The Shrine of our Lady of Glastonbury

Introduction

The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Glastonbury is the Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady, where she is venerated as the Mother of God. The church is situated on Magdalene Street, directly across from the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey.

History

In 1539, the Abbey and Shrine were stripped of their treasures, and the last Abbot, Richard Whiting, was executed on Glastonbury Tor with his companions John Thorne and Roger James. The Shrine was re-established in 1926, the present Church of St Mary opened in 1940, and the shrine was canonically restored in 1955.

On Sunday 21st September 2025, the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury marked the 16th Anniversary of the perpetual twinning of Glastonbury with the holy island of Patmos. The Sacred Heart Chapel is used for individual healing prayer. The Lady Chapel has an altar and Karoussos Icons.

Parish life

The current Saint Mary's Choir was formed in the 1980s by the late Irene Ashe, who gathered a group of singers for Sunday Mass. The parish provides instruction for pre-First Communion children, supports young adults preparing for Confirmation, and provides adult catechesis.

Regular events

An annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine takes place each year. The Feast Day of Our Lady of Glastonbury is celebrated on 8th September, coinciding with the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On the feast day, many pilgrims would visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Glastonbury, and a fair was held in the town.

Every year on 15th November, the church remembers Blessed Richard Whiting and his companions John Thorne and Roger James, executed on Glastonbury Tor in 1539. The choir has an annual break throughout August.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Parents seeking baptism for their child contact St Mary's, and the Parish Priest meets with them beforehand to explain the sacrament and familiarize them with the rite. Each year the parish runs a course of instruction for those who wish to learn more about Jesus Christ and the Church He founded, including those interested in becoming Catholic.

Visiting

Around 1,000 pilgrims gathered for the Glastonbury Pilgrimage 2026 at Glastonbury Abbey. The day began with the Rosary in a packed Shrine Church, and the statue of Our Lady of Glastonbury was carried into the Abbey grounds for veneration. The Shrine’s Healing Team welcomed visitors in the tented Chapel of Healing during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims visited the Shrine Repository during the pilgrimage.

Home visits can be arranged if there is a difficulty in attending the Church. Prayer requests via the Shrine Petition Prayers can be written and prayed for at Healing Masses or during separate prayer sessions.