OUR LADY OF GRACE (IPSWICH) PILGRIMAGE WALK - 22 MILES

ABOUT THE WALK/PILGRIMAGE & MY STORY -

Our Lady of Grace Marian shrine in ipswich has long been on my list of pilgrimages to do. This was my last Marian shrine in southern England I had almost forgotten about it but my inner voice, or was it my ange! guide who popped the idea back into my head? I knew I had to do it now, before Christmas, meaning short daylight hours. Thankfully the weather was mild - 15F degrees. I caught the early morning train to Ipswich and a few minutes later was on the train to Felixstowe. I wanted to walk from the sea to Ipswich via the River Orwell. St. Felix was also a powerful incentive. I was in Felixstowe by 9.30am and beside the see and sand of Felixstowe Pier, half an hour later.

I didn’t want to just walk the shore of the river to Ipswich, I had done
that many years before on my British Coastal Walk. I wanted to walk
inland to see the churches and history of the area. Such as the unusucl two churches in Trimley St. Mary and St. Martin. Being brought up in Derbyshire I also wanted to see Levington, not only for the church but where the Cavendish family had made history, by being the second person to circumnavigate the world. I would also pass two halls - Broke Hall and Orwell Park. With so much to see and explore its was 3.30pm by the time I reached the Al4 and boundary of Ipswich.

As the light faded I stayed nearby. The next morning, in clear skies i
walked along Nacton Road into central Ipswich seeing many churches, the remains of the Black Friars Monastery before reaching Elm Street and the medieval church of St. Mary at the Elms, where the shrine is today. But as you will read, this is the more recent statue of Madonne and child. The original is in Italy! The original shrine is just a litte further
away on Lady Lane where there is a statue and plaque recording it
history and location. | felt humbled and lit a candle and prayed at the
shrine, thankful to have made it. I walked away richer for the
experience. I can only hope you enjoy the pilgrimage fo this simple but poignant shrine, full of history and sadly lesser known today.

A5 Pilgrim Guide. Wrapped in a plastic wrap around cover and signed by John Merrill.

Embroidered pigrim badge and signed certificate by John Merrill for subccesful walkers/pilgrims from John Merrill.

Walkers added to my Walkers Roll of Honour Page.