As part of the governance of the Shrine the Guardians appoint a Visitor, a bishop who along with the Bishop of Norwich, exercises pastoral care for the whole community, ensuring that they are remaining faithful to their core purpose. The Visitor stands outside our institutional life and acts as a ‘critical friend’, bringing with them a level of expertise and objectivity that strikes a balance between encouragement and challenge. A key part of their role is leading a ‘visitation’, a periodic comprehensive review of the Shrine’s life.

We are delighted that the Bishop of Lincoln, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway has accepted the invitation of the Master and Guardians of the Shrine to serve us in this role.

The Master of the Guardians Fr Philip Barnes said, “Walsingham witnesses to the joy that is at the heart of the Christian life, and in Bishop Stephen we have a Visitor who brings so many gifts that will help us fulfil that vocation. The sacramental life of the Shrine is served by the Bishops of the Society, and Bishop Stephen will bring into our conversations the wealth of his experience both as a Diocesan Bishop and as a Visitor in a number of educational settings. The Guardians look forward to working with him in the years ahead, not least as we bring Our Lady’s song to the wider Church and nation.”

Bishop Stephen said, “I am both humbled and thrilled by the invitation of the Master and Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham to become the Bishop Visitor of England’s Nazareth. It is a significant step for the College of Guardians to have chosen a bishop who has been a priest associate for a long time and who loves the Shrine, but who is not a bishop of the Society. We shall seek to model together the fullest degree of communion in a time of real difference, as pilgrims under the mantle of our Mother Mary.”