Memo with main headings: 1968 Bishop Grant's long-term plans; The situation today; A Forecast; Proposals for - Authority, Land, Buildings Maintenance, Inadequacies of Buildings, Development of Slipper Chapel Area (Parish Church, Confessions, Sacristy, Blessed Sacrament Chapel); Shelter; Development in the Village; Finance; Staffing (Lay, Priests, Volunteers).
Connelly, Roland William Rev SM MA (1921-2004)Walsingham
99 Archive Record results for Walsingham
- Present Building; 2. Existing Layout of the Site; 3. The Open Sided Church; 4. Requirements for Further Accommodation; 5. Suggested Plan; Approximate Costs; Further Action.
Provided funds secured and once planning permission obtained, 8 weeks to prepare bills of quantities and obtain tenders, possible to start early Summer 1980.
The report commences from 19 June when Fr Birch first reported leaks (in the washroom). Report provides several paragraphs of evidence, considers the preliminary deductions, and makes recommendations (essentially to gather more evidence and engage with Lusher & Sons over how to take this forward).
Purcell Miller Tritton & PartnersNotes addressing the defects listed on previous report:
Inside Slipper Chapel (4)
Exterior of the Slipper Chapel (5)
Interior of Sacristy, Corridor and Holy Ghost Chapel (7)
Exterior of Sacristy, etc. (1)
Hopes drafts will be adequate for the final contracts. Diocese salary payments should cover all expenses. £5,000 for Director; £3,000 for others. Parish expenses remain a charge on the parish.
Will be writing shortly to discuss whether the society might take over Fakenham parish when it falls vacant, perhaps as a chapel of ease.
For clarity: the Bishop is not a member of the Executive; he thought he'd made that clear from the beginning. Mgr McBride as Vicar General acts in the Bishop's name and that of Fr Peter Wilson. All efforts are to raise funds and channel them into the basic building and basic equipment for the Chapel of Reconciliation. There is no money to finance any other project e.g. the railway track and the organ - we are in a "poverty trap" to some extent.
This should not undermine morale - lesser items come later, if we can't pay for them and consequently lose them, so be it. It is not too late to send an appeal reminder to parish priests.
The Bishop and Mgr McBride were aware of the sensitivity in removing the Blessed Sacrament from the Slipper Chapel and agreed to reconsider if a negative response was forthcoming. However the arrangements he has in mind are based on the Lourdes model and considers Fr Birch's idea as being consistent and tidy but "unrealistic" for Walsingham.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Agrees that the Chapel of Reconciliation is a "wonder". The gift [£25] will be sent to the Appeal committee.
"The Pope, of course said what I wanted him to say 0 and then did what I never imagined he would! Put the statue like an icon on the altar (the liturgists were embarrassed - but when HH says "put, you put)..."
Acknowledging that Fr Marmion is "right on beam". The basic spiritual theme of reconciliation has yet to be fully exploited; the two shrine communities co-operate, work and pray together. However, the "idea of in some way making it from the start a Chapel of Reconciliation is as yet untimely".
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Mrs Cecily Green, sculptress of St Joseph statue in the Chapel of Reconciliation, would like professional monochrome photographs taken of it. She thinks that the Carmelites at Quidenham could print it and sell it as a card. Provides her address and suggests that Warwick contact her. He adds in a p.s. that Sister Noreen knows of this.
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)Acknowledges that permission was given to Bishop Luker to celebrate Mass in the Holy Spirit chapel attached to the Slipper Chapel. Willing to express permission subject to the Director doing so too. Most interested in your "itinearium ad Deum".
Clark, Alan Charles Rev DD (1919-2002)General Observations - general agreement; schedule A redrafted; diocese allows appeal funds to accumulate not offset debt
Responsibilities (at the Shrine) - Director (shrine to pay its way): Bishop Clark (oversight) answerable to Bishop Grant (and Fiance Board)
The Pilgrim Church - to await loan reaching whole cost is unrealistic / uneconomic ; need a loan - will the Diocese guarantee it?
Personal Comment - transition form local to national shrine; charge to Diocese remains and must be honoured; focus on Pilgrim Church, rest in suspense
Interest charges - puzzling - Diocese levying interest on itself?
Attending the Chapel dedication in Walsingham on 22 May is becoming difficult - papal visit on or off makes life complicated.
Cleary, Joseph Francis Rev (1912-1991)Meeting between Architect (Michael Wingate) & Acting director (Br Hawkes):
- Estimates for repairs
- Approach organisations
- April start - Slipper Chapel Roof / Holy Ghost Chapel and Sacristy; Windows
- Canopy repainting
- Lime wash on walls?
- Alternative to double glazing on Slipper Chapel east window
- Insurance for window repair
- Lighting issues with Chapel of Reconciliation
- Medieval well location
Branch Newsletter. Mass for Deceased members; Branch Update; Oxburgh visit; Extraordinary General meeting; Walsingham Chapel; Advent retreat; Membership
Thorn, Peter MrMembership of 72 with core 25-30 members. Standard format: Mass, meeting, guest speaker, discussion with refreshments and raffle.
Oxburgh Chapel Annual Mass well attended. Thanks to the Bedingfeld family and National Trust for making the chapel available. Westminster trip in September. Christmas visit to the Thursford Extravaganza.
Insurance of the golden crown of the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham. An insured value of £10,000 for the statue which included £6,000 for the crown. You consider that the insured contents of the Slipper chapel is adequate to include the statue itself, but the crown being irreplaceable need not be insured. However whilst it is outside the control of the Diocese you want to insure it for the duration of the Papal visit. Premium is subject to agreement with Catholic National Mutual Ltd and that Papal Visit Ltd. should be debited for it.
Catholic National Services OfficeChairman's newsletter. Oxburgh visit; Walsingham Chapel (Anthea Connors, Sacristan - made new altar cloths & frontal); Extraordinary General meeting being called; Advent retreat
Thorn, Peter Mr""Alarming decay" of one of the best-known historic buildings at King's Lynn has been described as "little short of a national scandal"". Story continues
image 1 caption: "The Red Mount Chapel at King's Lynn - picturesque in the spring sunshine but giving causes for concern."
image 2 caption: "An ominous crack in one of the buttresses of the Red Mount Chapel"
Claude is writing a paperback on the two Shrine and wants to include a picture of Bishop Youens as the founder of the Slipper Chapel Shrine. He has an image of Father Hope who founded the Anglican Shrine. You may have already been asked by Mgr Diamond who has been helpful in some research.
Fisher, Claude MBE KSG (-1985)