Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham 3.75

According to legend, Richeldis de Faverches prayed that she might undertake some special work in honour of Our Lady. In 1061, in a vision, she was inspired by Our Lady to build a shrine - a replica of the Holy House in Nazareth - to serve as a perpetual memorial of the Annunciation. Pilgrims en route to this ancient shrine would worship at small wayside chapels. During the Reformation, the ancient shrine was destroyed, but many of these wayside chapels remained. In 1897, the Slipper Chapel, traditionally the last port of call for pilgrims to the ancient shrine, was restored to Catholic use and, in 1934, became the National Shrine of Our Lady in England.

The first Mass since the Reformation celebrated in the Slipper Chapel took place on 15th August 1934. Four days later on 19th August 1934 Cardinal Bourne and Bishop Lawrence Youens led the Bishops of England and Wales and 10,000 pilgrims on Pilgrimage to the Slipper Chapel. From this time, the Slipper Chapel was known as the National Shrine of Our Lady. The statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, with its beautiful canopy rising to the ceiling, the East Window, depicting the Assumption and the West Window, depicting the Annunciation, can all be seen within the Slipper Chapel. Adjacent to the Chapel is the Holy Ghost Chapel, where votive lights and candles can be lit.

In the cloister area opposite the Slipper Chapel can be found: the Holy Water Font, the Mass Intentions/Information Office, the Slipper Chapel Shop, the Shrine Tea Room and a wall-mounted History Exhibition.

The 12 noon Pilgrim Mass beginning with the Angelus is the focal point of the Liturgy at the Shrine. It is celebrated daily in the Chapel of Reconciliation. The building of this Chapel of Our Lady of Reconciliation began in September 1980 to replace an open-air altar. The Chapel was blessed by Cardinal Hume in 1981 at the National Pilgrimage and it was consecrated by Bishop Alan Clark of East Anglia on May 22nd 1982.

The Chapel of Reconciliation has a loop system for the deaf and access for wheelchairs, which makes the Chapel accessible for everyone.

The Shrine now attracts about 100,000 pilgrims during the pilgrimage season with about 30 Major Pilgrimages from Catholic, Diocesan or Ethnic groups and Catholic Societies or Associations as well as many parish groups.