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David Chapman writes:
Nicholas Mileham was martyred on the Martyrs Field at Walsingham in 1537, following the protests made by those who feared the destruction of the shrine by the agents of Henry VIII. He had been sub-prior of the Augustinian Priory. The night before his death he was held, a manacled prisoner, in the cellar of a house in High Street, Walsingham, opposite what is now known as the Abbey Gateway. Thomas Guisborough, a layman, was also held there and subsequently suffered the same fate as Nicholas.
As with many buildings in Walsingham, time has seen these premises in the High Street change in use and fortune. In recent years, the cellar, under what is now the Sue Ryder shop and tea-rooms, was known only by those with a real talent for finding arcane sites of unusual religious or historic significance.
Fr Philip Gray, Vicar of Mendlesham in Suffolk and for many years Priest Director of the Catholic League, had initially seen a picture of the Martyrs' Cellar in a book of photographs of Old Walsingham. It seems highly likely that the seeds of the events that eventually took place in April 2004 were sown when Fr Philip saw this book. He and his wife, Anne, who had between them written and illustrated the book, "Rosary Around Walsingham", were able subsequently to visit the cellar in 2000 – finding it dark, damp and full of rubbish. The idea for its transformation, conceived then, was received enthusiastically by the manager of the Sue Ryder shop and, when put to the Council of the Catholic League, by them as well.
The Martyrs' Cellar was then included in the Catholic League’s Rosary Pilgrimage of Reparation in 2001, when the more agile members of the pilgrimage gingerly descended the difficult stairs into the less than welcoming room. There they offered prayers for reparation amidst the empty bottles and broken brushes, by the light of a single bulb suspended from a fraying flex. But – to use a well-worn phrase – there was a vision. It was not of a ghostly sub-prior, but for the restoration of this damp little cellar to its rightful place amongst the Holy Sites of the Holy Land of Walsingham.
A long-serving officer of the catholic League at that time was its General Secretary, Geoffrey Wright, widely known as arranger of pilgrimages, "MC to the CofE" and a passionate worker for Christian Unity. Sadly, he did not live to see the vision come to fruition. After his untimely death in 2002, it was decided that the altar in the chapel should be made and given in his memory. Others too, however, shared and developed the vision; and, through long months of sometimes considerable frustration, progress was made. As Christians, we should not be surprised when things just seem to fall into place, but we always are. Judith Brassley and her husband John had taken over the management of the Sue Ryder shop. She was one of those who knew about the Cellar before she moved in, and she too had a vision of it, restored and used again, but lacked the funds to do anything about it.
So out of these visions, shared and expanded to include many other people, a project was launched. To clear and redecorate the cellar, to make it as far as possible accessible and safe, to furnish it with an altar and to make it available for pilgrims to use for prayer and Eucharist - with the particular emphasis on reparation for past wrongs. From the outset, it was to be an ecumenical project – despite the challenges and problems which that posed.
After various and frustrating delays, much hard work and many telephone calls, all came together on Saturday, 17th April, 2004. On a weekend when Spring was trying hard to make us believe that it was Summer, the crowd at the Sprinkling at the Well in the Anglican Shrine included some for whom this was the beginning of a larger event. Then Fr Philip North, Administrator of the Anglican Shrine, in his address before pilgrims went to the well, mentioned the forthcoming blessing of the altar and invited those present to join the procession from the Shrine to the Sue Ryder building. This they did in considerable number, priests and laity following thurifer and crucifer past the Pump and along the High Street before making the rather tortuous entry to the Sue Ryder Chapel, which is at ground level behind the shop. The chapel was full – very full. All the service sheets that Fr Norman Banks, vicar of Walsingham, had prepared - even the ones he was sure we would not need - were pressed into use.
The first part of the Service of Blessing – the Liturgy of the Word – was conducted here so that everyone could take part. Fr Robert Farmer (vicar of St Mary's Wellingborough), then Priest Director of the Catholic League, Fr Michael Rear from the Roman Catholic Shrine, Fr Norman Banks, vicar of Walsingham, Fr Philip North, administrator of the Anglican Shrine, Fr Brooke Lunn, editor of the Messenger of the Catholic League, Fr Mark Woodruff (from the diocese of Westminster and a member of the League's Council) and others were involved in this part of the service. Then the Council of the Catholic League, Simon Marshall (the craftsman who made the altar), a representative of the Sue Ryder foundation, Fr Philip North and Fr Philip Barnes, Anglican Shrine Priest, descended into the Cellar whilst the others were enjoined to pray in silence for unity and reconciliation.
In the Cellar, now transformed with new lighting, newly whitewashed walls and a sturdy handrail by the stairs, Fr Rear blessed the altar with prayer, holy water and incense. The altar is of light oak and is square, having a small inset altar stone with relics of St Constantius beneath. It stands on four pillars joining it to a square base, in the centre of which is a carved representation of the badge of the Catholic League, showing the Key crossed with the Pastoral Staff, indicating the ministry and authority of the successor of Peter to set free from sin and to strengthen the Church with his pastoral care and teaching. It is hoped that in due course a display board will be provided, which will record something of the history of this historic site, the genesis of the vision for its restoration, and that the Altar is provided by the Catholic League in loving memory of Geoffrey Wright and the visible Unity of Christians.
The Cellar party returned to ground level and joined in Vespers. All present then received a card showing Nicholas Mileham, the Catholic League badge and the Collect for Martyrs. Refreshments were provided in the Sue Ryder café. It should be recorded that Geoffrey’s mother had made a generous donation towards the cost of the altar. In her late eighties and recovering from a broken pelvis, she felt unable to be present herself, but Geoffrey’s cousin made the journey, as did a party from St Matthew’s Church, Ponders End, where Geoffrey had been Churchwarden for many years.
In Walsingham, where uniquely there is close co-operation between Roman Catholics and Anglicans centred on devotion to Our Lady, Mother of the Church, the Catholic League is honoured to have been able to facilitate the opening of this site. It is much to be hoped that individuals and groups of pilgrims from Anglican, Roman Catholic and other traditions will make a point of going there to offer prayers for reparation and Unity and to thank God that Nicholas Mileham, Thomas Guisborough and so many others did not die in vain. A year on, and a small, steady stream of Unity pilgrims have found there way there, not failing to celebrate the Holy Mysteries.