Crumbling buildings and the endless task of money raising and restoration might give the impression that this was all that mattered in Norfolk. This would be far from the truth, so let us take a brief look at three women whose lives were unusual. They have been called the three Norfolk mystics. Perhaps, the first is best known outside Norfolk, for it is none other than Richelde de Faverches, the second is Mother Julian of Norwich and the third is Margery Kempe of Lynn.
Richelde married Geoffrey and leaving Nomandy, set up home in the village of Little Walsingham. Then about the year 1130, Geoffrey died and Richelde was left with one son and many suitors. She continued to care for the sick and the poor, she was well known and well loved. Prayer occupied a good deal of her time, and she had a particular devotion to the Mother of our Lord. One night she had a mystical experience, she was transported to Nazareth, to the house where Gabriel had given the Virgin Mary the news that she was to be the mother of our Lord. Richelde was then told that she should build a similar house in Walsingham, dedicated to Mary and all who prayed there would be given succour. In a subsequent vision, the dimensions of the house were made known to her and eventually the Holy House of Walsingham was built.
Over the years, the fame of Walsingham grew, many miracles were claimed and the great and the good came on pilgrimage. One who came was none other than Henry VIII, though later in his reign, he was responsible for the shrine's destruction. No doubt the votive offerings had their attraction and they and the shrine's fate were sealed. It was not till this century that Walsingham once more could claim to be England's Nazareth.
The name which comes to mind is that of Fr. Hope Pattern, the vicar of Walsingham. This remote village was even more cut off, winters gave clergy the chance to read, write and catch up with study, so it is no stretch of imagination to think of Fr. Hope Pattern working out his plans for the restoration of the shrine. As we know the shrine was eventually established and again has become a place of pilgrimage where many people come for spiritual renewal. Another name which is often forgotten when the re-establishment of the shrine is considered, is that of Derrick Lingwood, it was Derrick, a layman who was the power, the drive which found ways to raise the money to make Fr. Hope Pattern's vision a reality. Derrick was eventually to be ordained, which came as a surprise to some, but worse was to follow, for Derrick married. This was his downfall and he had to leave Walsingham.
Years later, when I was visiting a family in one of my villages, I met a man named Lingwood. When I asked if he was related to Derrick Lingwood, he said "Yes, he is my brother, but I don't want to bask in reflected glory.' One of the best 'put downs' I have ever had.
The second mystic, is Julian of Norwich. It was Tuesday in Holy Week in the year 1357, Julian had been to Mass, it was the gospel with its account of Christ's passion which made a deep impression on the young Julian. The Church was in turmoil, England was at war with France and to make matters worse, English gold was going to enrich a French Pope, and any way there were two Popes to choose from. Some people were led to rebel, but Julian was to find another path. In 1373, Julian came close to death, and while in a state of trance had a mystical experience over a period of time, which she called her 'Showings' or Revelations. She was to spend the rest of her life working out the meaning of her visions. Julian became a Recluse, that is she lived in a small cell attached to St. Julian's church, where she would spend the rest of her life. One window opened into the church, so that she could hear Mass and receive communion, another window opened to receive visitors who came in large numbers to ask for advice. Julian was well educated and wrote her understanding of God's vision down in her book, Revelations of Divine Love.
Julian's cell was destroyed in the last war, but has been restored and is well worth a visit. Many famous sayings from Mother Julian have survived such as 'All shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'. Julian has much to say to our age. It is also Julian who speaks of the Motherhood of God. She spoke of the Motherhood of God, first in our nature's creation, the second is grounded in this assumption of nature, and there beginneth the Motherhood of Grace, and the third is the working of Motherhood, an endless overflowing by the same grace, of length and breadth and depth, and all this in His one love.
Among the many visitors to Mother Julian was a woman of a very different nature. She is our third Mystic, Margery Kemp. Margery came from King's Lynn, though before Henry VIII it was Bishop's Lynn. Margery's father was one John of Burnham. He was well to do and had been mayor of Lynn five times and Margery's groom was a man named John Kemp, the son of another wealthy man. The wedding was a grand affair and Margery was beautifully attired in purple and green silk, setting off her lovely auburn hair. This marriage lasted many years, the long suffering groom, supporting his wife during her many exploits. Margery was to bear John fourteen children, though we have no idea how many survived.
Then at the age of about thirty-eight, Margery had an experience one night in which she said that she heard heavenly music and told her husband she felt called to lead a celibate life. Poor John, he eventually agreed and this had to be ratified by a bishop, which meant a journey to Lincoln as Norwich had no bishop at the time. After waiting for three weeks, she saw the bishop, but the interview did not go well, so the couple were told to go to Lambeth to see the Archbishop. Here she did receive permission, so she could wear a white robe which showed she had renounced the world and she received the privilege of being permitted to make her communion every Sunday.
Margery had one particular and unfortunate habit. Whenever the sufferings of Christ were mentioned or anything to do with the blood of Jesus, Margery would go into loud sobbing. It disturbed the congregation, it upset the preacher and Margery became very unpopular, so much so that one priest refused to have her in the church when he was preaching. Some regarded Margery's habit as a gift from God and she did receive protection when she was accused of heresy. Margery also tackled any monk who fell short of the high ideals he professed, which together with her sobbing made even her long suffering husband pretend not to know her.
Anyway he was afforded relief when at length Margery made a vow to visit the Holy Land, and this became possible when she inherited her father's estate. Over the years, Margery went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and many other places in the Holy Land. There was no easy way to travel by air or coach in those days, it meant walking over difficult roads, enduring sea journeys and facing robbers and companions who could not always be trusted as Margery was to find out. Margery's life of pilgrimage went on to include Santiago de Compostela where St. James was reputed to be buried, she also went to Rome, but by this time she was well advanced in years and had run out of money. When she at length rejoined her husband in Lynn, it was not long before ill health meant she had to nurse John till he died. Even though Margery was well on in years for the times, she would still walk the four miles to Middleton to see her confessor, who was the priest there, possibly attached to Blacbborough End Priory.
Margery, unlike Mother Julian could not read or write, so it was the parish priest who wrote down the first edition of her book. This was of particular interest to me as St. Mary's, Middleton was one of my parishes and people would come to see the church because of its connection with Margery. Margery was to end her earthly pilgrimage in poverty, she had journeyed from riches and a good position in society, but she had also made a spiritual pilgrimage through her wanderings across Europe to many holy places. The Book of Margery Kemp is her attempt to trace that journey and to share some of her experiences. What is more this book is said to be the first biography to be written in the English language giving us a glimpse into life at that time.
So there we have three holy women, each so very different in many ways, but each motivated by their deep faith in Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, a reminder if one is needed, that whatever our particular path in life, or how we may be seen by other people, there is a place for everyone in God's Kingdom.
written by Fr Arthur E Green
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