Chelmsford Cathedral welcomed pilgrims all the way from St John's Church in Blackheath over the Bank Holiday weekend.
As many as 60 members of the congregation from St John’s Church in south east London took part in the pilgrimage, at different stages, travelling the 40 miles by bike or foot, with an impressive 42 pilgrims – aged between one and 81 - arriving at the Cathedral on Monday afternoon for a service of thanksgiving at 2pm.
The church has been organising its annual pilgrimage since 2003, often visiting Canterbury or Rochester, and this year it was Chelmsford's turn, explains Archdeacon Jonathan Croucher. “St John’s was my sending church in London where I worshipped for eleven years before I was ordained,” he remembers. “This year was the first year they have been welcomed into a Cathedral at the end of the pilgrimage for their own act of worship and they were hugely appreciative of the welcome they received.”
After beginning their journey on Saturday morning in Blackheath, they stayed overnight in Brentwood and then Danbury, visiting Mountnessing Church and West Hanningfield along the way. “They organise logistics with military precision,” he adds. “With a minibus to ferry pilgrims who are joining only part of the journey, an emergency car to deal with injuries or other problems, and a team of people back in Blackheath who make sandwiches and cakes to sustain the pilgrims on their journey.”
The Cathedral was delighted to welcome the group at the end of their journey and is always happy to receive pilgrims for refreshment and prayer, with stickers available for their Pilgrim Passport.