Day 3 final destination of the pilgrimage is Evesham Abbey Ruins. Evesham, not only housed a shrine to Our Lady, but was also the site of her first apparition in England. In 701 AD a Swineherd named Eof was tending his pigs near the River Avon when Our Lady appeared to him surrounded by a heavenly light. She told him the sanctity of the location and called him to establish a Church there in her honour.

Eof then reported the vision to a local hermit, who relayed it to the Bishop of Worcester, Egwin. Egwin came to the place, and Our Lady appeared to him and again relayed her message. Egwin, who was known for his piety and reforms (and had made enemies during these reforms), agreed to build a Church and travelled to Rome to prove his innocence against charges brought against him. He shackled his feet and threw the key into the River Avon, entrusting himself to God’s providence. 

He persevered in his pilgrimage to Rome and when he arrived, he prayed before the Pope asking for divine proof of his innocence. When they sat down to eat, fish was brought from the River Tiber and when they cut open the fish, the key to his chains was inside. 

The Pope was convinced of Egwin’s innocence and granted him permission to establish Evesham Abbey as Our Lady had commanded. The Abbey was founded, then rebuilt several times as the site grew, and Egwin was canonised as St Egwin and buried in Evesham Abbey. 

Once again, the reformation which plagued the country turned up. The King’s men burst into the Abbey during Vespers and threw the monks out. The Abbey was razed to the ground, with only the newer bell tower and two pilgrim churches surviving. This is why we will be singing Sunday Vespers in the ruins of the abbey – to finish the Vespers which saw the end to the Monastery here.