September 2025 pilgrimage
https://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk
My latest trip to Walsingham was a short one, from Monday to Wednesday, but it was exactly what I needed. I travelled with my friend, Brother Shaun, and we didn’t stop talking the whole way there and back from Hull. Our conversations always gravitate towards faith and theology, skipping over the mundane stuff. You know how it is—some people can talk for ages about things that just don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. I once listened to a bloke in a pub drone on about his kitchen tiles for half an hour! As I get older, my poker face is getting less and less effective. It was quite funny, actually, as Shaun and I discovered we both have the same problem during a Tuesday night church service as in having zero poker face when a guest priest starting preaching that satan and the demons didn’t exist! oh woe to some of our CofE priests . Perhaps I’ll write about that in a future post!
Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked. Apologies. Back to Walsingham. It was nice to be able to show Shaun around, a place that truly feels like home to me. That’s the thing about Walsingham; it’s a place where you feel like you belong, and you can see that same sense of belonging in everyone else there.
The Neo Priests and Daily Mass
I did have to give Shaun a heads-up about something I found a bit different the first time I went: some of the Anglo-Catholic priests dress like Neo from The Matrix! It’s actually really cool. While some might wonder what that’s all about, it’s worth remembering that the world has changed, not the priesthood. They’ve worn these cassocks for centuries. It’s funny, in The Matrix, Neo, as “The One,” wears a cassock, displaying his priest-like qualities. I couldn’t help but imagine myself as a priest in a black cassock, making a few kung-fu jokes and movements. “Is that air you think you’re breathing, Neo?” Ha ha!
Sorry, digressing again. Walsingham.
The first mass we attended was in the All Souls’ Chapel. This chapel is overseen by a lovely Bishop with a red cap who makes you feel like an old friend he hasn’t seen in ages. He performs most of the service from memory, unlike me. While the liturgy is similar to what we use in the Church of England, it’s more aligned with Roman Catholic texts, with no general absolution and using the Roman Office of Prayers. For an Anglican, this could technically be seen as pushing the boundaries of the Church of England’s own canon law…walking the chalk line as it were But honestly, who really cares about canon law these days? What with women priests and all… oh wait.
Sorry, another digression. Walsingham.
A Retreat for the Soul
Our rooms were brilliant—basic, of course, but brilliant. We stayed in the Stella Maris quarter, which I believe translates to ‘Star of Mary’. The food, as always, was spot on and a great opportunity for more conversation.
One of the most important things about being at Walsingham is allowing yourself to spend some alone time with God, our mum Mary, Jesus, and, of course, the Holy Spirit. We often forget the Holy Spirit, don’t we?
I’m currently going through a discernment process with the York Diocese regarding my possible vocation, and I was hoping for some guidance from God. However, I actually just wanted to hit the reset button. The last year has been tough; my spiritual armour has been a bit worn down by the loss of a family friend and work being a pain in the arse. My prayer life has suffered, and I needed a proper reset. That’s what a retreat is for, and Walsingham never fails to deliver. Shaun and I also wanted to come away with a plan for this very website’s ministry, which I think we did! The website has been reborn since we got back, and our ministry will be centred around conversation and journeying together in Christ.
Unexpected Discoveries and Healing Ministry
One really cool thing I noticed was the dating in the Greek Orthodox Chapel within the Anglican church—an ecumenical marvel in itself. I found the consecration certificate on the wall amazing, particularly the dating which used “from the foundation of the world.” The image shows the date of the earth as being over 7,453 years old back in 1945.
Tuesday night at Walsingham is especially significant because of the healing ministries. It involves being washed with water from the Holy Well by the priests, anointing, and the laying on of hands, along with the Exposition of the Holy Sacrament. It all culminates in private, one-to-one confession to a priest if you so desire—which I absolutely do! Finding an Anglican priest for confession can be difficult, and you don’t always want to confess to your home priest. That’s a bit like defecating on your own doorstep, isn’t it? The priests at Walsingham see confession as a core part of their ministry, and I was so grateful to take part.
I spent the day before preparing. I hate to sound so Catholic, but I actually write down the things in my heart that I need to confess. Then I worry if I’ve gone into enough detail—the inner Martin Luther spirit I’m trying to overcome. I won’t list my sins, but you can imagine it’s the usual list a red-blooded male would get off his chest. The priest’s advice was to read Psalm 139, try and see others as God sees them, and increase the gap between sin. Confession isn’t about ‘coming back’ but about continuing to march forward when we sin. He was a lovely priest, as they all are at Walsingham.
Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned
I also had a great conversation with a Father Glen from a church in Lancashire, who had kindly invited Shaun and me to join his church group for the Stations of the Cross earlier that day, which I really enjoyed. I asked him for a moment of his time after the healing ministries, and we talked about my discernment process. He truly believes we are in a generation with great potential for winning over souls. He mentioned a recent Bible Society study that found a growing number of people are interested in faith and would attend church if only they were invited. Remember that, please.
Father Glen also encouraged me to find a spiritual director, regardless of what happens with my discernment journey. I’m already on with that. He also stressed that maintaining a daily office of prayer is absolutely fundamental.
So, the highlights from this pilgrimage are:
- See others as God sees them.
- Keep moving forward in faith.
- Prayer life and the daily office are so important. This pilgrimage has kick-started it for me again.
- It also kick-started the daily promise of being a Society of Our Lady of Walsingham member to say the Angelus daily.
- Psalm 139.
- Titus 1.9 ministry—to be centred around conversation and journeying together.
