The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham - St. George's Hanworth Park
'Salve Regina'
This is a meeting of members, friends and of the congregation, for spiritual purposes with a practical result!
Walsingham is called 'England's Nazareth' and the Shrine honours the Incarnation of Our Blessed Lord, for it was at Nazareth that Gabriel announced to Mary, God's plan for our salvation and at Walsingham that a vision was given to build a holy house to replicate the home of the Holy Family at Nazareth.
We will have meetings with a spiritual content, Mass and Holy Communion, Prayer and Bible Study followed by refreshments. There will always be Our Lord, Our Lady and our Spiritual Life.
From this strength, we will undertake specific tasks to assist the Mission of the Church.
Anyone may visit the Cell and its activities. Anyone may join the Cell. There is an annual fee to cover the registration at Walsingham and minor running expenses of the Cell.
It is our prayer that the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham - St. George's Hanworth Park, will enable a deepening of personal spirituality and an energizing of Mission at St. George's.
We hope that you will enthuse new members, recruit many members and fully participate yourself.
History
The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham at St George's Hanworth is associated with the Society of the Holy House of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk.
In 1061 the Lady Richeldis, the Saxon lady of the Manor of Walsingham, had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a result of this vision, she had built a replica of the House of the Holy Family at Nazareth. At the site of the house in Walsingham there was also a Holy Well. The shrine became known as England's Nazareth and became a major place of pilgrimage for 500 years, second only to Canterbury. Augustinians and Franciscans established a priory church. In 1538, during the reign of Henry VIII, the shrine was destroyed and for the next 400 years Walsingham reverted to quiet village life.
In the 1920's Fr Hope Patten, the parish priest of the parish church of St Mary's in Walsingham, re-established the shrine and once again Walsingham became a place of pilgrimage. The present shrine was completed in 1932 and on October 15th the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham was translated from St Mary's to the Holy House which, since that time, has grown as a place of pilgrimage.
The shrine focuses on the Incarnation–the mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a constantly changing world, Walsingham speaks about the eternal and permanent things which God reveals to us in Jesus Christ.
At Walsingham there is a great work of prayer. Prayers are said at the shrine for people everywhere; for pilgrims who bring their intercessions, as well as for those who write letters from all parts of the world.
At St George's Hanworth, the members of the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham attend a special mass and offer prayers for those in need, particularly those who ask for our love and prayers. Members also take the names of those who ask for our prayers, and remember them in their personal prayers.
Masses for the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham are offered regularly
- The last Thursday in the month beginning on 31st May 2007 at 8.00 p.m.
The Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham and St George Hanworth is a group of people who try to serve God through prayer and by reaching out to help others.
You are invited to become a member of the Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham, and we would be pleased to welcome you.
