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. Our Pilgrimages are open to all.
Walsingham Pilgrimage 2013
Our 2013 Pilgrimage will be from St Albans to Walsingham with rest days in Bedford and King's Lynn, 10th to 25th August 2013. The poster and application form are now available and bookings are open! Reserve your place now.
Latest News...
February 2013 Newsletter, is now available. This contains lots of information about this year's pilgrimage, together with an article about Bill Haynes RIP.
Bill Haynes, RIP
Bill Haynes died from cancer on 23 December 2012; his funeral was held on 3 January 2013. A memorial service is planned for Worthing in the near future (watch this space). Bill started our pilgrimages back in 1975, organised the first 10 walks, spent 5 years leading the planning team, and supported us thereafter.
2013 Reunion
The 2012 Reunion was in London (White City), 16th-18th November 2012. View a report.
2012 Bath to Exeter Pilgrimage
Our 2012 Pilgrimage was from Bath to Exeter, with a theme around the Lord's Prayer, from 11-26 August 2012. Our diary this year took a rather different form, partly for technical reasons. Participating pilgrims Tweeted about progress, with those Tweets appearing on this website soon thereafter. We hope this made for a more 'live' Pilgrims Live than in previous years...
Making it happen
A pilgrimage does not organise itself, and there are many vacancies in the team which plans and runs the pilgrimage. Outline job descriptions were put together in 2011 - take a look and see if you can contribute. Some roles could be undertaken by a small team working together, and some responsibilities could move between roles (so long as they get done!).
The pilgrimage planning year can be summarised as follows (and those taking on roles have to try to make this happen):
- September: AGM, decision on destination, refinement of route;
- October-December: booking of accommodation;
- December: finalisation of stops, preparation of publicity material;
- January-March: Allocation of routes to Day Planners, outline planning, initial contact with churches;
- April-May: Finalisation of routes, closer liaison with churches;
- June: Finalisation of timings, confirmation to churches and pubs;
- July: Finalisation of routes cards and other mailing materials, mailing;
- August: pilgrimage!
More Blistering Years - Updated!
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. In the same place you can find the retrospective diaries from 1975 until 1999 as well as the "live" diaries since 2000. We are working to fill the gaps. If you can add photos, advise where pictures belong, or add commentary PLEASE let us know!
Pilgrimage on Facebook
Find us at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13203916228.