In the year 1061, according to medieval tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Saxon noblewoman named Richeldis de Faverches in this remote Norfolk village. Mary showed Richeldis the house in Nazareth where the Annunciation had occurred and asked her to build a replica in England. The Holy House of Walsingham became "England's Nazareth," and for nearly five centuries, it ranked among Christendom's great pilgrimage destinations—rivaling Canterbury, Rome, and Compostela. Kings walked barefoot to the shrine; the sick came seeking healing; and countless ordinary pilgrims made the journey that became known as the "Walsingham Way."
Henry VIII destroyed the shrine in 1538, his commissioners burning the ancient statue of Our Lady and pulling down the priory. For nearly four centuries, Walsingham lay desolate, its sacred site marked only by the ruined archway of the priory. But in 1897, Charlotte Pearson Boyd purchased the fourteenth-century Slipper Chapel—the last wayside chapel where pilgrims had removed their shoes to complete the final mile barefoot—and restored it for Catholic worship. Walsingham was reborn.
Today, two shrines serve two traditions: the Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in the village center, and the Catholic National Shrine at the Slipper Chapel, about a mile away. Both honor the Marian visions that made this quiet corner of Norfolk sacred ground, and both welcome pilgrims seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The original apparition to Richeldis de Faverches in 1061 (some accounts say 1061, others suggest later dates) initiated devotion that would shape medieval English piety. Richeldis, with the help of workmen who found the precise location miraculously indicated, built a wooden house replicating the dimensions of Mary's home in Nazareth. The Holy House became a place of intense Marian devotion.
Augustinian canons arrived in the twelfth century, establishing a priory that would manage the growing pilgrimage. The Holy House was enclosed within a stone chapel; the statue of Our Lady of Walsingham—depicting Mary seated with the Christ child—became one of the most venerated images in England. Indulgences were granted; miracles were recorded; and the path to Walsingham became worn by pilgrims' feet.
The roster of royal pilgrims reads like a chronicle of medieval England: Henry III came repeatedly; Edward I walked from London; and even Henry VIII made the pilgrimage before his break with Rome—an irony that later generations would note with bitterness when he ordered the shrine's destruction. The statue was taken to London and publicly burned; the priory was dissolved; and the buildings became a quarry for local construction.
The Catholic revival in Walsingham began with the Slipper Chapel's restoration in 1897. Pope Leo XIII blessed a new statue of Our Lady of Walsingham for the chapel; pilgrimages resumed. In 1934, the Slipper Chapel became the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady, and annual pilgrimages have grown steadily since.
The Anglican shrine, established in 1931, represents a parallel revival within the Church of England. Its Holy House reproduces the medieval original, and its devotional life draws on Catholic traditions within Anglicanism. The two shrines coexist in creative tension, both honoring Mary, both claiming inheritance from the medieval tradition.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Walsingham
Catholic National Shrine and Slipper Chapel
The Slipper Chapel
The fourteenth-century Slipper Chapel, restored by Charlotte Boyd and her successors, serves as the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady. The small medieval chapel houses the replica statue of Our Lady of Walsingham—a copy of the medieval original, enthroned as the focus of devotion.
The surrounding complex includes the Chapel of Reconciliation (built 2016), outdoor altars for large pilgrimages, a pilgrim center, and grounds for prayer and reflection. The Holy Mile—the traditional pilgrimage path from the Slipper Chapel to the site of the medieval shrine—can still be walked.
Priory Ruins and Medieval Site
The ruins of the Augustinian Priory mark the site of the medieval shrine. The great east window arch and scattered foundations evoke the grandeur of the pre-Reformation pilgrimage. The site is now privately owned but visible from the road. The medieval Holy House stood within these walls.
Anglican Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham
While not Catholic, the Anglican shrine is historically significant and ecumenically important. Its Holy House, built in 1931, reproduces the dimensions of the medieval original. The shrine church houses a statue of Our Lady of Walsingham based on medieval seals. Many Catholic pilgrims visit for historical interest.
Church of the Annunciation (Catholic Parish Church)
The Catholic parish church in Walsingham village, dedicated to the Annunciation, serves local Catholics and pilgrims. Its presence witnesses to the continuity of Catholic life in this sacred place.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham — September 24
The principal feast day brings thousands of pilgrims to the Slipper Chapel for outdoor Mass, processions, and Marian devotions.
Annual National Pilgrimage — Late May (Bank Holiday Weekend)
The largest Catholic pilgrimage of the year, drawing tens of thousands. Pilgrims walk the Holy Mile from the Slipper Chapel, and outdoor Masses accommodate the crowds.
Student Cross Pilgrimage — Easter Week
University students walk to Walsingham during Holy Week, converging from starting points across Britain.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Summer pilgrimage with Masses and devotions at the National Shrine.
Dowry of Mary — March 29
This feast commemorates the rededication of England to Mary under this title, restored in 2020.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Pilgrim Bureau at the National Shrine (pilgrim accommodation) — The Catholic shrine operates accommodation for pilgrims at Elmham House. Book through the Pilgrim Bureau. Website
The Bull Inn ⭐⭐⭐ — Historic coaching inn in Walsingham village. Traditional pub with rooms. Reserve this hotel
The Black Lion Hotel (inn) — Traditional inn on the village green. Comfortable rooms, restaurant. Reserve this hotel
Various B&Bs — Walsingham and surrounding villages offer numerous bed-and-breakfast options; consult the tourist information center.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Norwich Airport (NWI) is approximately 45 km southeast, with limited connections. London Stansted (STN) is approximately 150 km south.
By Train: The nearest railway station is King's Lynn (approximately 45 km), with connections from London King's Cross via Cambridge. From King's Lynn, take a bus or taxi to Walsingham.
By Bus: Coasthopper buses connect Walsingham to Wells-next-the-Sea, King's Lynn, and the Norfolk coast. Services are limited; check timetables.
By Car: From London, take the A11 north toward Norwich, then A1067 and B1105 to Walsingham (approximately 200 km, 3 hours). Parking is available at the Slipper Chapel and in the village.
On Foot: Traditional pilgrimage routes approach Walsingham from London, King's Lynn, and Ely. The Holy Mile from the Slipper Chapel to the village remains the essential pilgrimage walk.
📚 Further Reading
Michael Walsh. Walsingham: Pilgrimage and History — Historical study of the medieval and modern shrine.
H.M. Gillett. Walsingham: The History of a Famous Shrine — Classic account of the shrine's development.
Elizabeth Ruth Obbard. A Journey to Walsingham — Spiritual guide for pilgrims.
Online Resources:
Catholic National Shrine — Official Catholic shrine website with pilgrimage information.
Catholic Encyclopedia: Walsingham — Historical overview.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Walsingham: England's Nazareth — Documentaries on the shrine's history and modern pilgrimage.
🔗 Useful Links
Catholic National Shrine — Mass times, events, and pilgrimage booking.
Diocese of East Anglia — Diocesan resources.
Walsingham Village — Local tourism information.
🥾 Pilgrim Routes
The Holy Mile — The traditional final approach from the Slipper Chapel to the shrine site, traditionally walked barefoot.
Walsingham Way (from London) — Historic route from London to Walsingham, approximately 200 km, now marked and mapped for modern pilgrims.
Walsingham Way (from Ely) — Shorter route through the Fenland landscape, approximately 80 km.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Canterbury (250 km) — Cathedral and shrine of St. Thomas Becket.
London (180 km) — Westminster Cathedral, Tyburn Convent, and numerous Catholic sites.
Aylesford (200 km) — Carmelite priory and shrine of St. Simon Stock.
Norwich (45 km) — Cathedral and Catholic churches.
Ely (70 km) — Cathedral and shrine of St. Etheldreda.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The Mother of God has never ceased to obtain spiritual benefits in those who, with faith and devotion, come here to pray." — Pope Francis, Visit to Loreto, March 25, 2019
