Our Lady of Westminster - Westminster and The "Dowry of Mary"

Westminster and The "Dowry of Mary"

However the story does not rest there, since it is of great significance that a pre-Reformation English Madonna should come to be venerated in Westminster Cathedral, a mere 15 minute walk from the former Benedictine abbey where the dowry tradition started. There is a tradition that the title "Dowry of Mary" goes back to Edward the Confessor, who founded Westminster Abbey in 1055. Another theory is that the Dowry tradition can be traced back to Edward III (1327-77), but the first concrete evidence comes from the will of The Countess of Pembroke who in 1377 established a mortuary chapel so that daily Masses could be sung for her husband, next to the Chapel of St John in the abbey, and presented the Abbot of Westminster with an alabaster statue of Our Lady. Soon after this the cultus of Our Lady in Westminster received royal impetus in the form of Richard II.

It was in 1381 that England was ravaged by the Peasants' Revolt, when the introduction of the poll tax caused the southeastern counties to rise in open rebellion. Jean Froissart gives a vivid description of the manner in which the young King Richard II of England prepared to meet the rebels, led by Wat Tyler, at Smithfield:

Richard II on the Saturday after Corpus Christi went to Westminster, where he heard Mass at the Abbey with all his Lords. He made his devotions at a statue of Our Lady in a little chapel that had witnessed many miracles and where much grace had been gained, so that the Kings of England have much faith in it.

Another chronicler, Strype, described the event thus:

On the coming of the rebels and Wat Tyler, the same King went to Westminster . . . confessed himself to an anchorite; then took himself to the chapel of Our Lady of Pew; there he said his devotions, and went to Smithfield to meet the rebels.

The outcome of the meeting was favourable with Wat Tyler throwing down his arms and taking up the King's colours. Naturally the King and Court regarded this as a miracle wrought by the Holy Virgin, and therefore set about encouraging her veneration at Westminster. After his success in quelling the rebels, and their acceptance of the standard of the realm, Richard returned to meet his mother at Westminster and to give thanks. Froissart records the young King's words as follows:

"Yes, Madam . . . rejoice and praise God, for today I have regained my kingdom which I had lost." And he placed the Kingdom under Our Lady's protection - in thanksgiving for having regained it.

It is Richard who refurbished the chapel in the abbey, and commissioned the Wilton Diptych which shows him placing himself and England (signified by the banner with a George Cross and a miniature representation of England) under Our Lady's Protection. Furthermore, at the special desire of the king, this mandate was issued at Lambeth on 10 February 1399, and reads as follows:

"The contemplation of the great mystery of the Incarnation has brought all Christian nations to venerate her from whom came the beginnings of redemption. But we, as the humble servants of her inheritance, and liegemen of her especial dower - as we are approved by common parlance ought to excel all others in the favour of our praises and devotions to her."

So what does this have to do with the medieval image which we now know as Our Lady of Westminster? At this point a gentleman called Mr Albert Joseph Freeman comes onto the scene. Mr Freeman fought in the First World War and was severely gassed in the trenches, as he lay dying in field hospital he promised to dedicate his life to Our Lady if he recovered. In 1955, after a visit to the Abbey during which he was much moved and distressed by the empty niche in the Pew Chapel, he commissioned Sister Concordia Scott of Minster Abbey on the Isle of Thanet to carve a statue of Our Lady to replace the one lost at the Reformation. Like the original statue presented by the Countess, the new one had to be in English alabaster, which was hard to obtain in the required measurements (3 feet by 16 inches by 7 inches), as the model for the work was to be the statue of Our Lady of Westminster in Westminster Cathedral. This statue was enthroned in the Pew Chapel On 10 May 1971.

So just as the Countess's alabaster statue replaced an earlier image, so now Our Lady of Westminster becomes the vital link to the Dowry tradition, that started in Westminster and radiated throughout pre-Reformation England and was one of her chief boasts. And despite all evidence to the contrary that pledge, that donation of England to Our Lady still holds firm. Just as the Madonna holds the banner of St George in the Wilton Diptych so she still holds England close under her protection and gazes upon its people with especial love even if they do not return that gaze. Our Lady of Westminster has returned to be with us after 500 years of exile and provides us with a link to the faith and devotion of our ancestors, her quiet motherly countenance reminding us of her special care and enjoining us to excel in her praises and those of her son, as did our ancestors throughout the ages.