On Monday 22nd January 2018, following the 8.30 a.m. celebration by His Grace Bishop Irenei of the daily Liturgy at the Parish of St Elizabeth the New Martyr in Wallasey (please note, Bishop Irenei will also be celebrating the full Hierarchical Service at St Elizabeth’s the previous day, Sunday 21st January), His Grace will, together with the parish rector and Chancellor of the Diocese, Archpriest Paul Elliott, lead a small pilgrimage for parishioners and any others to Chester, to venerate the shrine of St Werburgh.
The precise timing of departure to Chester will depend on the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and a small breakfast to follow. For details on taking part in the pilgrimage, please contact Fr Paul Elliott directly.
Background information on the Saint
St Werburgh (also spelled Wærburh, Werburh or Werburga) (reposed 3rd February 699 at Trentham in modern-day Staffordshire) was an Anglo-Saxon princess who became the patron saint of the city of Chester in Cheshire. She was born at Stone (now in Staffordshire), and was the daughter of the Christian King Wulfhere of Mercia and his wife St Ermenilda. She obtained her father’s consent to enter the Abbey of Ely, which had been founded by her great aunt Etheldreda (or Audrey), the first Abbess of Ely and former queen of Northumbria, whose fame was widespread. St Werburgh was trained at home by St Chad (afterwards Bishop of Lichfield), and by her mother; then in the cloister by her aunt and grandmother. St Werburgh was a nun for most of her life, and was instrumental in convent reform across England. She eventually succeeded her mother Ermenilda, her grandmother Seaxburh, and great-aunt Etheldreda as fourth Abbess of Ely.
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