Many people who either live or work in or near Walsingham, or who worship at or visit the Marian shrines there, would not recognise the Walsingham that Peter Stanford describes in his article (The Tablet, 23 August). Yes, this small, unspoilt village is rather quiet in the winter months (“its slumbers”!) but the long and popular pilgrimage season creates an active and sociable centre with a spiritual focus for a great number and variety of pilgrims and visitors. Moreover, both shrines employ many local people who work very hard throughout the year.
However, as Peter Stanford suggests, a greater vision for unity could be promoted in order to move on from the same things that are done together almost, some might say, in the spirit of bonhomie rather than the real challenges of ecumenism. The Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions are all rooted in the Catholic faith. The differences and other issues between and inside the churches require more urgent dialogue and therefore the possibility of change. Walsingham could indeed be used as an ideal base for fruitful, in-depth theological debate and spiritual reflection within the framework of, say, ecumenical study days, conferences and retreats. It is worth noting that Pope Francis, among others, has expressed the point that what is sought in unity is not necessarily uniformity (e.g. Evangelii Gaudium, 117 and 131).
The Christian church has come a long way in healing its divisions and England’s Nazareth is a long way from the problems and suffering in the Middle East, where there really is a crisis.
Jane Luker, Fakenham
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