Our Lady of Ipswich: A Historic Devotion Reborn in the Heart of Suffolk

Once among the most revered Marian shrines in medieval England, the devotion to Our Lady of Ipswich; also known as Our Lady of Grace; has experienced a remarkable revival in recent decades. Today, the town of Ipswich is home to an ecumenical shrine, as well as large reproduction of the original statue reflecting a shared spiritual heritage across Anglican and Catholic communities.

A Medieval Pilgrimage Centre

First recorded in 1152, the shrine of Our Lady of Grace stood just outside the west gate of medieval Ipswich, on Lady Lane. It became a major pilgrimage destination, second only to Walsingham in popularity. Notable visitors included Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Edward I, who married the Count of Holland at the shrine in 1297, as well as Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Sir Thomas More, and Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.

The shrine’s prominence was curtailed during the English Reformation. In 1538, Thomas Cromwell’s agents removed the statue, taking it to Chelsea to be burned alongside other religious images. However, legend holds that the statue was rescued and transported to Nettuno, Italy, where a similar statue known as “The English Lady” has been venerated since the mid-16th century.

Revival of the Shrines

In 2002, a modern replica of the Nettuno statue, carved by sculptor Robert Mellamphy, was installed in the Church of St Mary at the Elms, an Anglican parish near the original shrine site. This ecumenical effort was spearheaded by the Guild of Our Lady of Grace of Ipswich, formed in 1977 to promote Christian unity and restore the shrine.

Two decades later, in 2022, the Catholic parish of St Pancras commissioned a new statue from the renowned Stuflesser studio in Italy. This statue, carved from linden wood and adorned with symbolic elements like a golden lily and an untasted apple, marked the first time in nearly 500 years that a statue of Our Lady of Ipswich was installed in a Catholic church in the town.

Artistic Renewal at St Mark’s

St Mark’s Catholic Church in Ipswich has enriched its devotional art with two new paintings by artist Ben Goymour, brother of parish priest Fr Luke Goymour. The first, a five-foot oil painting of the Divine Mercy, was unveiled during Advent 2023. The second, a depiction of Our Lady of Ipswich, was introduced shortly thereafter. Both pieces have been positively received by the congregation, contributing to the beauty of the church’s spiritual atmosphere.

Pilgrimage and Upcoming Events

As Ipswich embraces its rich spiritual heritage, the renewed devotion to Our Lady of Grace serves as a testament to the enduring power of faith and community across centuries.