Appraisal of last year's pilgrimage (from St Martin's, Ruislip) revealed the visit to the Chapel of Reconciliation was the "high spot". Planning to return on 3rd May with 40 pilgrims. Asking to say an Anglican mass (Rite A) at the Chapel.

Asked by the Executive Committee of the Liturgical Commission to prepare a paper on the request to incorporate a feast in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham into the national calendar. Not having any material he asks for material to help in drawing up such a paper - especially any evidence of Anglican devotion and relevance to the feast of Our Lady of Ransom.

Clean draft text for illuminated address.

Suggested draft text for illuminated address. Manuscript amendments and comments by Bishop Clark.

Writing from 16 Buckingham Palace Mansions, Grovesnor Gardens, London SW
Long interested in Our Lady's cause - 1911 founded the "Society of Lourdes", 1914 Celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Pro-Cathedral kensington, 1923 met the bishop at "Hotel de la Chapelle" in Lourdes. Proposes a pilgrimage to Walsingham and is asking permission for Benediction at the Slipper Chapel. Fr Gray (Fakeham) suggests this has to be sought from the Bishop.
p.s. (manuscript) "I am well known to Bishop Doubleday & the late Bishop of Plymouth was also a very kind friend"

manuscript annotation 1: "Answered on back Jan 20/29"
manuscript annotation 2: "Ansd. Very sorry for delay. As regards proposed pilgrimage. Some 30 years ago the Shrine of Our L. of W. was opened with blessing of Pope Leo XIII at King's Lynn, to take the place, for practical purposes, of an old Walsingham. The H. Father himself selected and blessed the statue of O. L. of W. It is now in this minitaure replica of the H. House of Lourdes in the Church of K.L. There is a pilgrimage every year conducted by the Guild of O. L. of Ransom. on [?] Thursday in honour of O. L. of W. as recreated at K.L. This one, therefore, is the official pilgrimage to O. L. of W. & I do not wish it otherwise. Of course, I cannot prevent [?] [?] visits to the old ruins which are now in private Prot. hands but they cannot be public or official - the Slipper Chapel is unusable. with blessing "

Miss V Gavin writing from Williamson's Hotel, Hunstanton.Re Walsingham, it is a matter of regret that the Catholics possess nothing which might be used as a shrine or site for a church. Advising the bishop of her discovery that a property, "The Friary", is to be let and is situated amongst the ruins of the friary itself. Walsingham is becoming an Anglican stronghold with the new shrine, a hospice for pilgrims, a repository and a workshop.
Details are: £60 per annum, agents: Messrs Falcon & Birkbeck, Estate Office, Coltishall, Norwich.
manuscript annotation: "Answered. Present official Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham is at K. Lynn, there is a statue officially chosen blessed by Pope Leo XIII in the basilica of the house of Lorretto. Old Walsingham pilgrimage ended with its destruction under Henry VIII. Oct 1/30"

Requesting two Eucharists for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and suggesting reciprocal preaching at the RC and Anglican churches. Anglican vicar of Walsingham is Keith Haydon.

Student Cross pilgrimage to Walsingham. Easter celebration will have Anglican Eucharist (to which the Catholics have been invited) and a Catholic Midnight Mass (to which the Anglicans are invited). Unfortunately Good Friday may involve a single service at which both Anglican and Catholic forms of Eucharist are offered (at either end of the church). Parish priest cannot authorise this - so he is asking for the Bishop's approval and authorisation.

Has been asked to give the Anglican nuns at the Priory of Our Lady in Walsingham their retreat in November. Asks Bishop's permission to do this. All services will be conducted by an Anglican minister. Mother Julian, the superior, assures him that the parish priest would allow him to say Mass in the Catholic Church.

Requests for saying Anglican mass at the Shrine are received from time to time. The Vicar of St Martin's was told the Bishop would be contacted. Fr Allen asks for the Bishop's expertise and experience to help deal with this request and the whole ecumenical dialogue in Walsingham
manuscript annotation 1: better say no because the only option is the Holy Spirit Chapel (which might appear insensitive) as the Bishop makes it a rule not to have non-Catholic Eucharist at the altars.
manuscript annotation 2: "Yes, I spoke to Peter. GD"

Following the report from the KL Preservation Trust and the article in the EDP about Red Mount Chapel have to make it clear that something has to be done to ensure this building is maintained, as orginally taken on by the Catholic Churchas as an ecumenical gesture, and remains in focus for 500 years of pilgrimages to Walsingham.

Bishop has re-drafted the text provided by Fr Birch. The opening paragraph needed revision to clarify a few points but the remainder is good. Fr Birch must sign with the Bishop.

The policy on this was formulated by Bp Riddell. The seat of the old Walsingham shrine was utterly destroyed - nothing remains except for some ruins in Protestant hands. King's Lynn was where Leo XIII placed the shrine. What the Anglicans do is their affair. Some Catholics think differently and advertise their pilgrimages in the Tablet - until he contacted the Tablet. Continue to remind enquirers that the shrine is at King's Lynn, an old port through which the bulk of pilgrims from the Continent made their way to the famous old Shrine.
Apologies for the shortness of the letter as still in bed with pneumonia.

The Great Triduum; Walsingham and Easter TV Mass, parish participation in Diocesan Pilgrimage; The Permanent Deacon - guidance of Mgr J Drury and Mgr Tony Philpot, 3 year training programme being established; The Place of Women in the Church - promotion of women in the life of the Diocese and parishes, woman priests a last straw for our anglican brothers; Anglican Reconciliation - not easy for either side; New Financial Responsibilities; We, the Priests - brutal attack on Fr Michael Clothier in Beccles, Paul Hypher ordination in 1994, Mgr Michael Cassidu as Emeritus Chancellor; The Diocesan 'Team' - next Bishop will be reassured by the 'service to the Diocese'; More? - Bill Mason to be ordained as our second former anglican priest