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Walsingham Festival at Westminster Abbey
On Saturday 4th May, 2019 the Dean and Chapter of the Abbey Church of S. Peter at Westminster, London hosted a whole day of services and lectures in honour of Our Lady of Walsingham. Close on 2,000 pilgrims from all over the country attended and participated in the day’s events.
The Festival began at 11.00 am with Solemn Eucharist celebrated by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd John Hall. The sermon at the Eucharist was given by the Rt Revd Philip North, Bishop of Burnley and Master of the College of Guardians.
Following an opportunity for pilgrims to visit the Shrines of Our Lady of Pew and St Edward Confessor, the assembled company gathered in the Nave – and anywhere a seat could be found – to listen to a lecture by the eminent historian Professor Eamon Duffy – Walsingham from Ruin to Restoration.
A Carousel of Prayer and Blessings then took place – in various chapels in the Abbey short liturgies of prayer invited pilgrims to enter and participate; and then move on to the next venue.
Solemn Evensong at 5.00 pm was notable for the glorious singing of the Abbey’s main choir. The preacher at evensong was Archbishop Rino Fisichella from the Roman Catholic Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. So it seemed that Anglicanism, Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy had come together to greet Our Lady.
The following images, taken by the Abbey photographer, show some aspects of a wonderful day.