The National Shrine of Our Lady for
Roman Catholics in England

Built during the mid-14th century, and dedicated to St Catherine of Alexandria, this wayside chapel served the pilgrims on their way to England's Nazareth. St Catherine was a patron saint of pilgrims to the Holy Land and her Knights protected the routes to Nazareth during the crusades. Her tomb lies in the Monastery on Mount Sinai, within the Basilica of the Annunciation. Just as on Mount Sinai Moses took off his shoes because he was on holy ground, so pilgrims used to remove their shoes and walk the Holy Mile into Walsingham barefoot.

After the Reformation, the Chapel was used as a poor house, a forge, a cow shed and a barn. In 1896, Charlotte Boyd engaged Thomas Garner, an architect, to restore the Chapel and Messrs Rattee and Kett from Cambridge were employed as masons.

The first Mass since the Reformation was celebrated here on 15th August 1934 and on 8th September 1938, the Shrine was re-consecrated by Bishop Youens.

The most important image in the Chapel is the Statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, (click the link to read about the significance of parts of the Statue), but there are many other features. Installed in 1953, the East window commemorates the definition of the Dogma of the Assumption in 1950 and is the work of Geoffrey Webb. The latest installation is the West window, a gift from the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom in 1997 to celebrate the Centenary of Modern Pilgrimage. It is the work of Alfred Fisher and depicts the Annunciation upon which the spirituality of the Shrine is based. Mr Fisher wrote an article on the inspiration behind his design - click here to view the article.

In 1938, the Holy Ghost Chapel was built on to relieve the Slipper Chapel. The votive lights and candles of the pilgrims are placed in a unique honeycomb of bricks around the walls. Votive lights are available in the Chapel.

The modern mosiac of the "Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost - Our Lady in the midst of the Apostles" by Jewish Artist, Anna Wyner, adorns the Chapel's back wall.

A more recent alteration to this Chapel is a new doorway, which will enable a better flow of pilgrims on major days at the Shrine. The stonework blended so well with the existing architecture that it was nominated for an award.