Dowry Tour of Our Lady of Walsingham

Robert, Rowan and Fiona arrived at St Mary’s Cathedral in Middlesbrough on the evening of Friday 14th December in time to explore the excellent Dowry Exhibition.  It traces the origin of England being dedicated very specially as Mary's “Dowry” in the time of Edward the Confessor in 11th Century, and on through the further dedications by Richard II in 14th Century and by Cardinal Griffin in 20th Century.

The highlight is undoubtedly the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Walsingham (England’s own pilgrimage centre and shrine to Our Lady) which is travelling with the exhibition to every Catholic Cathedral in England before the new re-dedication of England in 2020.



After enjoying the exhibition and praying before the statue, there was then a Rosary for Vocations, followed by Sung Vespers and Benediction and finally a most inspiring talk by Monsignor John Armitage on the Shrine at Walsingham and on England’s unique role as Dowry of Mary.

A few of the very many fascinating facts we learnt because of our visit were:
The English definition of Dowry does not mean the donation accompanying the bride.  In English Law it means the money and estate set apart by the husband for his wife, if she should be widowed .. hence the ‘dower house’ and ‘dowager’.  England has been “set apart’ for Mary.
The title for England as “Dowry of Mary” is enshrined in English Law and has never been revoked by Crown or Parliament.

The building of the Holy House in Walsingham, following the revelation to Lady Richeldis in 1061, was during the reign of Edward the Confessor, who had first dedicated England to Our Lady.
Our Lady’s message at Walsingham was to spread the JOY felt by Mary at the Annunciation and the subsequent birth of Christ.  The Holy House at Walsingham represents the home of St Anne and St Joachim where Mary was when the Angel Gabriel appeared.

The famous Wilton Diptych in the National Gallery (and much reproduced in Christmas cards) is actually the representation of King Richard II offering England as a dowry to Our Lady after her help when he was faced with the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381.

The new dedication of England will take place on the Feast of the Annunciation in March 2020.

Please look at the beautiful photographs in the Gallery in the 'Our Lady's Dowry' section.
The photograph of the seal in the Gallery shows a copy of the Walsingham seal on the 16th Century Act of Supremacy signed by the last Augustinian Canons of the Great Priory of Walsingham.  This was the official document by which they were driven out at the Reformation in 1538.
The seal was based on the original wooden 12th century statue of Our Lady, which had pride of place at the shrine.  Sadly the statue disappeared during the ravages of the Reformation, probably burnt along with many other beautiful statues and carvings.   But ironically, the image of the statue was preserved on the legal document which authorised the dissolution of the priory.
 
(Many thanks to Rowan Blake-James for these details and the lovely photographs.) 

Useful links - www.dowrytour.org.uk      and      www.walsingham.org.uk