The village’s ascent to religious fame began when a wealthy widow named Richeldis de Faverches had a dream where the Virgin Mary appeared to her and, after taking her on a trip to Nazareth, asked her to replicate the building she had seen in the Holy Land.
The Building of the Holy House in Norfolk
Prompted by her dream, Richeldis set about making it a reality. Although undertaking such a project based on only a dream may seem extreme to modern eyes, in fact, other buildings such as Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore had also been built as a result of dreams.
The wooden replica house was encased within a stone church and once Walsingham became known as a place of pilgrimage, Crusaders would bring back relics from the Holy Land and present them at the Holy House.
The Augustinians at Walsingham
In 1153, the Augustinian Order established a priory beside the Holy House, followed in 1347 by the Franciscans. With two popular orders in the village, pilgrims flocked from miles around to pay their respects at the house and the two priories. Inns were created to cater for the pilgrims and souvenir makers and sellers of religious relics were able to ply their wares, particularly on the holy mile, the final leg of the pilgrim’s journey.
The Slipper Chapel of Houghton St Giles
Close to Walsingham is the Slipper Chapel at Houghton St Giles. This was a wayside chapel where pilgrims could give thanks for a safe pilgrimage, and remove their shoes in order to walk the last stretch of the journey barefoot, to show absolute devotion. This practice gained fame after Thomas Becket walked barefoot towards Canterbury Cathedral after his exile.
Sick pilgrims were well catered for at Walsingham, with two holy wells, which were said to cure stomach pains, as well as a cool water healing bath. Monks oversaw the bathing of the sick and many pilgrims took home vials of the water as a souvenir of their visit.
The Holy House at Walsingham
Once the pilgrim had reached his destination, the Holy House, he was able to view the statue of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, and a phial of the Virgin’s milk. To ease congestion, pilgrims entered the House in one door and left by another, after leaving an offering at the shrine.
Sources
Hopper, Sarah To be a Pilgrim [Sutton, 2002]
Obbard, Elizabeth History and Spirtuality of Walsingham [Canterbury Press, 1995]
Rachel Bellerby - I am an experienced UK writer with two non-fiction books and more than 100 articles published in the UK and US. As a mum of three young ...
