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Pilgrimage Today: Find Your Direction
Pilgrimage Today: Find Your Direction
We invite you to our Evensong, Mini Pilgrimage & Symposium event on the anniversary of Chaucer's pilgrims setting out from London to Canterbury on April 17th, to celebrate another year of building pilgrimage in Britain and to hear from BPT patrons and friends, and some song.
Tom Holland – will be speaking on Chaucer, Apocalyptic Pilgrimage from 1033 and Athenian Pilgrimage, and how pilgrimage becomes more important the further we go back in time. Tom is an award-winning historian, author, broadcaster and co-presenter of the top 10 podcast, The Rest is History. He is the author of Millennium: The End of the World and the Forging of Christendom, a panoramic account of the two centuries on either side of the apocalyptic year 1000, Dominion, and the biography of Æthelstan, the first King of England, and of Æthelflæd, England’s Forgotten Founder. Tom is the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Making History and has written and presented a number of TV documentaries, for the BBC and Channel 4, on subjects ranging from ISIS to dinosaurs.
Phoebe Smith – will be speaking about her new book Wayfarer and the emotional healing powers of pilgrimage. Phoebe is an adventurer and Wander Woman podcast host, and is passionate about using adventure to help others. She is President of the Long Distance Walkers Association, a multi-award-winning travel writer, photographer and broadcaster, and author of 10 books, with her next one, Wayfarer: Love, Loss and Life on Britain’s Ancient Paths, published in 2024 by HarperCollins, charting her journey as a non-religious soul to overcome past traumas by walking multiple pilgrim paths.
Dr Rupert Sheldrake – will be speaking on 'Pilgrimage in different cultures across the world'. Rupert is a biologist, pilgrimage innovator, and author of Science and Spiritual Practices and Ways to Go Beyond.
Galahad Clark – will be speaking about the foot and proper walking. Galahad is a seventh-generation cobbler. His ancestors founded Clarks shoes, and Galahad is now the driving force behind Vivobarefoot, which makes shoes that allow the wearer to enjoy the same range or movement and sensation as if they were barefoot. Vivobarefoot puts health and sustainability at the heart of its strategy, and is launching its 'Pilgrim' earthed grounding shoe in May 2024, and we at BPT are partnering with them to spread the word about proper walking.
Oliver Smith – will be speaking about radically reframing pilgrimage for a modern audience in more surprising forms. He is a travel journalist, who for 10 years travelled the world working for Lonely Planet Magazine, and now writes for FT Weekend, The Times and National Geographic Traveller. His first narrative travel book – On This Holy Island: A Modern Pilgrimage Across Britain – was published in March 2024 by Bloomsbury.
Our charity's own Guy Hayward will speak on the basics of pilgrimage in Britain, sing some pilgrim songs and link everything up, and our Chair Simon Guild will speak on the work that we do as a charity.
5pm Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral is free.
(optional) 5pm – St Paul's Cathedral Evensong (45 mins of beautiful music from past 500 years, 16th-century poetry, free magic, no booking needed)
(optional) 5.50pm – mini-pilgrimage (route here) from St Paul's Cathedral via St Bartholomew-the-Great, Smithfield to St James', Clerkenwell.
6.30pm – arrive and mingle with the other pilgrims
6.40pm – talks start
9.45pm – talks finish and meeting with other pilgrims
10pm – close
Tickets for Symposium are £25 (£20 for Giving Pilgrims, formerly ‘Friends’)
Evensong + mini pilgrimage is free
What does my money go? What's this all for? – It's a fundraiser for registered charity British Pilgrimage Trust, which has limited resources, and offers lots of online materials for pilgrims to use for free, and facilitates the grass roots growth of pilgrimage in Britain by engaging with local communities. For more details about our charitable activities, please check here.
Date and time
About this event
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St James' Church, Clerkenwell, EC1R 0EA
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The Avebury Pilgrimage was a joyful experience. Guy brought wonder and deep connection to the group experience. The other pilgrims were warm, fun and willing to surrender to this rich experience of movement, landscape, the past and the unseen world all around us. Thank you Guy!
Laura
My favourite part was walking in silence and being able to just concentrate on the purpose of my pilgrimage without the noise and baggage of life getting in the way. Abigail was a wonderful guide. She was thoughtful and brought a calm and sense of spiritual purpose to the day. I absolutely loved the walk.
Tamsin
Many good moments but two things stand out: Chalice Well and the impromptu singing of a wassail song on the way up Glastonbury Tor, by an apple orchard. It was cold yet rather lovely to do a pilgrimage in the frost. Informed and engaging guide. Friendly and supportive fellow pilgrims. Such a good ethos.
Susan
I loved walking through the countryside and the fascinating sights such as the church mill and barrow. The lanterns were lovely too and the Wassail singing and cake were a lovely touch. The arrival at Canterbury was spectacular. It was a lovely day and Dawn is a terrific guide.
Sally
Sally
Dawn was absolutely brilliant. Brought the group together and was so knowledgeable . Really warm individual and so caring. Just an amazing experience all round. Can't thank you enough for the experience.
Stuart
Pilgrim
My favourite part was Dawn singing to us by Kits Coty - sublime when the sun came out for us at the end of the song. Dawn has a lovely sincerity and her singing was wonderful. Also the Canon’s pilgrim’s blessing In Winchester Cathedral was an unexpected and perfect end to the day
Alexandra
I enjoyed listening to Guy's singing in the different settings - enhanced the experience and linked us to the past. The whole day was beautifully facilitated with a perfect balance of history overview, time for reflection and walking. It was very special - thank you so much!
Jo
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What our pilgrims say
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