Prayer to Our Lady of Rushen - now in Manx

Prayer to Our Lady of Rushen - now in Manx

Thu, 26 Mar 2015

Our Lady of Rushen by Nigel McFarlane

Rushen Abbey, a daughter house of Furness Abbey, Cumbria, was founded in 1134.  It was originally a Savignian order but Furness became Cistercian in 1147 and Rushen followed.  All Savignian foundations were dedicated to St Mary (or “Our Lady” – the terms are interchangeable) and so were Furness and Rushen.  What is now the old Grammar School in Castletown used to be a chapel to Our Lady and a monk from Rushen taught there.  So, there was a good tradition of devotion to Our Lady.  In fact, in 1249, we find a miracle attributed to Our Lady of Rushen. 

Rushen Abbey was dissolved on 24th June 1540.  We can only imagine how devotion to Our Lady of Rushen was kept alive after then.  Yet, in 1896, the new Anglican church of St Mary the Virgin, very close to the abbey ruins, was consecrated.  There was also the “old” Anglican St Mary’s church in the square in Castletown before the congregation moved to the “new” St Mary’s on the Harbour.

In 1826, Father Gahan built the church in Bowling Green Road, Castletown and this is the oldest extant post-Reformation Catholic church on the Isle of Man.  It is approximately 2 miles from the ruins of the abbey and was dedicated to St Mary on account of Our Lady of Rushen.  On Sunday 12th October 2014, the shrine to Our Lady of Rushen was dedicated in the church and so the ancient practice of this island was restored.  The shrine is located inside the church, which is open every day.  Everyone is encouraged to write their petitions on the paper provided (or bring their own if preferred) and post them in the petitions box.  Each month, a Mass will be offered for these intentions.  You do not have to be Catholic (or Christian) to make a petition – Our Lady of Rushen welcomes us all!  The prayer to Our Lady of Rushen, which was kindly translated into Manx Gaelic by Chris Sheard of Culture Vannin, sits proudly next to the petitions box.  In the near future, prayer cards will also be available.

Saturday 9th May 2015 will see a procession (starting at 2pm) from St Mary’s, Bowling Green Road to Rushen Abbey for Mass at 3pm.  Music will be kindly provided by Castletown Metropolitan Silver Band.  It is hoped that this will be an annual event and everyone is most welcome to attend.

For further details, please contact Father Leo Cooper on 822272.

Yn Ven Seyr Ain jeh Rushen, gow padjer er nyn son!/Our Lady of Rushen, pray for us!

A recording of the prayer read by Nigel McFarlane in 2017 is available here: