It's a little weird to correct posts from 1997 and 2006 in 2014, but here goes:

As a female hermit in the Middle Ages, Julian of Norwich would not be called an "anchorite" (the male hermits) but an "anchoress." This song is based on her prayer. Her real name is lost to history.

The Sydney Carter album which debuted "Julian of Norwich" is not "Lovely is the Dance" (as stated above) but "Lovely in the Dances". This amazing album is out of print, but can be bought as MP3s.

This song has been recorded several times, including by Ashley Hutchings' on the Albion Christmas Band, by Bok Muir Trickett, by Moonraker, the Merry Wives of Windsor, in a light rock version by Pledge Drive, and by the great Grace Griffith on her new album.

Some of the covers are called "Bells of Norwich" and "Loud Are the Bells of Norwich" which leads to some confusion.