THE PILGRIM’S WAY

I'm walking The Pilgrims Way as my retreat/pilgrimage for this year. It's been a pilgrim route since the 12th Century, and can begin either from Winchester or from Southwark London, the routes joining near Rochester in Kent. Chaucer's Canterbury Tales tells of pilgrims journeying from Southwark - and telling bawdy tales each evening!

My solo pilgrimage is more of a retreat, as well as time with others. Leaving Winchester Cathedral on Tuesday June 15th, aiming to arrive at Canterbury Cathedral on Tuesday 28th June, and with a day off to rest and sleep on Tuesday 22nd! (I'm not doing the extra day to go up Rochester Cathedral.) Along the way I'm staying in a mixture of b&bs and the homes of friends and fellow clergy. There are a few days when I'll be joined by friends - plus the Taster Day for you.

More details about this are below.

Each day will have a rhythm: prayer and reflections, praise and worship, listening to podcasts, silence and solitude; time for retreat and time for enjoying my surroundings. Most days will be 10-12 miles, plus whatever the (hopefully short!) extra to reach my accommodation. Do wave me on as I pass if you happen to live or be in the area: Hampshire, Surrey and Kent

Tues June 15th Winchester – Alresford (with Kim) 9 miles

Weds 16th Alresford – Alton 12

Thur 17th Alton – Farnham 11

Friday 18th Farnham – Guildford 11

Sat 19th Guildford – West Humble/Box Hill 13

Sun 20th West Humble-Merstham 10

Mon 21st Merstham – Oxted 10

Tues 22nd (DAY OFF Oxted)

Weds 23rd Oxted – Otford 12

Thurs 24th Otford – Halling 13

Fri 25th Halling - Thurnham 12

Sat 26th Thurnham - Charing 11

Sun 27th Charing – Chilham 9

Mon 28 Chilham – Canterbury 7

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm very excited - and daunted! - to be doing this retreat/pilgrimage in mid June, along the ancient PILGRIM'S WAY from Winchester Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral. It's been called England's Camino, and it was a route taken in medieval times from the shrine of St Swithun to the tomb of the murdered Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral. Chaucer has his group of pilgrims doing the alternative route from Southwark (London) down to Canterbury, telling their Tales as they went. The Pilgrims' Way was created when Henry II, racked with guilt over the death of his one-time friend Becket, walked barefoot to Canterbury in 1174. People have been walking it since around 1172 and 'famous' pilgrims include Louis VII of France, Alexander II of Scotland, the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and, more recently, Hilaire Belloc. But the Romans knew this route too and so it’s an ancient National Trail!

I'm backpacking my way along the 140 miles for two weeks, staying with various friends or b&bs along the way. Taking time with the Lord in a daily rhythm of prayer, silence, solitude and sometime companionship.

I'm inviting YOU to join me for a group day.

Maybe you've never done a pilgrimage and wonder what it's like.
Maybe you haven't time for a longer walk but can take a day out.
Maybe you'd like to experience a pilgrimage retreat day with others
Maybe you've heard that pilgrimage is becoming more popular and are wondering where to begin!
Maybe you want an adventure, to try something new.
Maybe you need to leave something behind or take time to pray and reflect and BE.

Here's what you will experience:

A day of pilgrimage, walking 10 miles along The Pilgrim's Way.
A daily rhythm of walking, praying, reflecting
Times to pause and pray
Times of silence, sometimes with led reflections/spiritual exercises
Times of talk and laughter and joy!
Ancient churches, dating from the 11thC, one with 12thC wall frescoes
A walk down Quality Street and some beautiful views

When:

Monday 21st June. Midsummer's day!
9.45am start, finishing about 4.30pm

Where:

Merstham – Oxted.
A short up and down stretch, in Surrey. Both places have railway stations.

You need to bring:

suncream/waterproofs (for the extremes of the British weather!)
good footwear
plenty of drinking water
a picnic lunch

There is no charge for the day, you just need to organise your own travel to and from the Walk, and bring a packed lunch.

You could drive to Merstham, and walk, and then take the train back from Oxted. You could have a friend drop you and pick you up. Whatever, how ever, you'll need to organise your own travel to and from the day.

There are only 7 places available. If you would like to be considered, please email me asap, tell me why you'd like to come, and include a short paragraph about yourself.

I’ve used the Cicerone guide to The Pilgrims Way to find the route, and estimate mileage. I’ve read ‘Knowing Anna’ by Sarah Meyrick (the story of a group walking from Guildford to Canterbury in memory of Anna) and ‘On the Pilgrims Way’ by J. Nelson Kraybill (an American who also walked from Guildford to Canterbury and had conversations about Christian discipleship, with friends, along the way). There are lots of amazing churches, some steep climbs (Box Hill!), gorgeous scenery, old villages, the M25 (which follows the old pilgrim route so that part follows the North Downs Way instead) a couple of vineyards ....

Watch a short video about our 10 miles

Do please have a think/ponder/pray about whether you’d like to come and walk with me for a day.

I'm praying for the Lord to bless us in and through this special day as we walk and pilgrimage together, and for Him to meet with each of us in special ways. Do pray about whether to join us - and email me asap.

Full details will be sent nearer the time.