‘The main celebrant will be the Rt Rev. Patrick McKinney, Bishop of Nottingham.
Mgr John Armitage, Master of the ‘Guild of Our Lady of Ransom’ will be preaching.
Gather at Grindleford Railway Station for the Rosary Procession at 3.00 pm, followed by Mass at 3.30 pm.’
The ‘Guild of Our Lady of Ransom’ (founded 1887) is integral to the history of Padley Martyrs’ Chapel. They were inspired by ‘The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy’, the Mercedians, who ransomed some 70,000 Christians, imprisoned as a result of war and slavery. They now work to support the ‘marginalised’ in our world’s society.
The Guild led the first post reformation pilgrimage to Walsingham August 20th 1897, on St Bernard of Clairvaux’s day, to honour his Marian devotion. A plaque inside the Chapel records the Guild’s involvement in Padley’s history.
Canon Oswald Dolan of St Maries Sheffield, invited the Guild, to lead the first ‘official’ Padley Pilgrimage 19th July 1898. Current research is exploring the role played by the clergy and parishioners of ‘St Michael the Archangel’ Hathersage, in laying in the foundations for this significant inaugural Pilgrimage.
It is a blessing that mass will be celebrated on the same day and time for the ‘Padley Martyrs’ 1588 (Grindleford) and Blessed Nicholas Postgate ‘Martyr of the Moors’ 1679 (Ugthorpe).
The Mass will be celebrated in Padley’s courtyard, so please plan to cope with our summer’s variable weather. Padley Chapel is open Sundays (2.00 – 4.00 pm) until October 4th 2026. If you would like to explore alternative visit times, join the Welcomers, or would like a copy of ‘A Pilgrim’s guide to Padley’ please contact: [email protected]. Gerard Bonner
