Famous Slipper Chapel Dedicated

900 Years Old Walsingham Comes Into Its Own
From Our Own Correspondent WALSINGHAM, Thursday.
A ceremonial, older by centuries than 900 years old Walsingham, whose Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham was founded in 1051, was enacted here today on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, when the Bishop of Northampton (Bishop Youens) consecrated the 6o0 years old Slipper Chapel, home of today's successor of that Catholic Shrine. Successor, because 400 years ago this very summer, Henry VIII, a former pilgrim, caused the original Shrine to be destroyed; doubtless, he thought, for all time.
But today's ceremonies have crowned the lie to his vain imaginings and sealed in small part at least the
promised invincibility of the Catholic Church.
Experts doubt that the Slipper Chapel was ever consecrated, but even if it were, today's four hours' long ceremonies would have been very necessary, in view of the building's desecration since the Reformation. Then, too, today's ceremonies included the new Chapel of the Holy Ghost, and other extensions just completed.
Bishop's Assistants
To consecrate the altar of the Holy Ghost Chapel, Mgr. Youens had the help of Mgr.
Myers, Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Westminster. Dom G. -Brunel Hicks, O.S.B., Abbot of Downside, was another of the distinguished prelates who, with several score of clergy and a dozen students from the Southwark Diocesan Seminary at Wonersh, led by their rector, Mgr. P. E. Hallett, also took part.
Not within living memory has Walsingham housed so many Catholic priests. The village seemed alive with them; they appeared to outnumber the local inhabitants and were many times in excess of the tiny Catholic population whose Chapel of St. Aelred's in the Capuchin Friary, Greyfriars, reinforced by six temporary altars, they used for their private Masses this morning.
Last night, after Mgr, Youens had sealed the Relics, many of the clergy gathered in Coe Chapel of the Relics to say Matins and Lauds, as laid down by the centuries-old rite.
While Mgr. Youens performed the Consecration ceremonies in the Slipper Chapel this morning, Bishop Myers proceeded with the consecration of the Holy Ghost Chapel altar.
For Those Who Were Outside From a scat high up outside a window, Fr. Gilbert Tigar, O.P. (Leicester), broadcast a commentary to those in the stand, to whom the Slipper Chapel ceremonies were also relayed.
Although the congregation saw little more than the arrival and departure of the dignitaries, the three-fold sprinkling of the outer walls by Bishop Youens, and the procession of the Relics, they were never allowed to be out of touch with what was being said or done.
Dom Gregory Murray, O.S.B., and Dom Bruno Grogan, O.S.B., of Downside, with Fr. M. Compson, of Wonersh, were the cantors. Wonersh students formed the choir and supplied many of the servers, others coming from Bury St. Edmund's and London.
Of great interest, and known to he in use 1,200 years ago, was the ceremony in which the consecrating prelate traced the letters of the Greek and Latin alphabets in ashes placed crosswise from corner to corner of the chapel, symbolising, it is said, the teaching of the catechumens in the elements of faith and piety, the crossing of the two lines denoting the Cross as a central part of Christian doctrine.
A colourful scene was the procession of the Relics of St. Felix, Apostle of Fast Anglia, and of St, Constantius, which Bishop Youens had sealed the previous evening for incorporation in the altars by the two Bishops this morning. The red chasubles of the Relic bearers, Mgr. Canon I. M. Marshall (Cambridge), Canon H. St. Leger Mason (Southwold), and Frs. Gilbert, O.S.F.C., and D. Heptonstall (Hunstanton), carrying the decorated bier shoulder high, and followed by Bishop Youens in cope and mitre, contrasted sharply with the black habit of the Abbot of Downside who preceded them.
At the High Mass which concluded the ceremonies, Mgr. C. L. Duchemin (Beda College, Rome) was celebrant, Fr. C. L. Russell (Sudbury, Middlesex) deacon, and Fr. F. Devas, S.J. (Farm Street) sub-deacon. At the close of the Mass, Bishop Youens imparted his solemn benediction together with the customary indulgences.
Luncheon In proposing the health of Bishop Youens at the luncheon which he gave to over 70 clergy, and at which the Bishop presided, Fs. B. Scott James said that Walsingham
today was as the heavenly Jerusalem, set upon a hill, drawing men from all quarters, not only of England but even from the far parts of Europe.
The Bishop, be said, had been the human instrument of this miraculous happening. He had had the vision to start it and the courage to sustain it. There were in that room, he thought, clergy from almost every diocese in England.
Mgr. Youens, in responding, said that he wished to thank the. Abbot of Downside and his community for the generous way in which they had handed the Slipper Chapel to the diocese, a gift that had made possible the bringing back of devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham at Walsingham itself.
Turning to Mgr. Myers on his right, the Bishop said that he was sure that the company would wish him to congratulate the Bishop on his birthday today. Bishop Myers had always shown the greatest devotion to Our Lady of Walsingham, and had shown it in a practical way through many acts of help.
Thanking Fr. B. S. James for all he had done at Walsingham in the three and a half years he had been there, the Bishop said that he had never thought the day would come when he would be able to crown the Slipper Chapel, and all the work done there during the past four years, with the episcopal consecration.
Announcing that he had caused Great and Little Walsingham and Houghton-inthe-Dale to become an episcopal parish, the Bishop said that he had appointed Fr. B. S. James as that parish's first administrator.
The Bishop concluded by saying that he felt very cheered and hopeful as to the future, for the great Shrine at Walsingham was going to make a great difference to the whole diocese.
Miss Boyd's Gift
The Abbot of Downside (Dom G. Bruno Hicks, O.S.B.) thanked the Bishop for his kindly words. He said, " As you know, this Chapel was given by Miss Charlotte