About this pilgrimage
Tewkesbury
Our pilgrimage starts in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. This is the second oldest Marian shrine in England where the hermit Theoc began as a hermit and then founded a Monastery in 715.
From this devolution to Our Lady, the Monastery grew into a large Benedictine complex which was consecrated in 1121. Many miracles were associated with the statue of Our Lady of Tewkesbury and pilgrims came from all over the country. The Abbey grew in prominence during this time.
During the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471 (War of the Roses) the battle moved from the town into the Church and there was “bloodshed so great that it closed for purification”. There is a brass plate in the centre of the Church where Edward Prince of Wales (Son of Henry VI) is buried – the end of the lancastrian line and the only Prince of Wales to die in battle.
In the reformation, the monastery buildings were torn down, the statue was either destroyed or defaced, and the Lady Chapel pulled down. The Abbey Church survived due to the town buying the building for £453 around 1541 (£325,412 in 2024) for the price of the lead roof and the bells. Much of the vandalism by the protestant reformers can still be seen in the Abbey – headless statues and the outlines of the Lady Chapel can still be seen.
The Pilgrimage
The pilgrimage will take us out of Tewkesbury and through the surrounding villages to Ashton-under-Hill where we break for lunch. This will be at the Star Inn, toilets are available and lunch will be available to buy, or there will be a space for people to eat packed lunches.
After the lunch break we’ll continue our walk to Evesham
Evesham
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.
Pilgrimage Inauguration
Our pilgrimage is to be one of prayer and hope. The inaugural year of our pilgrimage is the Jubilee Year, the theme of which is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. We pray for the rededication of England to the faith and to Our Lady.
England was dedicated to Our Lady in 1381 by Richard II and has been known as Mary’s Dowry ever since due to the devotion to her before the reformation.
As many countries in Europe fall into the lies of communism and atheism, we must use this time to pray and consecrate ourselves to Our Lady – Per Mariam ad Jesum. The Church is under attack from all sides, and sometimes even from within – we much ask Our Lady, who has blessed so many of our countries, to pray for a revival of faith, conversion, and salvation of souls.
Nuestra Señora de la Christiandad, ruega por nosotros.
Unsere Liebe Frau des Christentums, bitte für uns.
Our Lady of Altötting, pray for us.