Return to 'Organisations' page
The Cell of Our Lady and St Joseph, Linslade, was formed in 1982 with ten members by one of our former incumbents - initially a pilgrimage to Walsingham was the spur to forming a Cell. Since then we have gone from strength to strength with a current membership of 24 members. Most of our members live locally, but there are several that live distances - North Yorkshire, Hampshire, Milton Keynes, Biggleswade, and New Zealand. We induct members either at St Barnabas or at Walsingham whilst on pilgrimage.
Our pilgrimage usually takes place in the autumn .Once a month our Walsingham Mass is celebrated with Walsingham as its intention, This is usually on the fourth Wednesday of the month and it is at St Barnabas at 8 p.m.
Every second Sunday of the month (except August), Benediction is sung after Evensong at 7.OO p.m.
We also meet several times a year, as well as going on Pilgrimage; we have dinner meetings, usually at the Hunt Hotel.
We arrange Jumble Sales, and the proceeds go to a number of good causes, one year we sent it to Fr Peter Walters " Let the Children Live" fund (for Colombian Street Children) another year we gave a contribution to the Church organ fund. It also assists members to go to Walsingham if funds are difficult. We have coach trips - Glastonbury and Wells Cathedral was a popular one.
We maintain a candle at Walsingham and this is renewed each year. Actually there are two - one for the Cell and one for St Barnabas Church.
Our treasurer collects the subscriptions yearly (which is currently £5 per annum) and oversees the pilgrimage finances, and a secretary who sends a yearly report to Walsingham and also maintains an up to date list of members, and deals with other correspondence as it arises. Another member oversees the accommodation booking when we go on pilgrimage. Apart from this our Cell is not run on a formal basis.
As part of our membership to the Cell we recite the Angelus twice a day at home, at work, or wherever, at 8.30 am and 6.00 p.m. remembering each other and Walsingham in our prayers, bringing us closer with this devotion, a most import part of our Cell life.
The Superior of the Cell is Fr Peter Lymbery. Our treasurer is Mrs Sally Brandham, and the secretary is Mrs Maureen Gadsby from which further information can be obtained at maureengadsby@hotmail.com
From April 25th our Walsingham Mass has been celebrated on the last Tuesday of the month at 9.30 am, except in August. We celebrated the first quarter of the year on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.
Benediction has been celebrated all months except May, August, October and December.
The Assumption of Our Lady was celebrated at St Mary’s, Old Linslade, with Taizé chants and a simple Mass. It was lovely and in our beautiful 12th century church, a perfect setting.
Our pilgrimage was in October and Fr Peter Lymbery led the pilgrimage. A flower festival was held at the parish Church of St Mary’s at Walsingham on the weekend that our pilgrimage took place, and it was stunning. The following weekend there was celebrations at the Shrine for the 75th anniversary of the Shrine’s restoration. A memorable occasion.
A good year. Members of the Cell still number 22.
Maureen Gadsby