A Fraternity was founded in 1343 for the purpose of singing the hymn Salve Regina – a practice that was repeated in a number of other churches of medieval London. Records of neighbouring churches show that they too observe this practice with entries in several wills leaving money and property for the purpose.
Here at St. Magnus the image took the form of the Salutation of the Virgin by the Archangel Gabriel. Subscriptions of the members were devoted towards the five candles that were burnt before the statue during the singing of the hymn.
Further allotments of money were used to provide altar cloths, plate and other accessories for the maintenance of the chapel. The architect of Westminster Hall, Henry Yevele, left in his will money to maintain a lamp that was to burn perpetually in front of the statue. Yevele, who died in 1400, was buried in the nearby chapel. At the time of the Reformation in the 16th century the Fraternity was dissolved, and not reformed again until 1922.
The hymn with petitioning prayers is said or sung after the Eucharist throughout the year. The Fraternity’s badge is shown in the stained glass window at the East end of the North wall of the church above the reredos of the Lady Chapel altar.
Welcome to four new members – John in Southend, Father Richard and Eileen in London and Laurie in NSW Australia.
Five wax candles were burnt in honour of the Five Joys of Mary:
1 The Annunciation St. Luke i, 26-38
2 The Visitation St. Luke i, 39-56
3 The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ St. Luke ii, 1-19
4 The Presentation in the Temple St. Luke ii, 22- 39
5 The Finding in the Temple St. Luke ii, 41-51 As recited in the Rosary.
“Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculosad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria”.
“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary”.]
Mysteries of Light of the Rosary may be used on the 31st day of the month.
The pattern suggested is –
January – Christ’s baptism in the Jordan (Mark 1: 9-11).
March – Christ’s self revelation at the marriage at Cana (John2: 1-11).
May – Christ’s proclamation of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14 & 15).
July – Christ’s transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8).
August – Christ’s institution of the Eucharist (Luke 22:14-23).
October – as January.
December – as March.
No doubt many of you when at Walsingham have walked the outdoor Stations of the Cross. Moving from the first and second stations in the garden to the ‘south’ of the Shrine Church the route takes you through the church and into an alleyway between the church and the Pilgrim Hall. Paying attention to where you were walking and to the hymns and prayers you may not have noticed the image of Our Lady and Child up on the end wall of the Pilgrim Hall.
Early in 2018 Father Philip was in Walsingham and noticed that the image was in need of some TLC and mentioned it to Father Kevin, the Admininstrator who said that there were plans for the restoration of the Hall, including the image.
Beneath the image is a plaque commemorating Gerald Collins, one time Churchwarden of St.Magnus and Warden of the Fraternity and his brother Donald. (This was probably during the incumbancy of Father Colin Gill). Father Philip drew the attention of the Fraternity Court to this connection between the Shrine and St.Magnus and it was agreed to make a financial contribution to the refurbishment of the image. Contributions from the parish of St.Magnus and a number of individuals was added to this and the total sum needed was raised.
As you can imagine, Father Kevin was most grateful for this help.
The translation is provided in “A survey of the Cities of London and Westminster” by John Strype (1754), in which he states of St Magnus “In this Church (as most other Churches had theirs) was a famous Guild of our Lady de Salve Regina. An Account whereof was brought in to the King upon an Act of Parliament in King Edward III’s Reign, when some special Cognizance was taken of these Guilds or Fraternities throughout England. And that we may see a little the manner and intent of these Devotions, I shall shew, what this Guild was from the Certificate thereof offered by this Fraternity: As I found it in the Tower Records…”
La Fraternite de nôtre Dame de Salve Regina & de Seint Thomas en Eglise de Seint Magne sur le Pount de Loundres, donct les Mestres sount a present John. Sandherst, Walter atte Well, Gilbert Sporiere & Estephen Bartelot.
in Paroch. Sti Magni.
Oystre Gate
Oystre Hill, ex opposito Ecclesiæ Sti Magni,
Fysh Wharfe apud le hole.
(Source: https://www.dhi.ac.uk/strype/TransformServlet?page=book2_175)
Why join?
Membership Benefits include:
Membership of an ancient Fraternity at the heart of the City of London originally founded in the year 1343 in the reign of Edward III
A share in the Fraternity’s spiritual privileges: Members are prayed for daily in St Magnus and in private devotions and the Fraternity’s lamp burns outside the Holy House in Walsingham
The right to wear the Collar of the Fraternity at all Fraternity services and on other occasions as prescribed by the Master or Warden
Annual hard-copy Fraternity Year Book
Regular email newsletters from the Warden of the Fraternity
Priority booking for the Parish/Fraternity Annual Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Participation and precedence in the procession of the Image of Our Lady at the St Magnus May Devotions and in the procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday
Fraternity focused key events, including the Annual Festival, a service for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Annual Requiem Mass
If you would like to become a member of the Fraternity, please either download a copy of the application form and return it to the Warden of the Fraternity, c/o St Magnus the Martyr Church, Lower Thames Street, London, EC3R 6DN.
Further enquiries regarding applications may be made by contacting the Warden, Craig Harris-Fryers, by filling out the form below:
A Fraternity was founded in 1343 for the purpose of singing the hymn Salve Regina – a practice that was repeated in a number of other churches of medieval London.
