DIOCESE OF ARUNDEL AND BRIGHTON
ECUMENICAL WALKING PILGRIMAGES

NEWSLETTER

NUMBER 66

February 2000

http://www.pilgrimsprogress.org.uk

Lichfield Pilgrimage

It is a great achievement I feel that our 25th Pilgrimage Year, our own  ‘Jubilee’ coincides with the Jubilee Year 2000 of the Christian Church. In this ‘The Jubilee Year’ we are called to be reconciled with God. One clear way of achieving this is by a Pilgrimage to a shrine or cathedral as a sign and act of witness to our Christian heritage from which act we will receive grace and fulfilment. I am encouraged that our pilgrimage from Guildford to Lichfield will fulfil those expectations.

All who read this newsletter do I hope, feel they are part of the Pilgrimage family. I would however embrace the words of the late Cardinal Hume to the Church for those of you who feel distanced that You will feel able to ‘come back’ and to the rest of us to ‘make them welcome’. The 25 Years Reunion in April will be a wonderful opportunity for us to meet and catch up with pilgrims from earlier days. I am sure we will find we are still striving for the same ideal; a sharing of our faith and relinquishing the preoccupation’s of a secular world.

After the experiences of last year and the Ecumenical Questionnaire that many of you returned, I am confident that we can move forward in faith to worship God together in the unique position in which He has placed us. If you have not yet sent your comments please do not think it is too late, the Organising Team are collating the responses which will be discussed at the April planning meeting.

The accommodation for the Lichfield Pilgrimage is looking good. Aidan treated us to a computer graphics presentation of the halls he has found. The Rest Days in Henley and Stratford upon Avon are superb with central halls, good facilities and cheap! 

 

The parish at Lichfield wants to entertain us, we will be catered for at Oscott College and having visited at Christmas I can honestly say there is lots to do at Lichfield and you will not be disappointed with the Cathedral as the Pilgrimage destination

St Chad became Bishop of Mercia in 668 and became a great reconciler of people and a missionary for Christ. We plan also to visit St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham which is where there are one or two bones of St Chad still held.

Pat Donachie has taken over from Louise Chenery, as Booking Secretary so you will need to book early and you will see this year there is an ‘Early booking discount’! John Lamb who is still Church Liaison Officer has kindly agreed to succeed me as Co-ordinator and so will be acting as deputy for the Lichfield Pilgrimage. We have one van driver for the whole two weeks; John Russell but at present no cook for the first night because Frances has another commitment. Joan is still ‘Sarnie Queen’ so there is no escaping those bread rolls!

You can book as soon as you receive this mailing but do not delay, as numbers are limited due to hall sizes and don’t forget to tell your friends about the Pilgrimage.

Lesley.

 

Please Book Early!

Some of the halls for this year’s pilgrimage have limited space, book early to ensure your place! The standard rate for bookings is £155 but there is a £5 discount on those received before 30th June. Early bookings also considerably ease the job of Accommodations Officer, Bookings Secretary…

Please remember that Recruitment is by word of mouth, so spread the word! A full pilgrimage helps to keep the unit costs down, & gives you more people to chat with along the way!

 

Pilgrimage Contacts:

DABCEC, 4 Southgate drive, Crawley, West Sussex RH10 6RP

Co-ordinator -Lesley Hill

Bookings Secretary – Pat Donachie

Newsletter editor - e-mail:  Via Website

 

Apology

To all those Pilgrims who didn’t receive an invitation to the last reunion The Committee wishes to express their heartfelt apologies. This was due to ‘Logistical problems’ (Not helped by my moving house, and failing to make either last years Pilgrimage or the September Committee meeting!)

 

News

Jimmy & Samantha Dean have had a millennium baby boy. Felix was born at 12.24 (p.m.) on 1st January 2000.

Mike Roberts (the Caterer from Walsingham, Glastonbury I, Canterbury II, Buckfast I, and Sussex pilgrimages) sadly died from Cancer in April last year. I’m sure that many of you will have fond memories of him from those days. RIP.


The River Wey at Guildford, Start of this years Pilgrimage

Web Site

Any of you who have access to the Internet should take a look at Danny’s Web site:

http://www.pilgrimsprogress.org.uk

I have only very recently made it on-line myself, and so with a newsletter to do I haven’t had a chance to read it all properly, but a first glimpse suggests it to be full of interesting information, and reminders of past pilgrimages etc. – Congratulations to all involved.

Don’t forget the Grand 25th anniversary reunion to be held over the weekend of

31 MARCH – 2 APRIL 2000

This is to be held at Ropley Village Hall in Hampshire (site of the 20 Blistering years’ reunion), and will involve the usual reunion thing, Plus the opportunity for a Train ride and another special edition Tee shirt!

Full details see: http://www.thepilgrims.org.uk/pilg/2000/reunion25/index.html

 


What have you got planned for Easter? 

As usual I’m going to experience a really vibrant and meaningful Easter, by joining Student Cross on a Pilgrimage to Walsingham in Norfolk. This year though I’ve foolishly allowed myself to be made leader of one of the groups! Jess and I will be doing one of the shorter routes, walking from Ely for 3 days, covering just under 60 miles. At the Shrine we will meet with other ‘Legs’ from London, Nottingham, Oxford, Colchester, Kettering, Leicester, Kings Lynn (for families) & East Dereham (a single days walking with some pilgrims who have been doing Student Cross for 50 years). The Groups will then walk along the Holy Mile into Walsingham itself for a weekend long celebration! Many of the pilgrims present will have walked all week covering distances around 125 miles, each group carrying between them a large wooden cross.

The shared experiences create a wonderful community spirit that will be familiar to those who have joined an Arundel & Brighton walking pilgrimage. There are differences in style between the two pilgrimages, On Student Cross the groups typically contain between 15 & 25 pilgrims who will walk as a single group for the week. (Having a large lump of wood bouncing on your shoulders does certainly teach you to keep in step with the others carrying it, but I generally don’t find it becomes a strain and it often seems easier to walk whilst carrying the Cross!) Also because each Leg’s route is basically the same from year to year, the local communities are expecting the pilgrims to pass through. In several cases a number of ‘traditions’ have been started. There is one telephone box where London Leg always attempts to see how many pilgrims will fit in a telephone box, (the limit is usually around 9 as everyone else wants to take photos of the others!)

Anyone interested in an Easter away from the normal can get further details either from the ‘General Organising Director’ Ellie Gibson or from me (Address etc. at the foot of the front page)

 

Access Student Cross website via: http://www.pilgrimsprogress.org.uk/cross.html