:Guild of Our Lady of Ransom

In 1886, the Catholic priest, The Reverend Fr Philip Fletcher (1848–1928) established a Union of Intercession for the Conversion of England. A graduate of Exeter College, Oxford, Fletcher was the son of Sir Henry Fletcher, 3rd Baronet, and curate at St Bartholomew's Church, Brighton.{{Cite web |title=Fletcher, Rev. Philip, (30 Oct. 1848–13 Jan. 1928) |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-196443 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO |year=2007 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U196443}}{{Cite journal |last1=Corcoran |first1=James Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ApPNAAAAMAAJ&dq=The+Guild+of+Our+Lady+of+Ransom&pg=PA372 |title=Promise of the Second Spring in England |last2=Ryan |first2=Patrick John |last3=Prendergast |first3=Edmond Francis |date=1891 |journal=The American Catholic Quarterly Review |pages=372–3 |language=en}} One of Fletcher's friends was barrister and orator, Lister Drummond (1856–1916), a convert to Catholicism. Drummond was the only son of Maurice Drummond and Hon. Adelaide Lister (eldest daughter of 2nd Lord Ribblesdale) and a descendant of the Jacobite rebel, William Drummond, 4th Viscount Strathallan.{{cite news |title=Death of Mr. Lister Drummond |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004604/19160303/079/0005 |access-date=28 December 2024 |work=Streatham News |date=3 March 1916 |page=5|url-access=subscription}}{{Cite web |title=Drummond, Lister Maurice, (23 Aug. 1856–27 Feb. 1916), Metropolitan Police Magistrate since 1913 |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/display/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-195788 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO |year=2007 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U195788}}{{Cite book |last=Beard |first=Madeleine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g0QMhCme7JcC&dq=The+Guild+of+Our+Lady+of+Ransom&pg=PA207 |title=Faith and Fortune |date=1997 |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |location=Leominster |isbn=978-0-85244-392-7 |pages=207–8 |language=en}}

A year later, on 29 November 1887, Fletcher and Drummond established the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom to involve Catholics in evangelisation and the conversion to the Catholic faith of the people of England and Wales, in the restoration of those who have lapsed from the practice of their faith, and for the praying for those who have died who have no-one to pray for them.{{Cite journal |last=Hodson |first=Charles E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gPpFAQAAMAAJ&dq=The+Guild+of+Our+Lady+of+Ransom&pg=PA846 |title=Toluca |date=1892 |journal=New Catholic World |pages=846 |publisher=Paulist Press |language=en}}

The Guild took two medieval orders as its model: the Trinitarians and the Mercedarians. It was dedicated to Our Lady, St Gregory and the English Martyrs and took as its prayer as that of the Blessed Henry Heath on the scaffold at Tyburn in 1643: "Jesu convert England, have mercy on this country".{{Cite journal |last=Kent |first=Henry Charles |date=1893 |title=A People's Ransom |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pA4XAQAAIAAJ&dq=The+Guild+of+Our+Lady+of+Ransom&pg=PA699 |journal=Catholic World |volume=334–336 |pages=690–705}}{{Cite journal |last=Hurlock |first=Kathryn |date=2021 |title=The Guild of Our Lady of Ransom and Pilgrimage in England and Wales, c.1890–1914 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-catholic-history/article/guild-of-our-lady-of-ransom-and-pilgrimage-in-england-and-wales-c-18901914/D2D3409FB0B6D9B7B443678B31E64183 |journal=British Catholic History |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=320 |doi=10.1017/bch.2021.5|s2cid=234683663 |doi-access=free }} The Guild members (known as Ransomers) were originally composed of White Cross (clerical), Red Cross (evangelical), and Blue Cross (supplicant) Ransomers.

Thousands of Catholics enrolled in the Guild, including the Cardinals Henry Edward Manning and Herbert Vaughan, Archbishops of Westminster, and Saint John Henry Newman (as White Cross Ransomers).{{Cite book |last=Fletcher |first=Philip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oPIOAAAAQAAJ&q=The%20Guild%20of%20Our%20Lady%20of%20Ransom |title=Recollections of a Ransomer |publisher=Sands |year=1928 |location=London |language=en |oclc=3210912}}{{Cite web |last=Bogle |first=Joanna |date=2008-04-03 |title=Our Lady of Ransom |url=https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/our-lady-of-ransom |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Crisis Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Our Lady of Ransom |url=https://www.thecatholicdirectory.co.uk/places/our-lady-of-ransom/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=The Catholic Directory |language=en-US}}

The Guild was recognised and blessed by Pope Leo XIII in 1900 who became its first President, and each Pope since then has served as President of the Guild.{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} The Guild of our Lady of Ransom |url=https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/history |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.guild-ransom.co.uk |language=EN}}{{Cite book |last=Vail |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjyc9bPITKgC |title=Shrines of Our Lady in England |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |location=Leominster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-85244-603-4 |pages=114 |language=en}} It was registered as a charity in 1965. The Guild's current Master is Mgr John Armitage.{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-07-04 |title=Guild of Our Lady of Ransom appoints new Master |url=https://www.cbcew.org.uk/guild-of-our-lady-of-ransom-appoints-new-master/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales |language=en-GB}}

Pilgrimages

For many years, the Guild has organised pilgrimages for its Ransomers to sites of devotion overseas, including Marian shrines such as those at Boulogne and Halle. It organised an annual pilgrimage to York from 1892.{{Cite journal |last=Hurlock |first=Kathryn |date=2022-01-02 |title=Peace, Politics, and Piety: Catholic Pilgrimage in Wartime Europe, 1939–1945 |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/07292473.2022.2021754 |journal=War & Society |volume=41 |issue=1 |pages=36–52 |doi=10.1080/07292473.2022.2021754 |s2cid=246695850 |issn=0729-2473|doi-access=free }}{{Cite news |date=15 May 1942 |title=Notes for Ransomers |work=Catholic Herald}}{{Cite news |date=23 May 1941 |title=49th Annual Pilgrimage to York |work=Catholic Herald}}{{Cite news |date=13 June 1941 |title=Notes for Ransomers |work=Catholic Herald}}{{Cite book |last1=Clapp-Itnyre |first1=Alisa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KDzBgAAQBAJ&dq=The+Guild+of+Our+Lady+of+Ransom&pg=PA159 |title="Perplext in Faith": Essays on Victorian Beliefs and Doubts |last2=Melnyk |first2=Julie |date=2015-02-27 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |location=Newcastle-upon-Tyne |isbn=978-1-4438-7589-9 |pages=158–61 |language=en}} It also the first public pilgrimage since the Reformation to the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham on 20 August 1897.{{Cite web |title=History of the Catholic National Shrine |url=https://www.walsingham.org.uk/history/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady |language=en-GB}} It also arranged pilgrimages in the British Isles, such as to Glastonbury,{{Cite book |last=Vail |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjyc9bPITKgC |title=Shrines of Our Lady in England |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |location=Leominster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-85244-603-4 |pages=90 |language=en}} and sites at Canterbury, Chelsea, Hastings, Holywell, Padley, King's Lynn, Westminster, Willesden, York, and Walsingham.{{Cite web |title=Guild of Our Lady of Ransom – Encyclopedic Dictionary of Bible and Theology |url=https://www.biblia.work/dictionaries/guild-of-our-lady-of-ransom/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last=Vail |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjyc9bPITKgC |title=Shrines of Our Lady in England |publisher=Gracewing Publishing |location=Leominster |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-85244-603-4 |pages=115 |language=en}}

In 2019, as part of the spiritual preparation for England's re-dedication as the Dowry of Mary, the Guild and Our Lady of Walsingham organised a two-year Dowry Tour of England's Catholic Cathedrals, including Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral, and St John's Cathedral, Norwich.{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2018-04-09 |title=Statue of Our Lady of Walsingham to tour England |url=https://catholicherald.co.uk/statue-of-our-lady-of-walsingham-to-tour-england/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Catholic Herald |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Keith |date=2019-03-01 |title=Dowry Tour reaches St John's Cathedral in Norwich |url=https://www.rcdea.org.uk/dowry-tour-reaches-st-johns-cathedral-in-norwich/ |access-date=2023-04-03 |website=Catholic Diocese Of East Anglia |language=en-GB}}

Ransom and Dowry Grants

The Guild organisation, supported by a network of members, offers grants to parishes and churches in England and Wales. With an emphasis on evangelisation, the Guild aims to enable parishes, ministries and individuals to promote Catholicism. It has two programmes: Ransom Grants and Dowry Grants.

Ransom Grants support parishes which are in need of funding, and especially those which are working on evangelistic and formative projects.{{Cite web |title=Our Grants {{!}} The Guild of our Lady of Ransom |url=https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/our-grants |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.guild-ransom.co.uk |language=EN}}

Dowry Grants support new and innovative works of evangelisation which promote the Catholic faith.

{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|

• 1877–1928 The Rev. Philip Fletcher
• 1928–51 Mgr John Henry Filmer
• 1951 68 Mgr Laurance Goulder
• 1968–2010 Mgr Anthony George Stark
• 2010–20 The Rt Rev. Peter Smith
• 2020– Mgr John Armitage

}}

The Guild has published various books and pamphlets over the decades, including the following titles:

General Pamphlets

• {{Citation |last1= |first1= |title=Catholic Processions [A defence of the right to hold public processions] |title-link= |date=1908 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=751619753 |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=White |first1=Albert Clement |title=The Case for Convents |title-link= |date=1909 |location=London |oclc=753203424 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RoT5MgEACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Blyton |first1=W.J. |title=The witness from outside |date=1924 |location=London |oclc=315258291 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CLfIPAAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Blyton |first1=W.J. |title=More tributes to the Church from non-Catholics |title-link= |date=1925 |location=London |oclc=315258276 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JGCpPAAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Hanifin |first1=Ernest D. |title=Benediction for the conversion of England: With devotions from approved sources |title-link= |date=1926 |location=London |oclc=319993725 |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1= |first1= |title=The Ransom Prayer Book – Ransom Prayers – for the Conversion of England and Wales |title-link= |date=1978 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=601952316 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2n2nngEACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1= |first1= |title=Decretum Birminghamien canonizationis servi die Ioannis Henrici Newman: S.R.E. cardinalis, foundatoris Oratoriorum S. Philippi Neri in Anglia (1801–1890), (Decree of the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, concerning the cause of canonisation of ... John Henry Newman, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church) |date=1991 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=25500408 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OucEtwAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1= |first1= |title=Walsingham: 1061–1538, 1897–1997: A centenary celebration |date=1998 |location=London |edition=1st |isbn=9780953286607 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OtmZAAAACAAJ |language=en}}.

Pilgrimage Pamphlets

• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Canterbury |date=1962 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 1 (1st ed. 1954) |edition=2nd |oclc=11720711 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=syTHMwEACAAJ|language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Westminster |date=1967 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 2 (1st ed. 1960) |edition=3rd |oclc= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukyfOwAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=The Universities: Part 1: History |title-link=University |date=1960 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 3 |edition=1st |oclc=30197894 |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=The Universities: Part 2 |date=1960 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 3 |edition=1st |oclc=30197894 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OITTtAEACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=London: Part 1: General History |date=1982 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 4 (1st ed. 1960; 2nd ed. 1982) |edition=3rd |oclc=931100477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DkpAMQAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=London: Part 2: The Tower Pilgrimage |date=1989 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 4 (1st ed. 1960; 2nd ed. 1982) |edition=3rd |oclc=931100477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IINhPQAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=London: Part 3: The City Pilgrimage |title-link=London |date=1964 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 4 (1st ed. 1960; 2nd ed. 1982) |edition=2nd |oclc=931100477 |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=York |title-link=York |date=1962 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets |edition=1st |oclc= |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Judkins |first1=John |title=The Walsingham Walk |date=1964 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets |edition=1st |oclc=56002073 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2pxIHQAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Church Life In Medieval England: Part 1: The Parishes |date=1967 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 8 |edition=1st |oclc=931308083 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dXsxtwAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Church Life In Medieval England: Part 2: The Monasteries |date=1967 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 8 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBS4zwEACAAJ |oclc=931308083 |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Norwich |title-link=Norwich |date=1966 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets |edition=1st |oclc= |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Coventry and Lichfield |title-link=Lichfield |date=1968 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets |edition=1st |oclc= |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Winchester |title-link=Winchester |date=1965 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets |edition=1st |oclc= |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Goulder |first1=Laurance |title=Chichester and Lewes |date=1970 |location=London |series=Pilgrimage Pamphlets No. 11 |edition=1st |oclc=751256365 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8VAKHAAACAAJ |language=en}}.

Biographical Pamphlets

• {{Citation |last1=Newman |first1=Antonias |title=Saint Teresa of Avila |date=1977 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=1369844954 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i3eyzwEACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Stark |first1=Anthony |title=Thomas More, most human of saints |date=1978 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=85089866 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zcodHQAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Stark |first1=Anthony |title=Bishop Richard Challoner: His Life and Times |date=1980 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=54939909 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9zVjNgAACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Stark |first1=Anthony |title=Cardinal John Henry Newman: A Study in Holiness |date=1980 |location=London (1st ed. 1975) |edition=2nd |oclc=16485769 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4dp0swEACAAJ |language=en}}.
• {{Citation |last1=Hume |first1=Basil |author-link=Basil Hume |title=Cardinal John Henry Newman: A saint for our time? |date=1980 |location=London |edition=1st |oclc=1039148460 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KAUUtwAACAAJ |language=en}}.

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://www.guild-ransom.co.uk/}}

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