The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace facts for kids
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace is a peaceful church in Osmotherley, a village in North Yorkshire. It's a place where Christians come to show their love for Mary, who is often called "Our Lady." People have been visiting this small church, known as the "Lady Chapel," for hundreds of years. Even today, many people come here for a special trip called a pilgrimage every summer. This happens on the Sunday closest to August 15th, which is a special day for Mary.
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A Look Back: The Chapel's History
We don't know exactly when the Lady Chapel first started, but old records show that in 1397, a man named John Ingelby was given permission to build a chapel and hold church services there. This was around the same time that the nearby Mount Grace Priory, a monastery for monks, was also being built.
Not much else is known about the Lady Chapel's early days. Around 1515, a former monk named Thomas Parkinson lived as a hermit at the chapel. He was supported by Catharine of Aragon, a queen of England. He likely stayed until 1539, when many religious places, including Mount Grace Priory, were closed down by the government. After this, the Lady Chapel became old and broken.
People Still Visited
Even though the chapel was in ruins, people still came to pray there. For example, in 1614, 16 people were arrested because they were caught praying at the chapel. Other visitors included a group of nuns who prayed there for their founder, Mary Ward, when she was very sick. Mary Ward herself later visited the chapel to say thank you after she got better. In 1745, a famous preacher named John Wesley saw the chapel and wrote about its "poor remains."
Bringing the Chapel Back to Life
In more recent times, a woman named Flora Dysart wrote in her book about how her grandmother, Flora Margaret Morrish, helped save the chapel. She convinced the local landowner, Sir Hugh Bell, to let her rent the small house next to the chapel so she could start fixing it up. Later, John Scott, the Earl of Eldon, and Ralph Scrope bought the Lady Chapel site. They set up a special group, called a Trust, to manage the rebuilding of the chapel. Flora Margaret Morrish had already fixed the house next door.
Restoring the Chapel
Plans to fix the chapel were approved in 1957. The next year, in 1958, the Lady Chapel was officially recognized as an important national monument. That same year, the first big pilgrimage for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady was organized by the Diocese of Middlesbrough. This pilgrimage has now become an annual event, bringing hundreds of people to the chapel every year on the Sunday closest to August 15th.
The actual restoration work began in 1959. On September 8, 1961, a special ceremony was held where William Godfrey, a Cardinal Archbishop, rededicated the chapel. This day is known as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Special Features of the Chapel
The chapel has some beautiful and important items inside.
- It has a statue from the 1600s of the Madonna and Child, which shows Mary holding baby Jesus.
- There is also a carved wooden crucifix, which is a cross with Jesus on it. Both of these were given to the chapel by Lady Eldon.
The chapel also has three lovely stained glass windows. These windows show the special symbols, called coats of arms, of Queen Katharine of Aragon, and the Scrope and Eldon families.
The Chapel Today
Today, St Mary's Cathedral in Middlesbrough helps to look after the Lady Chapel.
Church services are held throughout the year. On Saturdays at 4 PM, there is a special evening service that counts for Sunday church. Services are also held on other special days for Mary. The chapel is always open for anyone who wishes to visit and pray.
In 2016, the Bishop of Middlesbrough, Terence Patrick Drainey, started a group called the "Friends of the Lady Chapel." This group works to protect the shrine and help more people learn about it.
