Our Angela coach picked us up at 8am. We were the second “pick up” after St Michael & All Angels Paulsgrove and before Havant at Rowlands Castle. Our drivers name was Kenneth.
There was a short ‘comfort’ stop at Clackett Lane Services; just time for a loo visit and a very quick coffee before we set off again for Bury St Edmunds, where we had a Eucharist Service in the Cathedral there, named for St Edmund, Saxon King of the East Angles who was killed by invading Vikings in 869.
The Cathedral is beautiful, with an amazing coloured ceiling, magnificent font and several very large stained glass windows. It is well worth a longer visit.
(See photos of Bury St Edmunds Cathedral above and to the right).
After our arrival at Walsingham and our first visit to the Holy House we collected our keys at the Green Room and set off to find our allocated bedrooms.
We were in the Milner Wing which is quite modern – there is a lift!
We had a lovely first floor room with an en-suite shower and a patio door out onto a shared terrace.
Supper was at 6.30pm, then there were separate Shrine Prayers for each of our three groups before we all gathered in the Shrine Church for Compline.
Afterwards a nightcap in the Norton Room, a walk to the nearby Pub, or to bed after a long day.
After a cooked breakfast Saturday morning served in the refectory, we could choose between “Stations of the Cross” or “Stations of the Resurrection” beginning in the Shrine Church and then making our way around the gardens. At 9.45am our usual visit to the Catholic Shrine (very quiet this year as it co-incided with Pope Francis’ funeral service).
We gathered in the Slipper Chapel at 10.45am for Prayers for Unity led by Bishop John Hind.
Then it was back on the coach (or some walked) in time for the Solemn Pilgrimage Mass in the Shrine Church at noon. After lunch was free time, taking the coach to King’s Lynn or staying at Walsingham.
Supper was at 6.30pm followed by the Address, Outdoor Procession with Candles, Benediction and Healing Ministries. Afterwards there was a quiz or just free time.
Sunday, after breakfast, we had a Eucharist in the newly refurbished Barn Chapel or you could attend Mass at the Parish Church of St Mary.
After lunch we loaded our cases onto the coach.
The last services were the sprinkling at the Well, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and last visit to the Holy House.
A quick “loo visit” then onto our coach to set off for home. Leaving a bit early and with one stop at services on the way we arrived back about 9.30pm.
It had been a lovely, spiritual and very busy weekend pilgrimage at Walsingham.
If you are interested in joining the St George’s Walsingham Pilgrimage in 2026, please speak to Linda Wainwright for more information. The 2026 pilgrimage departs on the morning of Friday 10th April and returns late on Sunday 12th April.
