Our Last meeting in the Methodist church before our AGM in September was somewhat different as tables were set up, chairs moved and props strategically placed the scene was set. At this point I would like to thank Alan Moore for assisting in this process.
Julian of Norwich was our first visitor dressed in her familiar medieval attire, her affirmation of hope and divine love were now spoken “all shall be well and all shall be well, all manner of things shall be well”. Julian was born c1343 and her death sometime after 1416. In 1373 Julian became very ill the priest was called and it was at this time she saw fifteen visions, Julian recovered and became an anchoress living alone a life of devotion in a small cell attached to the church of St Julian in Norwich. Julian lived through notable events, at the age of six a major outbreak of the plague carried off many thousands, the wall around Norwich was being constructed, the battle of Crecy in 1346 and the battle of Agincourt were all in her lifetime. Her writings ‘Revelations of Divine Love’ describing her visions, a title first used in 1670’s although the earliest manuscript copied by a scribe in 1470 acknowledged that the writings in the English language, written by a women were the first of it’s kind. Julian certainly left her mark in her time and when she left the stage in the Methodist church.
Our next visitor was Margery Kempe of Bishop’s Lynn, born c1373 she wailed and cried out as she entered the stage. We know she visited Julian of Norwich and also Great Yarmouth during her many journey’s. Her father was a wealthy merchant and mayor of what is now known as Kings Lynn, Margery married John Kempe and went on to have fourteen children after the birth of her first child she experienced a period of crisis which may have been due to postpartum depression during this time she reported visions of Christ and demonic attacks it was this which appears to have shaped her lifelong mystical devotion. Margery believed she had a closer relationship with Christ and made pilgrimages to Rome, Spain Jerusalem and Germany, although she did not join a religious order she lived a life of absolute devotion. Being illiterate she dictated her autobiography, the manuscript was lost for centuries and rediscovered in 1934, it is recognised as a classic in medieval literature.
These early writings were pivotal in the history of Christianity considered some of the earliest devotional texts which have inspired countless readers and gives an insight into 14th century women their lives, their devotion.