The next station on the Pilgrimage is Ely Cathedral and the statue of Our Lady.
Before the great Benedictine abbey became home to a new diocese in 1109 it was recognised as a pilgrimage centre not only for the relics of St Etheldreda but also to a statue of the Virgin and Child. Decorated with gold and jewels by the reign of King Cnut (1016-35 ) these adornments were stripped from it to pay fines to King William I after the rebellion of Hereward the Wake. This is recorded by Waterton in his book.
Given the wealth of the medieval Fens and the great revenues of the cathedral and bishopric of Ely I cannot but believe that new gifts came to the statue.
There is more about the tradition and about the glorious, yet wounded, Lady Chapel built in the early fourteenth century in my original post ftom 2020 which can be seen at Our Lady of Ely
May Our Lady of Ely pray for The King and all the Royal Family and for us all
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