The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace facts for kids
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace is a special place. It's in the village of Osmotherley in North Yorkshire, England. People have come here for hundreds of years. They visit this small church, often called the “Lady Chapel.” It's a place for prayer and a journey called a pilgrimage. Every summer, many people gather for an annual pilgrimage. It happens on the Sunday closest to August 15th. This date is important for Christians.
A Long History
We don't know exactly when the Lady Chapel started. But old records show it existed a long time ago. In 1397, a person named John Ingelby got permission. He could build a chapel and hold church services there. This was around the same time as the nearby Mount Grace Priory was founded. That priory was a monastery for monks.
Not much else is known about the Lady Chapel's early days. Around 1515, a former monk named Thomas Parkinson lived there. He was a hermit at the chapel. He likely stayed until 1539. That's when many religious places, including Mount Grace Priory, were closed down. After this, the Lady Chapel became old and broken. It was left in ruins.
Even though it was in ruins, people still visited. They came to pray. In 1614, 16 people were arrested for praying there. This shows how important the place remained. Other visitors included a group of nuns. They prayed for their founder, Mary Ward, when she was very sick. Mary Ward herself later visited to give thanks. She was thankful for getting better. In 1745, John Wesley visited the area. He wrote about seeing the "poor remains" of the old chapel.
In more recent times, people wanted to fix the chapel. Flora Dysart wrote a book called "The Pilgrims’ Way." She described how her grandmother helped. Her grandmother, Flora Margaret Morrish, got permission to use a small house next to the chapel. She wanted to restore the chapel. Later, John Scott and Ralph Scrope bought the chapel site. They created a group to manage the chapel's rebuilding. Flora Margaret Morrish had already fixed the small house.
Restoring the Chapel
Plans to fix the chapel were approved in 1957. Work began in 1959. The next year, the Lady Chapel was recognized as a national monument. Also, the first big pilgrimage was organized. It was for the Diocese of Middlesbrough. This pilgrimage has become an annual event. Hundreds of people come every year. They gather on the Sunday closest to August 15th.
On September 8, 1961, the chapel was officially opened again. This day is known as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. William Godfrey, a very important church leader, rededicated the chapel.
Special Features
The chapel has some beautiful things inside. There is a statue of the Madonna and Child. This statue is from the 1600s. It shows Mary, the mother of Jesus, with baby Jesus. There is also a carved wooden cross. Both of these were given by Lady Eldon.
The chapel also has three stained glass windows. These windows have colorful pictures. They show the coat of arms of Queen Katharine of Aragon. They also show the symbols of the Scrope and Eldon families.
The Chapel Today
Today, St Mary's Cathedral in Middlesbrough helps look after the chapel. Church services are held throughout the year. A special service is offered on Saturdays at 4 PM. This service counts for Sunday. Services are also held on special days for Our Lady. The chapel is open to visitors at all times.
In 2016, Bishop Terence Patrick Drainey started a group. It's called the Friends of the Lady Chapel. This group works to protect and promote the shrine. They help make sure the chapel stays a special place for future generations.
