As part of the Assumptiontide festivities at the Mission of Our Lady & St Edward, Bolton, a pilgrimage was made to the Shrine of The Blessed Virgin Mary at Ladyewell, Ferneyhalgh (pronounced Ferneyhoff) and the Martyrs of Lancashire on 18th August.
The small group of faithful pilgrims from Our Lady & St Edward, Bolton, were made extremely welcome and an ACC Mass was celebrated by Fr Howard Marsh, the Priest in Charge, in the outside covered chapel in the grounds. The group took packed lunches with the shrine providing tea/coffee.
Fr Howard Marsh, priest in charge of our Mission, writes “The shrine is situated in lovely countryside and the walk from the church to the shrine about a mile is very reminiscent of the walk to the slipper chapel in Walsingham. I have been many times as has Deacon Roger Bell with the Society of Mary. We were afforded such warmth and hospitality by the staff at Ladyewell that we were all quite astounded. The Rosary procession from the church of S. Mary to the Shrine was perfectly timed and I was given the use of the Martyrs of Lancashire chapel to celebrate Mass. We had one visitor who joined us for Mass-she said how lovely it was. I have booked our visit next year for the 15th August and before we left I was presented with a certificate verifying our pilgrimage signed by the Bishop of Lancaster – another lovely gesture. We were all taken aback by the kindness and respect we were shown all day – nothing was too much trouble.”
