What makes a Creative Pilgrimage?

Liz Garnett • August 16, 2023

What makes a Creative Pilgrimage? Alexandra le Rossignol and I found this question answered when we travelled with a group of artists on our first Kent pilgrimage route – The Augustine Camino. The experience was so profound that we found ourselves creating a pilgrimage route from Dover to Canterbury for an exhibition as part of Kent Pilgrims Festival 2022.


We had expected to follow the Via Francigena in reverse from Dover to Canterbury. Then Alex asked me if we could add in a detour via the church at Barfrestone and I suggested we dip down into the valley between Kingston and Bishopsbourne because there was a good tearoom there. The route began to change and adapt organically as I had it following the River Dour through Dover after we had taken in the ruins of St Martin le Grand, St Edmunds chapel and the Maison Dieu. This is only a snapshot of what the route through Dover has to offer.


As a group of artists drawn to pilgrimage, research has been key to the creation of our artworks and was a very important part in it’s development. At every turn little gems were dropping into our laps in the form of history, architecture, landscape, nature or stories of medieval pilgrimage. Walking with fellow artists has benefited each of us as we have had the opportunity to see the route through each others’ eyes. 


Having some of us with limited physical abilities it was important to break the route down into shorter sections. For us The Way of Saint Martin is a slow pilgrimage. It is about the journey, stopping, looking, exploring and experiencing the route and all that it has to offer. The variety of architecture in each church along the route is a reflection of it’s community over time. Our experience encompassed: sitting watching the trout in the River Dour or watching the swans glide effortless along; stooping to look at wildflowers on Barham Downs or looking out across the valley as we headed into Kingston; taking in the fresh air of the valley between Kingston and Bishopsbourne and looking up at a bird of prey; marvelling at the ancient yew trees in churchyards along the route and reflecting on all that has passed in their lifetime; sharing of knowledge and experiences.


The starting point for the pilgrimage is on the beach at Dover where medieval pilgrims would land and search for a hag stone to bring to St Edmund’s chapel as an offering and from there they would make their way to the Shrine of St Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. The route would not have been a defined one and many also visited Barfrestone church and other shrines along the route. A relic of St Thomas is now housed in St Thomas’s RC church in Canterbury just before the pilgrimage ends at the Cathedral.


The natural landscape along the route encompasses the wildflower meadows where the pilgrim can rest and seek out rare orchids or look to the skies for the skylark or the newly released chough – a bird with a strong connection to St Thomas Becket. Churches along the route provide sanctuary from the rain as well as a chance to discover medieval wall paintings, mass dials, carvings or fascinating gravestones. The River Dour and the Nailbourne provide a contrast in that the first is one of 200 chalk streams in the world and the second is an intermittent stream that runs every few years. 


The area has rich links with historical and creative figures: Saint Augustine, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, Saint Martin of Tours, King Ethelbert and Queen Bertha, Saint Thomas Becket, Joseph Conrad, Mary Tourtel, Jocelyn Brooke, Henry Moore, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer, Aphra Behn and Ian Fleming to name but a few.


In the guidebook the route has been split into 6 short walks with public transport links at either end of each section. There is information on the historical aspects of the route and the pilgrim is encouraged to seek out for architectural features, plants and wildlife. The website also includes a free GPX file of the route.

 

Liz Garnett


Links:


The Way of Saint Martin


The Creative Pilgrims


The Augustine Camino


By Eddie Gilmore April 1, 2025
While walking the Lycian Way Eddie Gilmore and his wife Yim Soon found they were walking in the footsteps of St Paul.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Matthew's Way The western Pilgrimage of Hope Way from St David's Cathedral in Cardiff to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham and the Shrine of St Chad in Lichfield. Patron: St Melangell (c 7th or 8th Century) Welsh hermit, consecrated virgin and abbess. According to her hagiography, Melangell was a princess who fled an arranged marriage and became a consecrated virgin in the wilderness of Powys. She saved a hare from a prince's hunting dogs and is associated with protection of wildlife. Her feast is celebrated on 27th May. Overview: The Way starts at St David's Cathedral in Cardiff. The route soon joins the Welsh Coast Path to Newport and then Chepstow. Here the Way turns inland following the Offa's Dyke Path through the Wye Valley to Monmouth. The route follows the Wye Valley Walk to Ross-on-Wye where the Way joins the Herefordshire Trail to Ledbury. The Geopark Way and the Three Choirs Way (3CW) are followed over the Malvern Hills. After Malvern the Way continues on the 3CW until the River Severn is crossed and followed to Worcester. The Monarch's Way is followed to Droitwich Spa and then the John Corbett Way to Bromsgrove. Here the Monarch's Way is regained until just before Illey the Way diverts into central Birmingham along the Illey Way. From the Cathedral of St Chad in Birmingham the Way follows the St Chad's Way , at first along canal towpaths. The Way passes through Sutton Coldfield before joining the Heart of England Way to Lichfield. The route joins the Trent & Mersey Canal towpath to Burton upon Trent and then on to Sawley. Here the Way diverts to Long Eaton and then follows the Way of Blessed Cyprian Tansi along the Broxtowe Country Trail and finally the Beeston Canal towpath to central Nottingham and the Cathedral of St Barnabas. Essential facts: Route length: 215.6 miles Ascent: 11,178 ft Peak elevation: 1,378 ft Average walk day length: 14.5 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Thursday 28th August 2025 Number of walking days: 14.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. See the route below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Mark's Way The northern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St Anne in Leeds to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the St Marie's Cathedral in Sheffield and the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. Patron: St Hilda of Whitby (c. 614 – 680) abbess and key figure in the Anglo-Saxon Church. Hilda founded and was the first abbess of the monastery at Whitby which was the venue for the Synod of Whitby in 664. She was widely recognised for her wisdom and learning and trained five bishops. Her feast is celebrated on 17th November. Overview: The Way starts at Leeds Cathedral and follows the Transpennine Trail (TPT) SE beside the Aire & Calder Navigation to Mickletown. Here the path veers SW to continue on the TPT along a disused railway line and then the River Calder to Wakefield. The Way follows the TPT again beside the former Barnsley Canal and then along a disused railway to Wombwell. The route turns SW along the Barnsley Boundary Walk to Elscar, and then across farmland to briefly join the Old Salt Rd, beside the A629. The Way soon joins the Sheffield Country Walk and follows this beside the Sheffield Canal to reach St Marie's Cathedral in central Sheffield. From here the Way joins the Padley Martyrs Way , leaving the city through Endcliffe Park and then climbing Houndkirk Moor to arrive at the Chapel of the Padley Martyrs. The path then follows the River Derwent to Matlock. The Way leaves the Derwent at Ambergate and turns E, through Ripley and then along the former Cromford Canal to Eastwood. Here the route joins the Robin Hood Way to Strelley where the Way veers E to Kingsbury and finally reaches St Barnabas' Cathedral, central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 107.6 miles Ascent 3,615 ft: The route is mostly flat with the only significant climb on Day 4 over Houndkirk Moor Peak elevation: 1,388 ft Average walk day length: 13.5 miles Average walk duration: 5-6 hours First walking day Sat 6 September 2025 Number of walking days: 8 Number of rest days: 0 Last walking day: Saturday 13 September: arrival at St Barnabas' Cathedral Nottingham for evening prayer and social celebration Sunday 14 September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: pilgrims are invited to join the 11.15 Solemn Mass at St Barnabas' Cathedral Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral and leaves the city along a disused railway line. The route follows the Walsingham Way along lanes to Great Ryborough. The path then follows the Way of the Annunciation to Fakenham and onto the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and then Walsingham. The Way follows lanes to Dersingham and soon joins the Norfolk Coast Path to King's Lynn. The Way continues to Wisbech, Spalding, Bourne and then crosses farmland to join the Danelaw Way. The route continues along paths and tracks to Grantham. From there the route crosses farmland to Bingham and soon after joins the Trent Valley Way to central Nottingham and finally St Barnabas' Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 158.7 miles Ascent: 1,886 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) Average walk day length: 15.8 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours First walking day: Tuesday 2 September 2025 Number of walking days: 10 Number of rest days: 1 End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Phil McCarthy March 20, 2025
St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 173.3 miles Ascent: 4,931 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft Average walk day length: 14.9 miles Average walk day duration: 6 hours Number of walking days: 11.5 Number of rest days: 1.5 Start date: Monday 1st September at St George's Cathedral, Southwark, London End date: Saturday 13th September 2025 at St Barnabas' Cathedral, Nottingham Pilgrims are invited to join the Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15 on Sunday 14th September at St Barnabas' Cathedral. Details of the day pilgrimage stages will be available when day pilgrimage booking opens in April 2025. For a detailed map of the route click the button below.
By Thomas Colsy March 15, 2025
Thomas Colsy explains why the annual Latin Mass Society Walsingham walking pilgrimage is such an important experience for him.
By Julie & Garth Butcher March 10, 2025
The CrossWalk initiative mission is to walk in faith together. This Lent we will be praying and walking for peace. Join us in North Wales!
By Eddie Gilmore February 28, 2025
Eddie Gilmore, currently walking the Lycian Way in Turkey, reflects on the difference between an ancient pilgrimage route and a long-distance hike.
By Heather Warfield February 27, 2025
A new podcast exploring the interface between psychology and pilgrimage!
By Kathryn Hurlock February 27, 2025
Pilgrimage is a journey that goes beyond mere travel; it's a profound quest for spiritual growth, self-discovery, and connection. A new book by Kathryn Hurlock explores this theme.
More Posts
Share by: