Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady at the North Door and Our Lady of Pew In Westminster Abbey

The next destination on the Pilgrimage is Westminster Abbey, which had two particular centres of devotion to Our Lady. These were the image of Our Lady at the North Door in the now demolished Galilee porch to the North Transept and the image of Our Lady of Pew opening out from the north choir aisle. 

Our Lady of Pew was commemorated both in the abbey and in the adjacent Palace and was a particular focus for royal devotion. The most famous instance of this was by King Richard II  in 1381 during the Peasant’s Revolt and his vow to dedicate England as the Dowry of Mary.

My post from last year has links to previous articles and links about these two shrines. It can be seen at Marian Pilgrimage - Our Lady at the North Door and Our Lady of Pew in Westminster Abbey

I found a piece about the small chapel of Our Lady of Pew on the Murray and Blue blog site which clearly indicates how it was a private space where King Richard II could attend Mass or pray within sight of the chapel of St John the Baptist, who was his personal patron. I am not sure that the Wilton Diptych would have been kept in the small chapel, but it might have gone there with the King on occasion. The post can be viewed at The little chapel in Westminster Abbey, beloved of Richard II….

As is described in more detail in the linked articles the modern statue is copied from a medieval alabaster one now in Westminster Cathedral.

The Shrine of Our Lady of Pew

with the modern statue and surviving medieval painted mouldings

Image: Wikimedia Commons

May Our Lady at the North Door and Our Lady of Pew intercede for us and our intentions 

Jesu mercy, Mary pray