The Shrine Church of Saint Walburge, Preston: a new chapter in an illustrious local history
The Right Rev. Michael Campbell, OSA, Bishop of Lancaster
with Canons Cristofoli and Poucin de Wouilt in the Presbytery of Saint Walburge.
Saint Walburge, born around a.d. 710 was the daughter of Saint Richard, king of Wessex, and niece of the great missionary martyr Saint Boniface. Educated at the monastery of Wimbourne, she became a nun and went to aid in the conversion of Germany beginning in 748. Saint Walburge became abbess of the dual monastery at Heidenheim, Germany, where she died in 779. Amongst other patronages, she is particularly invoked against storms, rabies and hydrophobia. Her relics are kept at Eichstätt, and miraculous cures are attributed to oil exuding from the rock on which they were placed.
Built by the great Catholic architect J.A. Hansom for the Jesuits from 1850 to 1854, the Church of Saint Walburge in Preston is a fine example of the Gothic revival style and features a daring and magnificent hammerbeam roof. The polygonal apse was added in 1873 by S.J. Nicholls. The 309-foot spire, dominating the Preston skyline, is the third tallest in the country.
Although the church will no longer serve as a parish church in the strict sense, His Lordship the Bishop of Lancaster has ensured its future by designating it is a “shrine”. The pastoral care of the Shrine has been entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, a Catholic missionary society founded in 1990. Speaking of this new initiative, Bishop Campbell says, “The generous and courageous response of the Institute to my invitation to come to St Walburge’s not only ensures the future of the church but I’m confident that – over time – the Institute will breathe new life into St Walburge’s and indeed for the local Catholic community.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Shrine?
According to Church law, a shrine is “a church or other sacred place which, with the approval of the local Ordinary [bishop], is frequented by the faithful as pilgrims by reason of a special devotion”. That is why “certain privileges may be granted to shrines when the local circumstances, the number of pilgrims and especially the good of the faithful would seem to make this advisable”. A shrine therefore is a church entrusted by the local bishop with a special purpose, as opposed to a parish church, which exists to serve Catholics who live in a particular territory.
The shrine church here in Preston exists especially as a centre of Eucharistic Adoration within the diocese of Lancaster, as well as serving as a home for those who wish to discover the traditional Latin liturgy (sometimes called the ‘Extraordinary Form’).
A shrine, unlike a parish, does not have geographical boundaries. Geographically, the Shrine of St. Walburge lies within the territory of the Sacred Heart Parish, but the shrine exists to serve all interested persons wherever they may live. The pastoral care of the Shrine has been entrusted to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest.
Who can come to the Shrine?
Everyone is more than welcome at the Shrine. There are no special requirements to be a member of the community – and no need to have any previous knowledge of Latin! The Shrine is fully a part of the diocese of Lancaster, like any other church. The church is open daily from 7:30am to 7:30pm for visits and personal prayer. Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration are held in church every day; confessions are available every day before Mass, or at other times upon request. Guided tours are given on Saturdays.
What about my parish affiliation?
Depending on the town or the neighbourhood where you live, you automatically belong to a particular territorial parish. In former times Church law was fairly strict about the obligation to remain in one’s local parish in order to receive the sacraments and to fulfil one’s Sunday obligation. Nowadays, in view of the increased mobility of modern times and in order to respect the liberty of the faithful, the Church has loosened these rules. All Catholics are free to attend Mass in any Catholic church they choose. It is even possible to become a regular member of a church or shrine that exists for a special reason other than geography (to cater to the needs of a given nationality, for the use of a certain liturgical rite, etc.), regardless of where one lives.
Can I receive the sacraments at the Shrine?
Yes, of course! Everyone is welcome to attend Mass (on Sundays or any other day) and to go to confession at the Shrine, just as at any other Catholic church. If you wish to receive one of the other sacramental rites usually administered only in a parish – baptism, confirmation, marriage, etc. – it is normally necessary to become a regular congregation member of the shrine, which was established to provide the liturgy and sacraments in their traditional form. On the other hand, if you do not generally come to the shrine but still wish to be confirmed, married, etc., at the Shrine for personal reasons, this is sometimes possible but you will first need to obtain the permission of your local parish priest.
What happens at a traditional Latin Mass?
The same thing that happens at every Mass: Jesus Christ offers to his heavenly Father the perfect sacrifice of his Body and Blood under the outward appearance of bread and wine, through the ministry of the priest. Whatever rite or language are used, it is the same sacrament and the same sacrifice being offered. Our participation in the Latin Mass is based above all on our prayerful, interior participation. Books containing all the texts in Latin with an English translation are available at the back of the church; please feel free to use them. The little bit of extra effort needed to follow along helps us to pay closer attention to the various parts of the holy sacrifice that is being celebrated. The priest celebrates Mass facing the altar – together with the people, in the same direction – as the leader conducting his flock towards Christ.
The overall structure of the ceremony is the same that you are already accustomed to: the first part of the Mass contains prayers of preparation and readings, then the sermon; the second part contains the Offertory (offering of the bread and wine to be consecrated), then the Consecration itself (we look up to adore Christ at the elevation of the host and chalice), then the communion rite and final blessing. If you have further questions about the meaning of the various aspects of the liturgy please do not hesitate to ask the shrine clergy, who will be happy to explain!
Why is the Mass celebrated in Latin?
The Mass is offered in Latin, the Church’s sacred language. The Latin tongue not only unites Catholics of all races, languages and backgrounds, but it also unites us across time with our distant ancestors in the faith going back two thousand years to the time when St Peter, the first pope, planted the seat of the universal Church in Rome. The beauty of the music and ceremonies is intended to lift our minds and hearts to God and to express his unspeakable majesty. The use of a special liturgical language like Latin reminds us that – although the Mass is offered for the people – it is above all an act of adoration offered to God alone, even if we do not perfectly understand every word. At the back of church you will find booklets containing English translations of the texts of the Mass for you to follow. The major parts of the Mass (called the ‘Ordinary’ of the Mass) remain the same from day to day: after attending the Mass a few times, it is easy to get used to the sense and meaning of these prayers. The ‘Proper’ of the Mass consists of the parts that change from day to day. Translations of the Propers of the Mass for each Sunday or feast are contained on a separate sheet at the back of church.
What about receiving holy communion?
As Catholics, we firmly believe that Jesus Christ is really present in the Eucharist – with his Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – under the outward appearances of bread and wine. That is why we need to be properly prepared to receive this sacrament: it is necessary to be a baptised, practicing Catholic; to be in the state of grace (i.e., no mortal sin on our conscience since our last confession); and to be fasting for at least an hour before communion. Out of respect for the sacred Body of Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, holy communion is received kneeling (unless prevented by age or infirmity) and directly on the tongue. Since outward signs help to reflect our internal beliefs, receiving communion kneeling and on the tongue helps to reinforce our belief that the sacred host is not merely common food, but rather the living Body of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
What are indulgences?
Here is the answer from the Catechism (Comendium n°312):
“Indulgences are the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. The faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains the indulgence under prescribed conditions for either himself or the departed. Indulgences are granted through the ministry of the Church which, as the dispenser of the grace of redemption, distributes the treasury of the merits of Christ and the Saints.”
What is the Institute of Christ the King?
The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest is a Society of Apostolic Life with headquarters and an international seminary in the archdiocese of Florence, Italy, and priests working in numerous dioceses on three continents. The Institute, was founded under John Paul II in 1990. In 2008 the Church granted the Institute the status of a ‘society of pontifical rite’, directly dependent on the Holy See. The Institute is a missionary society devoted to promoting the reign of Christ the King in every aspect of human life. In addition to the canons of the Institute and the seminarians in formation, the Institute also includes brothers (called ‘oblates’), who offer their talents to God without going on to the priesthood, and a branch of contemplative sisters called the Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus. In keeping with its charism of fostering the union of faith and culture and promoting sacred art for the glory of God, the Institute have restored or built several churches in the United States, Europe and Africa.