'Ladye
Park' or 'Our Lady
in the Park' Liskeard in Cornwall Re-establishing the 'Lost Shrine' of 'Our Lady of
Cornwall' Hayl
Maria leun a ras ('Hail Mary' prayer in the Cornish language - also the 'Our Father')
read: "The Lost Shrine of Liskeard"
An Grerva Gellys a Lyskerrys by Claire Riche
available from the author at 115 Petersfield Rd,
Bournemouth, BH7 6QH, Tel +44 (0) 1202423431
current price £9.99 including current postage in UK. 240
pages ISBN 1 901157 63 6 St Austin Press
Contact Claire for other destinationsLostshrinehotmail.comCheques payable to
L.S.F. read review | Buy in
USA| pilgrimages | Novena (page offline due to
site rebuild)
Ladye Park, Cornwall, was in Medieval times a
great place of Christian Pilgrimage.
The shrine and chapel of Our Ladye of the Park was dissolved during
the reformation.
The first pilgrimage since the reformation and
the re-hallowing of the site of the shrine of Our Ladye in the
Park, Liskeard, on the 29th May 1979 was an outward expression of
the inward desire of many Christians for a greater degree of
UNITY.
This holy place was dedicated for all time
to be a place of ecumenical pilgrimage in Cornwall. We pray that as
the ties of friendship deepen and as a material expression of our
spiritual desires, a permanent shrine may once more be raised where
all may come and join together in worship, fellowship and
love.
Return to Ladye Park Painting by David Whittley
~ Oil on Canvas 1998
The painting is a symbol of the resurrection of
the chapel and the return of Our Lady to the
Park
click on the painting for a larger
image
Interpretation - (by the
artist): The border represents the Celtic
origins of the shrine. The design itself is a symbol of life, with
its complicated journey between earthly life and spirituality. This
is also reflected by the colours - the green of earth and the gold
of the spirit, which forms the path to the chapel.
Top centre are the three white roses
representing the Holy Trinity, flanked by the design of fish, the
symbol of the spread of Christianity, moving outward to the meeting
of the old religions and the new, which embrace, and become one
path leading to the entrance of the garden.
The spirit of Our Lady fills the
garden and all that enter, with love and light. The dove and white
roses all bring peace. The tree is a symbol of the union of body
and spirit, with the fruits of knowledge and the blossom of eternal
life.
The lily and bees are a reminder of
"Kerrid" the old goddess of love and eternal youth, to whom the
shrine was originally dedicated.
With the exception of the Jews, ancient man did
not have full knowledge of the one true God or the Blessed Trinity
but had an innate insight and awareness of a "creator".
His limited knowledge caused him to believe that there were many
gods with many facets both good and bad but he was still able to
make the choice between good and evil. When he followed his
conscience ' the god within him' he followed God not yet revealed
to him by means of Christianity.
In Cornwall the goddess 'Kerrid' was believed in
as a spirit who, though powerful, relied on a 'cauldron of
knowledge and inspiration' for her powers. Her creative
thought was understood to come from a higher spirit than herself
through the cauldron which was her well. She was therefore
not regarded as all powerful of herself but one who was in direct
communication with a higher being. She was known as the
goddess of love and eternal youth. It was not the eternal
youth of hedonistic people today but the eternal youth of of
immortal life to be gained by all. Her symbol was the
lily. She was also linked to the mythical Cretan god Kerr who
was said to appear in the form of a bee which bears the sting of
death and the honey of love leading to a new life.
Just as Christianity changed the old beliefs of
many Gods into the knowledge of a three in one god so did
Christianity enlighten the myth of Kerrid relying on "a cauldron of
inspiration" presenting instead a true human, a woman, born body
and soul into this world, MARY now reigning glorified Queen of
Heaven. From this exalted position she is able to intercede for us
through her son Jesus to the Father, Son & Holy Spirit and she
Mary becomes the fountain of Christian inspiration.
In the painting Mary can be seen, body and
spirit rising from the water as that fountain. She holds a rose.
The rosary is the ancient battle prayer of the Church. It is a
summary of the Gospel which guides those who use it throughout
their lives. Each prayer said on the rosary is like the offering of
a rose. Mary holds the single rose with love and care, a symbol of
how each and every prayer is received.
PRAYERS FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
(To be said regularly for the full restoration of the Shrine
)
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made
heaven and earth. Let us pray.
O God, who art strength unchangeable and Light eternal, look down
in mercy on the wondrous mystery of Thy whole church and by the
operation of Thy continual Providence accomplish in tranquillity
the work of mans salvation; and let the whole world perceive
and know that things cast down are being raised up; things
grown old are being made new, and all things are returning to their
perfection.
Through Him from whom they took their beginning, Jesus Christ Thy
Son Our Lord. AMEN
Ladye Park Pilgrimage - Processional
Hymn (1979) Written by Dr. Margaret
Pollard
Sung to the tune of 'Daily, Daily Sing to Mary'
(Traditional Catholic Hymn and the
background music on this page)
Ladye Mary, Blessed Mother,
Whom we hail as full of grace,
Whom our Cornish fathers honoured,
In this green and peaceful place,
Pilgrims from the stony moorlands,
Through the rain and wind and dark
Loving Mary, praising Mary,
Lady Mary of the Park.
Poor men tramping, rich men riding,
All Our Lady came to greet:
Wife and widow, youth and maiden,
Gathered at the virgin's feet.
Of God's justice she is mirror,
Of his covenant the ark,
Blessed Mary, Holy Mary,
Lady Mary of the Park
Grazing deer deep in the
forest
Heard the pilgrims" joyful song,
And the birds among the branches
Sang in chorus with the throng:
Wren and robin, thrush and blackbird:
And the heavenward-soaring lark
Sang to Mary, Blessed Mary
Lady Mary of the Park.
Now returning, we will
praise thee,
For the peril is long past.
Come again O Blessed Mother
And reclaim thy shrine at last.
To the promised Land in safety
God has brought his sacred Ark,
And we praise thee, Blessed Mary,
Lady Mary of the Park
PILGRIMAGES
We stress that the shrine is on private property
currently
let and unavailable for
pilgrimages, which have only been possible by kind invitation of
the owners
The last ANNUAL ECUMENICAL PILGRIMAGE was on
Sunday 10th June 2007
In August 2006. Myles Dempsey from "New Dawn" &
"The Prince of Peace Community" was the guest speaker with Mike
Mulroy and Andy Stayne leading the music ministry.
A well attended annual ecumenical
pilgrimage took place on the 12th September 2004. Mass was
celebrated beforehand at the
Catholic Church of Our Lady & St Neot. Speaker was Miles
Dempsey of "New Dawn" who also provided the music ministry with
the Cornish Deanery Renewal Team. Full
report see News
Articles
On the 17th August 2003, the Wintershall Marian Shrine Project... arranged a well
attended Ecumenical pilgrimage, praying for reconciliation and
Christian renewal in England followed by possibly the first Mass at
Ladyepark since the Reformation! See News Articles below
PRAYER FOR
ENGLAND
O Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother
look down in mercy upon England, your dowry and upon us all who
greatly hope and trust in you.
By you it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope, was given to
the world;
and he has given you to us that we might hope still more.
Plead for us your children whom you did receive and accept at the
foot of the cross.
O sorrowful Mother, Intercede for our separated brethren, that with
us in the one true fold,
they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the vicar of your
Son.
Pray for us all, dear mother, that by faith, fruitful in good
works,
we may all deserve to see and praise God together with you
in our heavenly home. Amen
Ladyepark Novena Prayer
( temporarily unavailble due to site
rebuild)
research note contributed August 2012 >> Assumption
Fair in ancient Liskeard.
18th April,
1266. Richard, by the Grace
of God, Earl of Cornwall, King of the Romans, to all the faithful
in Christ, as well present as future, to whom the present writing
may come, Greeting in the Lord everlasting:
Know ye that we for us and all our heirs have granted and by this
our present charter confirmed to our beloved and faithful men of
Liskeret, that they and their heirs for ever shall have one fair
every year at our borough of Liskeret to last for three days, to
wit, on the vigil, on the day and on the morrow of the
Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary, together with another
fair which they have on the feast of the blessed Matthew the
apostle and evangelist every year in the said borough. Wherefore we
will and firmly command for us and our heirs that our said faithful
men and their heirs for ever shall have the said fair every year at
our said borough of Liskeret to last for three days with all
liberties and free customs to a fair of that sort belonging.
In testimony of which we have sought fit to confirm this our
present charter with the seal of our Majesty. These being
witnesses, Philip of Bodrugan, Ralph of Heanton, Knights; William
of Tregrille, William of Cruttether, John of Greynes and
others.
Dated at Chippenham the 18th day of April in the year of Our Lord
one thousand two hundred and sixty six.
Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary (ESBVM)
- exists to advance the study at various levels of the place of the
Blessed Virgin Mary in the Church, under Christ and of related
theological questions; and in the light of such study to promote
ecumenical devotion.
The Most Holy Rosary of The Blessed Virgin Mary - Prayers and
MEDITATIONS with Scriptural References (offline due to site
rebuild)
University of Dayton Marian Library - featuring
Marian art exhibits, this site is affiliated with the famous Marian
library, including information on several scholarships and awards in Mariology, and a new
collection of Marian antiphons and music in hymnals of various
traditions, a lexicon of composers of Marian Art Music and
information regarding the nature of the music itself, compiled by
Bro. Donald Boccardi
The
Cornish Bible Project - An Bibel Kernewek - is run under
the auspices of the Cornish Language Board, and the Bishop of
Truro's Ecumenical Advisory Group for Services in Cornish. www.bibelkernewek.com/
The New Testament has now been published in Cornish and the launch
was on 11 August 2004 in Truro and it was given quite a
high profile and good publicity. There are many good photographs on
the website.
Origo Mundi ~ (The Cornish
Passion Plays) The full cycle of three plays was superbly
performed at St. Just in August 2004. Some of our parishioners took
an active part. Well done.
Dante Feri is a Philippino who has inaugurated this website
Manalangin
Tayo Yahoo Group for the purpose of promoting the Hail Mary and
other basic Catholic prayers in the hundreds of minority languages,
particularly those indigenous to the archipelago of the
Philippines. It is only just up and running and has already
received quite a few e letters.
NEWS
ARTICLES: 2003
pilgrimage below | see further below for 2004
Our Lady's Dowry being
restored
Not so many years ago there was a popular Marian hymn including the
words 'Be England thy dowry as in days of yore'.
This year a group entitling themselves 'The Wintershall
Marian Shrine Project' set out to make this prayer a reality. They
promised Our Lady they would endeavour to discover and visit as
many ancient Marian shrine sites of England, as
possible, and to pray there for reconciliation and Christian
renewal.
Prior to the Reformation such shrines were
dotted all over the country but sadly even their locations have
in many cases now been forgotten but to date the Marian
shrine project has located and visited over fifty. Some visits have
consisted of just a handful of worshippers. Local people have
always been encouraged to become involved. An ecumenical aspect
has been stressed wherever possible.
One of the most exciting visits of the project took
place between the two great feasts of Our Lady , The Assumption
(15th August ) and the Queenship of Our Lady (22 August) This
was a pilgrimage to The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of the Park
Liskeard in Cornwall and it took place on 17th August. Two
ecumenical processions, one descending via the original Mass Path
and one processing along the leafy lane bordering the site
converged singing the Ladye Park pilgrimage hymn. An open air
Catholic Mass was concelebrated by three priests in the
beautiful grounds by kind permission of the Anglican owners
John & Judith Wilks, but this was not all. The Wilks had felt
this year, for the first time drawn to renting out their
peaceful home during the Summer months, and as a result a
group from the Marian shrine project had the enviable privilege of
spending a whole week at this time hallowed spot.
Included in the group staying at Ladye Park was a
Catholic priest, so for the first time in 500 years not only was
Mass said daily at this historic spot but the Blessed Sacrament was
kept and as much as possible, exposed for adoration in that
part of the house which was originally the pre-reformation chapel.
The Rosary was prayed daily around the grounds. The stations which
were chosen for each five mysteries were:
1. The original baptistery which was restored, by
the present owners, only a few years ago.
2. An area of green foliage through which a babbling stream
flows.
3. The site of a new spring which appeared in 1998 by a
lake.
4. A gentle slope leading up to a pine wood, originally part of a
royal hunting park and to which deer have returned in the last
year.
5. The remains of what is thought to be a first millennium chapel
with tiny niche in the wall for the Blessed
Sacrament.
On sale in the house were copies of Claire Riche¹s
book 'The Lost Shrine of Liskeard' which tells the story of the
rediscovery of the shrine site in 1955, and the efforts which have
been made since then to restore it, but both those at the
pilgrimage on the 17th, and the privileged few, who prayed in
Ladye Park for the full week, feel that the years have been
rolled back and the shrine of Our Lady of the Park has now truly
been reborn.
Contributed by the author
12th SEPT 2004
Pilgrimage
After the usual Sunday 11a.m. Mass in the
Catholic parish Church of Our Lady & St Neot, Liskeard, on
12th September 2004, something rather less than usual
took place. Parishioners were able to have a double dose, for yet
another Mass was to follow on, concelebrated by Fr. Mike Gwinnel
and Fr George Roth and some indeed chose to avail themselves of
this. It was the celebration of a spiritual phenomenon the facts of
which are not yet too widely known, even in Liskeard.
Since well before the Reformation, Ladye Park is
authenticated as a centre of pilgrimage according to records
gathered by the late Dr Margaret Pollard who, by organising a
pilgrimage there in 1979, revived the practice, encouraging its
continuation on an ecumenical basis. She felt that Our Lady had
urged her in a vision in her home in Truro in 1955 to bring her
‘home’ to Liskeard again. Other than unofficial visits by the
interested, it was not until 1998 that the next pilgrimage
occurred, with the late Michael Jennings, then secretary of the
south western branch of the ESBVM very much at the helm. Since then
there has been an unbroken sequence of pilgrimages.
This year, an ever-increasing annual attendance of some
80 pilgrims from all over Cornwall and beyond, among them the Rev.
Michael Gwinnel, and the Rev George Roth and three brothers from
Lanherne Convent, and a sister or two gathered with the
faithful in the church at Liskeard for a Pilgrims’
Mass. Music before and during the Mass, on keyboard and
guitar, was led by the Cornwall Deanery Renewal Team and "New Dawn", who
chose hymns with a distinctly charismatic feel. For this was the
first "New
Dawn" Day at Liskeard. And this year (each year’s pilgrimage
brings its own particular different tone and different range of
pilgrim Christians), the tone was seriously charismatic even if not
everyone involved was necessarily accustomed to this manner of
praising the Creator.
Fr. Gwinnel pertinently reminded the congregation that
the woman referred to by Jesus in the Gospel had lit a candle when
setting off around her house in search of the lost drachma among
her ten, and yet the candles on the altar for the Mass had
accidentally remained unlit. This certainly reminded us that we
needed to light a candle since we were searching for something lost
and yet more valuable. It was Greek family tradition that it was
the lady of the house who was the one to light the candle and it
was Mary that would bring us the light of Christ. ‘Peggy’ Pollard
(Dr. Margaret) believed it was the Mother of God who had urged her
to devote much of her life’s energy to the work of bringing Her
back to her home in Liskeard. Blessed Mary had long ago supplanted
the pagan goddess, Kerrid, who seems to have held sway in Liskeard
since the town’s Cornish name appears to signify ‘Court of Kerrid’.
For the chantry of Ladye Park was founded in a Royal Deer Park and,
according to records, appears to have become the once flourishing
target of pilgrimage in mediaeval times. Unfortunately, the
pilgrimage had gradually been allowed to fall into disuse, and the
chapel and baptistery had long been ruins, until Dr Pollard, open
to Mary’s call, took up her cause. Now it was our turn in a secular
world to continue the work of making God central to our
environment, through the most pure heart of His mother,
Mary.
Those present were scarcely aware that the end of the
Mass had exceeded the expected time allocated for taking lunch.
Thus, with barely half an hour having elapsed, pilgrims were on the
move, starting down West Street to Old Liskeard Road. Once arrived
at the edge of a green valley where it was possible to overlook the
renovated farmhouse in the grounds of Ladye Park surrounded by
trees, we left the roads and started down a dark, steep, narrow
lane, well known traditionally in Liskeard as the Mass Path for it
once led to celebration of the Eucharist at Ladye Park. Some chose
to say the Rosary as they wended their hallowed way. At the base of
the valley, amid the leaves, the stonework of the House eventually
came into view, but pilgrims made their way up the lane to
Moorswater and met up with those who had not seen fit to chance
their unsteady feet along the Mass Path.
Here then at about 3pm, began a short procession of some
100 assembled pilgrims along a tranquil country lane with banners
to the grounds of Ladye Park, 500 yards or so along the lane. The
band of pilgrims began by singing Dr Margaret Pollard’s words set
to the tune of ‘Daily, Daily, Sing to Mary’:
‘Lady Mary, Blessed Mother,
Whom we hail as full of grace,
Whom our Cornish fathers honoured
In this green and peaceful place.
Pilgrims from the stony
moorlands
Through the rain and wind and dark,
Loving Mary, praising Mary
Lady Mary of the Park.’
Peggy’s own composition followed: ‘Come, O Queen, into
your garden…’ with a chorus appropriately in
Cornish.
Presently, the band of pilgrims arrived at the entrance
of Ladye Park and were greeted warmly by owners of the property, Mr
and Mrs Wilks. Under a small canopy, the two musicians from
"New Dawn"
and the Cornish Deanery Renewal Team once more led the gathered
pilgrims with their heart-felt renderings as pilgrims drank in the
peace and serenity of Ladye Park. Some wished to be immersed
in the spiritual music, and others to stroll by the lake and
woodland in a solitary state of prayer. The rain tried to fall but
became no more than intermittent spitting of drizzle. Playing it
safe, however, all but the speaker, stationed under the canopy,
repaired to the shelter of trees. These have long since replaced
the roof of the former chapel, though some vestiges remain as
features in the structure of the former farmhouse, something of the
wall believed to have stood behind the altar, and a well at the
Chapel’s once corner.
At this point, pilgrims received an inspiring talk by
charismatic speaker from "New Dawn", Miles Dempsey, who put into
perspective Mary’s role as Mother of God in the light of the Old
and New Testament, and our purpose in revering her here at Ladye
Park. The words of Christ to John and Mary standing together
beneath the Cross did not merely mean ‘Son look after your Mother’
but suggested we should all make a special place for Mary in our
hearts and homes. With our reception of the Holy Eucharist our Mass
was not over but had begun and should translate itself into our day
or week’s actions.
Myles asked if his listeners truly wanted to welcome the
Holy Spirit and kindly offered to lay hands on those who did and to
pray for them. It was an experience that filled many of those with
such peaceful relaxation in the face of the Holy Spirit that they
felt their bodies give way and they were cradled gently to the
ground by others.
After an afternoon of concentrated spirituality, Mr &
Mrs Wilks now generously encouraged their pilgrim guests to partake
of their hospitality within the former farmhouse which they have so
beautifully renovated. Everyone enjoyed the convivial atmosphere,
with a cup of tea/coffee and cake or buns, gently winding down
before making their way to homes in Cornish localities or ‘up
country’.
Philip Knight
A report by Claire Riche based on Philip's article
above with added info was published in Independent Catholic News on 17th Sept 2004 & now
appears unavailable online.
We may add a section of shrine and
pilgrimage photographs.
1. Come O Queen into your garden,
Lady like the moon in beauty,
Lady like the sun in glory,
Like an army bright with banners.
Stair by which the Lord descended,
Burning Bush revealed to Moses,
Land of Promise! Field of mercies!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(Chorus - in Cornish)
Hayl Maria ! Hayl Maria !
Koel orthyn warnas ow kria,
Agan lelder owth afia,
Hayl Maria leun a ras ! (Translation:- Hail Mary;
Hail Mary, Heed us as we call to You, Our Loyalty affirming, Hail
Mary full of grace.)
2. Come O Queen into your garden,
Bluebell - carpet spread beneath you,
Chestnut blossom arched above you,
Blackbird singing for your welcome;
Breathing out a richer perfume
Than the best of balm and balsam.
Rose of Sharon! Fragrant lily!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(chorus)
3. Mother both of Lamb and Shepherd
Lead your faithful sheep to pasture.
Lead the straying sheep to Jesus.
To the meadow of salvation;
To your Son. O Mother Mary.
To the well of living water.
Sinners Refuge! Help of Christians!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(chorus)
4. Of Fair Love she is the mother Holy hope and fear
and knowledge.
She was chosen by the Father
To bestow his grace upon us.
Morning star that brings the sunrise.
Gate of Paradise is Mary;
Clement Virgin! Queen of angels!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(chorus)
5. In the clearing of the forest Shrine and spring
to her were sacred.
Thither came a host of pilgrims
As we come today to greet her.
In the Royal Park of Mary
Safely feeds the flock of Jesus
Faithful Virgin! Wondrous Mother!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(chorus)
6. Set your foot upon the serpent. Sinless Virgin.
intercessor.
Wrap your veil about the lonely.
Clasp the sinner to your bosom.
Tell your Son the wine is failing.
Tell us how to do His bidding.
Queen of Martyrs! Tower of David!
Hear your children's song of praise.
(chorus)
7. In your hand are sweet surprises. Mercies not of
our deserving;
She whose heart was pierced with sorrow
Best can read our secret longings.
Tried and tested was your patience.
You were blest for your believing.
Mourners' Comfort! Seat of Wisdom!
Hear your children’s song of praise.
(chorus)