The Sanctuary of Our Lady
More New Work at Walsingham

On Advent Sunday the new feretory of S. Vincent was blessed, in the presence of the Guild and a good congregation, mostly of men, and set up on the north side of the Altar of the Annunciation. It is a very beautiful work in carved and crocketed wood, painted and gilded. The panels at the ends depict the Deacon and Martyr S. Vincent and the Blessed Virgin and the Holy Child, while those at the sides are filled with the heraldic shields of the donor and others.

The stand is also decorated with the shields of those connected with the Sanctuary, the donor of the present site; S. Edward the Confessor, who was the Lord of the Manor when the Sanctuary was first set up (1061); Henry III, who is the first of a long line of Kings recorded to have come on pilgrimage to Walsingham; S. Augustine of Hippo, whose Canons were the guardians of the Holy House for close on four hundred years; the Clares who were the Patrons of the Priory and incidentally the founders of the Franciscan House in the town, etc. The reliquary is usually covered with a case for which a pall is to be embroidered; this new work is another evidence of the artistic merits and excellence of execution of the Walsingham Church and Pilgrim Shop.

return to Our Lady's Mirror Autumn 1932