Ipswich ecumenical pilgrimage draws record crowd

The Ecumenical Guild of Our Lady of Grace of Ipswich led its annual pilgrimage on Sunday, September 8 — Our Lady’s birthday. The event drew its largest crowd in years and welcomed Bishop Peter Collins for the first time. The walk focused on Christian unity and devotion to Our Lady of Grace. Organiser Jean Johnson reports.

Despite a Met Office ‘Yellow Warning of Heavy Rain,’ our large group of pilgrims remained undeterred during the annual Pilgrimage Walk in Ipswich on Sunday, September 8. The day was marked by several rare moments. Not only did the pilgrimage fall on a Sunday, but it also coincided with Our Lady’s birthday. The atmosphere was made even more special by the presence of Bishop Peter, attending the event for the first time.

Cardinal Wolsey, born in Ipswich, designed this pilgrimage route in 1528, which led to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, once the second most important shrine in England after Walsingham. As we followed this historic path, the anticipated rain began at our second stop, the statue of Cardinal Wolsey, just as we recited the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. However, by the time we reached the Town Hall, the rain had ceased, and when we arrived at Lady Lane, umbrellas were no longer needed.

At Lady Lane, where the medieval shrine once stood, the large crowd gathered closely to hear members reaffirm their commitment to working toward Christian unity through the intercession of Our Lady of Grace of Ipswich. Although the original shrine was located here, the modern ecumenical shrine has been in St Mary Elms Anglican Church for the past 20 years. We concluded our walk at St Mary Elms, we enjoyed a brief service, well-earned refreshments, and the pleasure of speaking with Bishop Peter, whose presence we truly appreciated.

At the Ecumenical Guild of Our Lady of Grace of Ipswich, we are dedicated to praying for Christian unity through the intercession of Our Lady. Our programme reflects this commitment, with meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month at 10:30 am. In September, we welcomed a Russian Orthodox priest who spoke about devotion to Our Lady in his tradition. In October, we will welcome Fr Luke Goymour, who will also share insights on this topic.

Pictured above is Bishop Peter, on the far left, facing the Cardinal Wolsey statue during the pilgrimage walk. Photo by Jean Johnson

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