Richard Smart reflects on walking for peace for the Awareness Foundation.
Eddie Gilmore explains how a pilgrimage along a forbidden track to Thomas Merton's hermitage helped him to understand the meaning of monastic life.
A national walking pilgrimage for England & Wales with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, the eve of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Between March 2023 and May 2024, Karen Lawrence walked the 180 miles from London to the National Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham. She has recently published a book to share her story.
Are you a pilgrim or a keen local walker? Are you familiar with sections of the Viking Way and/or the Queen Eleanor Crosses Way?
Pilgrim and writer Eddie Gilmore reflects on his recent journey with his wife along the Camino to Finistere.
Welcome to the Autumn 2024 Hearts in Search of God Project newsletter. The project has reached an important milestone as I have now walked, written up and published Pilgrim Ways in all the Catholic dioceses of England & Wales. There are also Pilgrim Ways for the Ukrainian and Syro-Malabar eparchies, the Bishopric of the Armed Forces and the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham. Details of the inner and outer journeys, walking guidance, maps and GPX files can be downloaded for them all for free here . I am always grateful for feedback about the routes so please let me know if you walk one. My last walk was the St Philomena’s Way in the Diocese of Shrewsbury. I was delighted to be joined by Theresa Alessandro , presenter of the All Kinds of Catholic podcast. Our conversation can be found here . I am also grateful to Catherine Mangham for walking much of the route and greatly improving it and for her company for two days of the walk. Shrines As part of the project I have become interested in shrines. Anyone can set up a shrine in their own home: simply a place for prayer, perhaps with an image or a candle. In Catholic countries wayside shrines are common. The Church recognises a shrine officially if people make pilgrimages to it and it is approved by the local bishop. There are four types: Diocesan shrines, approved by the bishop of the diocese. National shrines, approved by the Bishops' Conference of the Province, in this case England & Wales. International shrines, such as Lourdes, approved by the Holy See. There are no international shrines in England & Wales. Pontifical shrines, established personally by the pope of the time. We have one in Kings Lynn in the Diocese of East Anglia. I have identified 49 shrines in England & Wales, some ancient, some modern, some cared for by the Church and some by other organisations. I would like a full half century, so if anyone knows of the 50 th I would be very grateful! More details of the shrines here . Resources There are new resources for group pilgrimage including: The Pilgrim Cross experience of group walking pilgrimage , by Alison Gelder Developing a Good Pilgrimage Route , by Andrew Kelly The Challenges of Building Fundraising into a Pilgrimage , by Dominic DeBoo Going deeper Articles on the ‘Going Deeper’ webpages provide context and expert background to pilgrimage. The latest is by: Canon Chris Thomas , General secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales on the hope that does not disappoint, and what it means to be a ‘pilgrim of hope’ during the Jubilee. I am grateful to Fr Chris and the others who have contributed their time and expertise which really adds to the resources on the website. News, Stories & Events Thanks to all those who have contributed stories over the last few months. Topics include: From Worcester to Peterborough on a pilgrimage neither guided nor self-guided by John Chenery A Pilgrimage Walk along the St Cuthbert’s Way by Andrew Sowerby Taizé - A Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth by Eddie Gilmore A Parish Pilgrimage to Bishop Eton by John Elcock CrossWalk Pilgrims by Julie & Garth Butcher 'My strength tells me No, but the path demands Yes' by Frans A. Vossenberg Feedback on the Ways I would be grateful for any feedback you have about the proposed Ways, and especially any route updates and changes . After your pilgrimage remember to download your certificate of completion . If you have a story or a pilgrim resource or event to share, please contact me through the website. Please feel free to share his newsletter with people who may be interested. I hope you enjoy the website, designed by the wonderful people at Everyday Christian Marketing . Wishing you every blessing and joy of this ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, and buen camino! Phil McCarthy, Project Lead
This August, a group of pilgrims set out from Worcester on a two-week-long trek. This was the 2024 walk of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage.
Andrew Sowerby describes a fruitful pilgrim walk along the St Cuthbert's Way to Lindisfarne.
Hearts in Search of God collaborator Eddie Gilmore describes a recent pilgrimage to Taizé in France with his wife Yim Soon.
