, the Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, Fr Gordon Wheeler (later Bishop of Leeds), outlined the Guild’s activities to Bishop Parker. He also referred to the “particular devotion to Walsingham at St John’s Wood, Swiss Cottage, and Sudbury and at Farm Street”.
Renewal and Expansion
The Priest in Charge at Walsingham, Fr Gerry Langley, promoted the Guild of Our Ladye of Walsingham. He wrote to priests and leading lay people throughout the country, drawing their attention to both the Guild and the Walsingham Association.
The Shrine’s Administrator, Fr Gerard Hume, led an initiative to extend the Guild.
Although the Guild now officially incorporated the Friends of Walsingham and the Walsingham Association, an important distinction remained.
Guild members enrolled to support the Shrine through prayer, without financial obligations. The Friends of Walsingham and members of the Walsingham Association, meanwhile, promised financial and moral support.
In February, Fr Roland Connelly S.M. was appointed Administrator of the Shrine. By this time, Guild membership had fallen to 207.
Recognising the Guild’s potential to help develop the Shrine and spread devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham, he encouraged pilgrimage organisers to recruit new members.
The Westminster Cathedral branch took a more active role in developing pilgrimages, and Fr Connelly encouraged the establishment of new branches throughout the country.
At a meeting of pilgrimage organisers, concerns were raised that the word “Guild” suggested a local or parochial organisation rather than a national one.
Following consultation, it was agreed that the Guild of Our Lady of Walsingham would henceforth be known as the Walsingham Association.