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Our Lady's Mirror
Autumn 1936
THE PROPOSED EXTENSION
For several quarters now, indeed, ever since the new buildings were opened, we have kept before our
readers the increasing need of extending the outer Church of the Shrine to provide accommodation for
pilgrimages at all times.
The present buildings, purposely designed as they were to reproduce the exact dimensions of the
mediaeval Holy House and Church of the Annunciation which protected it, have proved to be totally
inadequate for the increasing number of pilgrims without the close proximity of the great Priory Church
which the mediaeval pilgrim had for Services and other devotions.
It has now been decided to begin building the extension long talked of. We hope to do this while keeping
the present Church intact and by opening the “East” wall with a great arch to throw the new and the old
work into one. A strict line will be made defining the present Church and pointing out the historic
reasons for its proportions. This decision has been made possible by the arrival, on the Fifth Anniversary
of the Translation (October 15th), of a cheque for £4,578 4s. 0d. towards this work.
The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent this with the request that building operations should
be put in hand and that an appeal should be made for further gifts so that at least the Church might be
completed.
The donor has a very practical reason for hoping that others will generously follow his lead, and that is,
the great saving of expense if the whole Church can be raised at one time. If only the Nave is built and a
temporary end has to be erected which will have to be removed when further work is done, it will be at
the loss of a large sum of money. So we ask all clients of our Lady of Walsingham to be as generous as
they possibly can. Another £1,300 would suffice for the actual Church. No public appeal is going to be
made, reliance is being placed in the friends of Walsingham whom we hope will be fired with zeal at this
news, and will despoil their friends by personal appeal and persuasion.
This will be the first Votive Church built by members of the Church of England in honour of the Mother of
God and to house a Shrine, since the Sixteenth Century; an act of reparation, too, for the neglect of the
past 400 years. A new book will be opened; similar to the Golden book, in which all names were entered
of those contributing to the existing building; and those enrolled will be remembered at the daily rosary.
All donations or promises should be sent either to the Reverend A. Hope Patten, or the Pilgrimage
Secretary, both at the same address. The Vicarage, Walsingham, Norfolk. Your prayers are asked for all
contributing to and employed in this work.
THE SHRINE BELLS
We are sometimes asked who made the bells at the Shrine which ring every night, before the Rosary, in
honour of Our Lady. They were cast by Messrs. Gillett and Johnston Ltd., of Croydon.
There are nine at present. They were Baptized by Bishop O’Rorke five years ago. Below we give the list
and their names. Some day we hope, by gradually adding to these we have at present, to possess a
really fine carillon and a great bell which will boom out over the countryside and be heard by the
fishermen on the sea off Wells. At present they are heard ringing at Wighton, Snoring and Houghton,
and it is now quite the custom for people to mark the time by them and the Morning Angelus acts as an
alarm for many in Walsingham.
No. 1 S. Patrick, O.P.N. Derrick gave me. In memory, Ann Ayres.
R.I.P. MCMXXXI.
No. 2 S. Hugh of Lincoln, O.P.N. MCMXXXI
No. 3 S. Francis of Assisi, O.P.N. “Praise and bless ye my Lord, and give
Him thanks.” MCMXXXI
No. 4 S. Peter, O.P.N. “Rejoice!” William Leeke, Priest. R.I.P.
No. 5 Ave Maria, Gratia Plena, O.P.N., etc. Veronica S.S.P. R.I.P
MCMXXXI. (This is the bell on which the Angelus is rung.)
No. 6 S. Benedictus, A.C., O.P.N. MCMXXXI
No. 7 S. Alban, O.P.N.
No. 8 S. Andrew, O.P.N. In memory, Alfred Patten, R.I.P. XV. V.
MCMXVII
No. 9 S. George of England. Pray for Reunion. Constance Ritchie
gave me. 1931
A LIBRARY
In the scheme for the domestic building we hope to put up some day, the erection of a large room to
house a library is included. On the present plan it links the Church with the house known as S.
Augustine’s. It will be 40 feet long by 16 feet wide.
It has always been our hope to build up a really good library in connection with the Shrine so that those
in charge of the Precincts, and priests and others staying in Walsingham or in the neighbourhood might
have the opportunity of reading and study, as there is no such library for miles around.
This is a very big undertaking and the work of years, but it should not be impossible to get together a
really good, small collection of books, such as a room proposed could house, in a reasonably short time.
Readers of “The Mirror”, no doubt, constantly read and see reviews or hear of books which would be
useful to such a scheme and could often afford to send a volume after having read it or purchased it on
purpose. Works on theology, dogmatics, morals, biography, ecclesiastical and secular history, etc. etc.,
are all needed. A list of the names of the books or book should be sent in, in case it is already
possessed, as often duplicates are not necessary.
oration: delivered by Fr Alban Baverstock in St Mary's Church, Walsingham, on the occasion of the re-
opening of the Shrine, 15 October 1931
illustration: Enid Chadwick's drawing of the Holy Well [above]
The Holy Well at
the Shrine