Pilgrim Shrine of St. Jude Faversham Kent
Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has Religious Shrine
Oct 11, 2009
The Shrine of St. Jude is in the annexe of the Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Faversham itself is full of historic pleasures, and the Shrine of St. Jude is a peaceful, serene place full of artistic and spiritual aids to contemplation.
Carmelite Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Faversham
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which houses the Shrine, has a fascinating history. The site started out as a Quaker school in 1861. The pillars on the exterior of the building still have the grooves where Quaker children would sharpen their slate pencils. In 1920, the church became a cinema — the Empire Picture Hall — until 1937, when it was purchased from East Kent Cinemas by the Carmelites.
The church interior, although small, is strikingly beautiful. The High Altar was designed by an artist of the Rochester School of Art and includes exceptional mural panels executed by the distinguished artist, Edward Ardizzone, a well-known as a children’s writer and illustrator, famous for his series of Tim books.
History of The Shrine of St Jude Faversham
The Shrine of St. Jude at Faversham came about through public demand. The Carmelite Press, founded in 1938, was constantly receiving requests for pictures of St. Jude. With the Second World War, the demand became higher, as St. Jude is the Patron Saint of Hopeless Causes. Many who had lost loved ones or who were experiencing other wartime hardships were desperate for spiritual help.
The Carmelite Press had no such pictures; St. Jude was known as the "forgotten apostle." A picture was hastily produced and was sent out to people during the year with the usual Novenas. The result was a tidal wave of requests for masses to be said to St. Jude, including donations to his shrine – a shrine that was non-existent! So, at the end of the war, plans were developed. The Shrine of St Jude was constructed and the site was dedicated on October 28, 1955.
Artistic and Spiritual Artefacts at Shrine of St Jude Faversham
Despite being a small space, the Shrine of St Jude has many artistic and spiritual artifacts to explore and admire. Among them are:
- Stained Glass by Richard King - There are superb examples of stained glass by Richard King, both along the corridor leading to the shrine, at the Outer Shrine area and within the shrine itself.
- Ceramics by Adam Kossowski - The beautiful ceramics at the Shrine of St. Jude have been created by Adam Kossowski (1905 - 1986). He was a Polish refugee, who came to Britain in 1942 after experiencing the horrors of the Russian labour camps. The quality of his work soon ensured he would become a member of the Guild of Catholic Artists and Craftsmen. His work can also be seen at Aylsford Priory in Kent.
- Statue of St. Jude - The Shrine has a fine statue of St. Jude which, like everything at this Carmelite site, has an intriguing history. The statue is a 16th century Spanish piece that was found in a London antiques shop during the war by a man known only as "Mr. Murphy," who wished to donate it to the church. The statue is dedicated to the memory of Mr. and Mrs. Murphy’s two sons, Mathew and Michael, who died in action during the Second World War.
- Reliquery of St. Jude - A copy of a 15th century reliquery said to hold a bone splinter from St. Jude.
Related Reading
- Aylesford Priory, Kent - This article is about a beautiful monastic retreat perfect for a day out or longer stay.
- The Monastery of Lluc Majorca - Learn about a a hidden retreat in the Majorcan mountains.
- Was Oscar Wilde a Catholic? - Wilde flirted with Catholicism all his life, but was he already a Catholic when he died?
Sources:
Official Site of Shrine to St. Jude Faversham.
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