What's it all about:
This is the site of the Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimages organised on behalf of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton since 1975.
It includes details of our current activities and plans, history of our pilgrimages since 1975, and news of our pilgrim family.
Remember Marta and Ola?
If you were with us - walking or on the web - in 2006 you will undoubtedly remember Polish sisters Marta and Ola who walked with us that year. Well, Ola recently turned 18,and she got something of a birthday surprise. Click here to see the video!
St Birinus Pilgrimge - 6 July 2008
I have been asked to post the details of the next St Birinus Pilgrimage on our website: 6th July from Blewbury to Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, full details at www.stbirinuspilgrimage.org.uk
John Crowe, a faithful follower of the Arundel and Brighton Pilgrimage, is the preacher this year. He was the boss at Dorchester Abbey when we passed through in 2000.
Pilgrimage Walk from Old Sarum to Salisbury Cathedral - 12 July 2008
As part of their 750th Anniversary Celebrations, Salisbury Cathedral are organising a pilgrimage walk from Old Sarum to the Cathedral, starting at 10:30 on Saturday 12 July. Shall we join them?
Evesham to Salisbury - 16th to 31st August 2008
Some time after we walked to Evesham in 1983, a headline in The Universe asked "Will the pilgrims ever return?". Well, 25 years on, yes we are returning, not as the destination of our pilgrimage but as the starting point for the next phase of our continuing journey.
So where are we going? Salisbury! In 2008, Salisbury Cathedral is celebrating 750 years since its consecration; and Salisbury is a place we've passed through (1978, 1991, 1999) but has never been a destination.
With Evesham being a shrine to Our Lady and Salisbury Cathedral dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary a Marian theme was on the cards, but rather than focussing on Mary our theme for 2008 is her great prayer, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Each day we will take a phrase as our theme and look at it's meaning for us today. (See Danny's piece in February 2008 Newsletter)
The route has finalised as EVESHAM - Chipping Campden - Winchcombe - Northleach - CIRENCESTER - Malmesbury - Wootton Bassett - Chippenham - DEVIZES - Pewsey - Amesbury - SALISBURY. Detailed route details will be available in July.
The poster and application form are now available.
Latest...
February 2008 Newsletter, 2008 poster and application form are now available!
Hello Redhill!
It was great to see so many people in St Joseph's Parish taking an interest in the pilgrimage one January weekend. I hope this website will give you some more idea of what we're about. Our 2008 material will be ready soon - use the "contact" link to send us a message with an address (or e-mail) and we'll add you to the mailing list.
You don't have to be from Redhill to register your interest in joining us next summer!
Watch the promotional video we made and showed at Redhill (warning - it's 133MB so you need a fast connection, but you can watch it as it downloads)
The Dorking Reunion
This year's reunion took place over the weekend of 19-21 October at Dorking, hosted by Louise and John "Nitpicker" Chenery (they play a crucial role in ensuring that this website is as error-free as we can get it). Details (including pictures) are shown in our reunion page.
Pat Olivier, RIP
Pat, who walked with us in the 1970s and then as chaplain in 1984 and 1985, and who joined us as a day pilgrim with his wife Nicola in recent years, joined us on the Isle of Wight. As we climbed to Niton Baptist Church he collapsed; sadly he subsequently died. Pat, Nicola and the family were in our prayers throughout the remainder of our pilgrimage.
Pat's funeral was at St Hugh of Lincoln Church, Knaphill, at 11am on Thursday 30th August. Dress code colourful and comfortable - pilgrimage T-shirts were specifically requested. See the post script to the 2007 Diary Pages
Wells to Arundel - read the diary!
Our 2007 pilgrimage started in Wells, Somerset, and finished in Arundel, taking a route via Dorset and the Hampshire coast and the Isle of Wight. Read our daily diary at 2007 Diary Pages
Printable details are provided at Route Cards and Come And Join Us For A Day
The poster and application form are still available for reference.
Archives update
The retrospective diaries from 1975 until 1986 have now been updated to / created in Steve's new style, and "route note" details added (1983 is currently lacking diary details and photos - any offers?). Access them all through the pilgrimages page. From the same place you can access the "live" diaries since 2000.
More Blistering Years
Back in 1997 Bill Haynes wrote a history of our pilgrimages up until that date, originally published on Danny Thomas' Pilgrims Progress website. We've brought this up-to-date and included it on our pilgrimages page.