Lady Chapel, Osmotherley, Coast to Coast
More Articles in the Danby Wiske to Swainby subsection
The Lady Chapel, Osmotherley
Lady Chapel, Osmotherley, Coast to Coast
The Lady Chapel's full title is Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Grace. Located half a mile north of Osmotherley and 1/2 mile east of Mount Grace Priory and Arncliffe Wood, the chapel is easily found and the short walk to it from Osmotherley is made interesting by the Station crosses. The chapel is open for prayers every Saturday. On the Sunday nearest to the 15th August there is an annual pilgrimage to the Chapel, to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption.
Although its date of creation is lost to history there are records that indicate the Chapel was granted a licence in 1397. In 1515 a former Franciscan dwelt at the hermitage at the Lady Chapel which had been provided for by Catharine of Aragon. He stayed there until the dissolution of Mount Grace Priory in 1539, after which time the Chapel fell into disrepair. A Franciscan is similar to a monk in so far as they lived in accordance with a strict religious code, but unlike monks they they also ministered to the laity, preached, heard confessions and gave penances. They provided a middle ground between monks and priests, which the general populace gained from.
Lady Chapel Osmotherley
The Lady Chapel was restored in 1957 and given recognition as a national monument. A carved crucifix, donated by Lady Eldon hangs within the chapel. Lady Eldon had admired the crucifix when visiting an antique shop in Germany during the early years of Hitler's regime. It was offered to her by the Jewish proprietor if she would secure his emigration . She did so and it now hangs in the Chapel as a symbol of freedom and a memorial of the holocaust.
Statue Madonna and Child
The unimposing statute of Madonna and Child stands at the rear of the Lady Chapel. The statue dates to the 17th century and was gifted to the Chapel by Lady Eldon at the same time as she donated the Crucifix.
Penal Times
The Penal Times, mainly 16th-17th centuries, are when Protestantism replaced Roman Catholicism and Penal Laws were enacted that discriminated against Catholics. During this time many Catholics visited the Lady Chapel, and inscribed their initials and prayers into the old stone. The most common inscriptions were Calvary crosses associated with their pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Stained Glass Windows
At the rear of the Chapel there are three stained glass windows that contain the Coats of Arms of Catherine of Aragon, Lady Eldon's family and the Scrope family. The Coats of Arms are just visbile in this image, in the second row of panes up.
Well at Lady Chapel Wood
Lady Chapel Wood has an easy to follow path suitably marked by Stations of the Cross. Interesting, though, is the wayside well, almost hidden in the undergrowth. It is located between Stations 8 and 9.
Coast to Coast Trail Guide
Hiking the Coast to Coast
"Hiking the Coast to Coast" is a digitally enhanced eBook available from Apple Books for all people who have either a Mac, an iPhone or an iPad, and is designed to accompany you on your walk of the Coast to Coast path. The trail guide contains Ordnance Survey maps and other advanced mapping features, step by step directions, hundreds of colour photographs, details of the route, its conditions in different weather and research snippets relating to places of interest along the way.
