Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham

What Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham does

Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham is the Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of England, located in the village of Walsingham, Norfolk. The site operates as a pilgrimage destination with origins dating to 1061; the modern shrine was rebuilt in 1934 and the organization is operated by The Walsingham Trust, a registered charity. It serves English Catholic dioceses, resident religious orders, and diaspora Catholic communities — most notably Tamil and Syro-Malabar pilgrims — providing liturgical services, pilgrimages, retreats, and devotional programs.

The shrine's core offerings include accommodation, a tea room, a retail/bookshop, mass intentions, and a digital layer comprising livestreamed services via YouTube API and an online shop. Resident religious orders have expanded materially, with the Augustinian Friars from Nigeria arriving in September 2024 and the Sisters of the Adoration arriving in June 2025 and relocating to Dowry House in December 2025. The shrine's website is built on standard web infrastructure with no disclosed proprietary technology stack beyond basic analytics.

The business model is a non-profit charity model: revenue is generated through donations, accommodation, retail, hospitality, mass stipends, and event/program fees (including pilgrimage charges). Self-reported headcount is 1–10 employees, though resident religious orders provide substantial in-kind pastoral and operational capacity. The 2024 Vatican elevation of the patron feast to a National Feast, combined with rising diaspora pilgrim volumes (9,000+ Tamil and 5,500 Syro-Malabar pilgrims recorded in 2026), indicates a growing religious and institutional footprint on the existing single physical site.

Name

Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham

Legal name

The Walsingham Trust

Website

https://walsingham.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham is the Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of England, located in Walsingham, Norfolk, and operated by The Walsingham Trust. It serves pilgrims, English Catholic dioceses, and diaspora Catholic communities through liturgical services, pilgrimages, accommodation, retail, and livestreamed devotions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Pilgrimage and Shrine Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Religious Landmarks & Pilgrimage Sites (Temples, Churches, Shrines) (THAJACAG)

Keywords

• Catholic pilgrimage site
• Marian shrine services
• Religious pilgrimage destination
• Livestream worship services
• Pilgrim accommodation hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Walsingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Offerings: One-off and regular donations from pilgrims and supporters, including standing orders, text giving, cheque, and online donation forms. The shrine is a self-funded charity relying on the generosity of the faithful.
2. Retail Sales: Sales of gifts, devotional items, and books through the Slipper Chapel Shop and online store.
3. Accommodation: Revenue from pilgrim accommodation including Elmham House Pilgrim Hotel.
4. Tea Room: Revenue from the Shrine Tea Room serving pilgrims and visitors.
5. Mass Intentions: Fees received for requested Mass intentions and prayer requests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Shrine operates a Catholic National Marian pilgrimage destination providing daily Mass, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, Novena, Benediction, and Stations of the Cross. It supports pilgrims with on-site accommodation (Elmham House), catering (Shrine Tea Room), a retail devotional shop (Slipper Chapel Shop), free global livestream services, and donation, petition, candle, and Mass-intention programmes.

Product overview

The Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady at Walsingham operates as a pilgrimage destination offering a unified set of spiritual services centered on Marian devotion and Catholic worship. The core offering comprises pilgrimage services including daily Mass, confessions, adoration, and prayer programmes. Supporting services include accommodation at Elmham House Pilgrim Hotel, on-site dining at the Shrine Tea Room, and retail at the Slipper Chapel Shop. The shrine also provides digital engagement through free livestream services and donation mechanisms including one-off donations, regular offerings, memorial book entries, petition services, candle lighting requests, and Mass intention bookings. The Liturgical Fund supports ongoing development of worship facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shrine Pilgrimage: Annual pilgrimages and spiritual activities including Mass, confessions, adoration, rosary, and devotional services
• Walsingham Trust
• Walsingham Association
• Elmham House Pilgrim Hotel
• Slipper Chapel Gift Shop
• Shrine Tea Room

Products and services

• Pilgrimage Services Comprehensive pilgrimage programme of daily Mass, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary prayer, Stations of the Cross, Benediction, and Novena services available to visiting pilgrims at the Catholic National Shrine.
• Livestream Worship Services Free livestream and on-demand video of daily devotions, novenas, and Masses, allowing remote participation by worshippers worldwide via the website and YouTube channel.
• Elmham House Pilgrim Hotel Accommodation Residential pilgrim accommodation at Elmham House Pilgrim Hotel, available for overnight stays during pilgrimage visits and managed through the Pilgrim Bureau.
• Slipper Chapel Shop Retail gift shop located at the Slipper Chapel, selling religious items, devotional goods, souvenirs, books, and pilgrimage essentials, also accessible online at shop.walsingham.org.uk and slipperchapelshop.com.
• Shrine Tea Room On-site tea room serving refreshments and light meals to pilgrims and visitors during their visit to the Shrine, operated on-site in Walsingham.
• Donations and Offerings Charitable donation programme offering one-off donations, regular standing order offerings, text-to-donate (text MARY to 70470), Gift Aid declarations, and legacy gifts to fund the self-supported shrine.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed SacramentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2025Four Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (a congregation of pontifical right founded in Kerala, India in 1908 by Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry) arrived in June 2025 to serve at the shrine. They moved into Dowry House in Little Walsingham in December 2025. They provide Eucharistic ministry and are a vital part of the life and mission of the shrine under the Superior General Mother Rosily Ozhukayil.
• Augustinian Friars (Province of Nigeria)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Three Augustinian Friars from the Province of Nigeria (Fr Sunday Ikpe OSA as Prior, Fr Charles Chimaobi OSA, and Fr Eric Taru OSA) arrived in September 2024 to serve at the shrine. Their residence is dedicated as 'The Augustinian Priory to the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.' This marks the restoration of Augustinian service at the shrine, following the tradition of Augustinian Canons who served the original shrine from 1153 until its destruction in 1538. They minister under the supervision of the Rector.
• Diocese of East AngliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe shrine works closely with the Diocese of East Anglia in all safeguarding matters. Bishop Peter Collins serves as Chairman of the Walsingham Trust Trustees and Bishop of East Anglia. The shrine is located within the diocese.
• Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA)supportingOthersThe shrine adheres to the safeguarding policies and procedures provided by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency and as promoted in the Diocese of East Anglia.
• EWTN.co.uksupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEWTN.co.uk (Eternal Word Television Network) is listed as a media partner providing coverage of shrine news and events to the Catholic community.
• Radio Maria EnglandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio Maria England is listed as a media partner providing coverage of shrine news and events to the Catholic community.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mexico's national Catholic Marian shrine, one of the most visited Catholic sites in the world. Comparable as a major Catholic Marian pilgrimage destination with associated accommodation, retail, and devotional services.
• Holy House of Loreto: Italian Catholic Marian sanctuary housing the Holy House of Nazareth. Highly comparable to Walsingham (which itself was founded in 1061 as a replica of the Holy House of Nazareth) — same Marian typology, same heritage-pilgrimage framing.
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima: Major Catholic Marian apparition shrine in Portugal operated by the Catholic Church. Comparable as a destination Marian pilgrimage site offering Mass, Confession, Adoration, accommodation, retail, and large annual pilgrimage events.
• Pompeii Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary: Italian Catholic Marian shrine at Pompei with sanctuary, basilica, and associated hospitality. Comparable as a Catholic Marian pilgrimage destination with shrine, accommodation, and devotional retail.
• Knock Shrine: Ireland's premier Catholic Marian apparition shrine, a registered charity hosting large group pilgrimages with accommodation, dining, and religious services. Closest geographic and operational analog to Walsingham in the British Isles.
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes: One of the world's most-visited Catholic Marian pilgrimage sites in France. Directly comparable as a Marian shrine hosting millions of pilgrims annually with accommodation, retail, dining, and religious services operating under Catholic Church administration.
• Medjugorje Shrine: Bosnia-Herzegovina Catholic pilgrimage site associated with reported Marian apparitions, hosting millions of pilgrims with parish-led accommodation, retail, and spiritual programs. Comparable as a Marian apparition destination site.
• Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela: Spain's terminus of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Comparable as a major Christian pilgrimage destination site with associated pilgrim hospitality, retail, and Catholic liturgical services.

Regional players

• Westminster Cathedral: The mother church of Catholic England, located in London. Comparable as a Catholic worship and pilgrimage destination in the UK with associated hospitality, retail, and livestreamed services, though urban rather than pilgrimage-rural.
• Walsingham Anglican Shrine (Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham): The Anglican counterpart shrine in the same village of Walsingham. Operates a parallel pilgrimage ministry in the same locality with the same Holy House heritage lineage — uniquely direct geographic and historical peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8ruKlnR-riJorule-3tuhg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WalsinghamEnglandsNazareth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shrine-of-our-lady-of-walsingham

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shrine Of Our Lady Of Walsingham