Shrine of Our Lady, Bradstowe facts for kids
The Shrine of Our Ladye Star of the Sea was a very old chapel in Broadstairs, a town once called Bradstowe. It stood on the cliffs and had two tall towers. These towers were like a landmark for sailors. Ships would often lower their top-sails as a way to say hello to the shrine. This showed how much people respected it.
Today, parts of the old Chapel of St. Mary are still there. They are built into a modern building. This makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in Broadstairs! You can find it near the harbour on Albion Street.
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History of the Bradstowe Shrine
How Old is the Shrine?
People believe the shrine and its chapel were built before the year 1070. We know this because in 1070, the old Saxon Church of St. Peter's was rebuilt. It changed from a wooden church to one made of stone and flint.
The first building had a copy of the famous "Our Ladye of Bradstowe" shrine. This copy was later moved to a private house closer to the sea. The Culmer Chapel Shrine was a statue, probably of the Virgin Mary. It stood on a tall column outside the chapel, facing the sea. The chapel was a meeting place for sailors in Broadstairs.
The Royal Navy has a tradition of "showing the flag" in seaside towns. This helps keep up the spirits of the Navy. It's said this tradition started at the Bradstowe Chapel in 1514. The crew of the Henry Grace a Dieu, a very large warship, attended a service there. Their ship was anchored nearby.
Storm Damage and Repairs
In the 1520s, a big storm hit Viking Bay. It lasted for several days and brought a huge storm surge. This storm destroyed the shrine and badly damaged the chapel.
In 1601, Sir John Culmer owned the chapel and the land it was on. He was one of the first leaders of the Congregationalist movement. He ordered the chapel and its shrine to be fixed. When they rebuilt it, they reused many of the old materials. However, the new chapel was not as pretty as the original. Luckily, some of the old wall, a doorway, and a window from the ancient building still remain.
The first leader of the chapel in 1601 was Joel Culmer. For many years, ships passing by Thanet would lower their top-sails to the shrine and chapel. Sailors believed this would bring them good luck on their journey.
This tradition continued until at least 1514. After that, Trinity House took over the job of guiding ships. They made sure coastal towns put up beacons or lights on high points. These lights warned ships about dangers near the coast. In medieval times, the Chapel of St. Mary was known as "The Chapel of Blue Light." This was because its light shone out into the dark sea through a blue glass lantern.
The Weeping Virgin
At some point, probably in 1601, the shrine was moved inside the chapel. After this, local sailors started calling it "The Weeping Virgin." It's said that hot weather caused moisture to build up in the chapel. This moisture would settle on the face of the shrine, making it look like the Virgin Mary was crying.
Sailors who were very religious saw this as a bad sign. A storm would often follow this "weeping" effect. So, changes in the chapel's atmosphere became a rough guide for those who faced the dangers of the sea.
Legacy of the Shrine
The shrine's name lives on in the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea. This church is located inland at 17 Broadstairs Road in St Peter's. It was designed by a famous architect named Giles Gilbert Scott in 1930.
Today, the original shrine of Our Lady of Bradstowe is kept in Holy Trinity church in Broadstairs. This church is not far from where the old chapel once stood.
