Who is now living in the cell of Julian of Norwich?
Dear Ludwig, Julian’s cell does not exist today. The anchorhold — in Norwich, England, was totally dismantled in the 19th century. What exists now is a shrine chapel attached to the Church of St. Julian, built over the location of Julian’s original cell. The chapel is considerably larger than Julian’s cell and is set about 18″ lower in the ground than the original. (When St. Julian’s Church was re-built after war damage in 1953, the foundation of Julian’s original cell was discovered.) There are, however, plans for an Anglican Benedictine monk and priest to move to Norwich in the fall of 2002 to pursue a vocation as a solitary based at St. Julian’s Church and in the shrine chapel. He will not live in the shrine chapel, but will be present there at certain times. Today pilgrims come from many places to the site of Julian’s cell to sit in the shrine chapel, to pray, and to meditate on the life and wisdom of Julian of Norwich. Next to the church is the Julian Centre, which contains the J
