You will note that I have at least one church on the itinerary each day, where possible for either for an Anglican service, Catholic Mass or a simple blessing. Attendance at these is entirely optional. Then, from April 11 to 25, I shall walk the full route over 14 days, with a one-day rest in Bury St Edmunds, on the 18th, where a day of pilgrim events are being planned. The trail leads from London to pass through Waltham Abbey, Ware, Stansted, Mountfitchet, Saffron Walden, Withersfield, Stansfield, Bury St Edmunds, Thetford, Brandon, Great Cressingham, Castle Acre, Fakenham, and it ends in Walsingham. The first section routes east along the Thames heading north at Limehouse in the Lea Valley to reach Waltham Forest and includes much waterside walking. In 1061 a Walsingham noblewoman, Lady Richeldis de Faverches, had a vision in which the Virgin Mary transported her soul to Nazareth and showed her the house where the Holy Family once lived, and in which the Annunciation of Archangel Gabriel, foretelling Jesus’s birth, occurred.

Walsingham was England's Nazareth. A fantastical tale brought pilgrims - kings, queens, and commoners alike - to Walsingham in the Middle Ages. In 1061 a Walsingham noblewoman, Lady Richeldis de Faverches, had a vision in which the Virgin Mary transported her soul to Nazareth and showed her the house where the Holy Family once lived, and in which the Annunciation of Archangel Gabriel, foretelling Jesus's birth, occurred. She was told to build a replica of the house in Walsingham, and did so. The Holy House, initially a simple wooden structure, later richly decorated with gold and precious jewels, became a shrine and attracted pilgrims to Walsingham from all over Europe. Numerous kings travelled as pilgrims to Walsingham.She told me that it was all very well to have re-established the pre-Reformation walking route from London to Walsingham, and fine that I had walked each stage four or five times in the course of researching the path... but. To truly bear witness I had to walk the whole thing in one go.

A pilgrim path that offers a wonderful long-distance route, on footpaths and quiet lanes, across the glorious east of England. How to get your pilgrim credencial/pilgrim passport for access to pilgrim accommodation along the routes, and to qualify for the Compostela certificate of completion.Today, it is once again hugely significant, attracting 300,000 pilgrims a year to the Anglican, Catholic and Orthodox Shrines, and to the ruins of Walsingham Priory. To remedy that, the Confraternity is working with Andy Bull, author of Pilgrim Pathways, to identify the old route and develop a modern pilgrim path that is as faithful to it as possible, while also giving a fulfilling walking experience. Walking each day set up a rhythm in which the awareness of being a pilgrim grew. As day followed day, the ordinary, everyday world and my life in it shrank in significance, and the life of the spirit and the joyful sense of communal endeavour grew ever stronger.

The London to Walsingham Camino Pilgrimage Guide is exceptional in its presentation, highlighting the historical context of the ancient Pilgrim Routes, alongside the spiritual reasons as to why people have made pilgrimage to Walsingham over so many centuries. It eloquently speaks to us of the often unknown spiritual heritage of England. Perhaps lost jewel to be rediscovered! The book is fascinating on myriads of levels with insights from some of the great British authors which have the capacity to open us to the depths of our great literary heritage along side the spiritual one. St Mary’s, Bartlow (pilgrim stamp) Duncan Ogilvy will be at church with stamp. Loos and kitchen available Suggested accommodation: Old Canon Brewery, Bury St Edmunds. I am staying here. I booked via bookings.com This guide follows a newly-resurrected route devised by the author. Divided into 13 easy to moderately-challenging stages, it’s a truly uplifting walking experience, following footpaths and quiet lanes across the glorious east of England. The church (Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6DN), is the official start of the London to Walsingham Camino route, and will be open for us to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham and stamp our pilgrim passports. Passports are available from the Confraternity of St James (csj.org.uk)She was told to build a replica of the house in Walsingham, and did so. The Holy House, initially a simple wooden structure, later richly decorated with gold and precious jewels, became a shrine and attracted pilgrims to Walsingham from all over Europe including numerous kings. From there I was playing to a receptive audience. They loved the idea of doing a Camino in England. Mention Walsingham as the destination, however, and eyes dimmed again. Even when we got to Norfolk, Walsingham's recognition factor was low. Indeed, I only had a vague ides of its significance before I started this project.

The route from Reading Abbey to Southampton, likely used by medieval British pilgrims to Santiago, and designated part of the Camino Inglés in the UK. Kings from Henry III to Henry VIII and queens including Catherine of Aragon came here on pilgrimage. From the 1930s, with the Catholic shrine re-established, and an Anglican one founded, Walsingham again became the country’s most important purely-pilgrim destination. Andy Bull, author of the new book on the London to Walsingham Camino answers some reflective questions about why he was inspired to write the book. The official launch of the London to Walsingham Camino, and the publication of the accompanying guidebook, will take place on Saturday, 3 September 2022.Suggested accommodation: Bridge Hotel (I booked via bookings.com) or Ram Inn, Brandon, also on bookings.com I hope to be able to offer some pilgrimage-related activities in Bury, and am discussing this with the Cathedral team. It all depends on how many we will be. Walking the whole route in 13 days (plus a rest-day at Bury St Edmunds, the half-way point) was a revelation. This route via Bury St Edmunds is 144 miles includingall the twists and turns. Starting on Sunday (say 9am Mass at Westminster Cathedral) and walking an average 20 miles a day gets you to Fakenham on Saturday evening. This allows a leisurely 4 mile walk on Sunday to the Catholic Shrine at Houghton St Giles for the mid day pilgrim Mass (a further 1 mile to Little Walsingham gets you to the Anglican Centre where Mary is also venerated and a range ofsmall town amenities, accommodation etc.). Please note: Partly because of restrictions relating to animal infection on a farm, we will currently have to walk along the narrow verge of an A road for two stretches, totalling about 1.5 - 2 miles. It may be that restrictions will lift by April, I am monitoring the situation. This is the only point in the 178-mile journey where this happens. I believe it to be safe, but if you are at all unsure of navigating this, you might like to arrange transport for yourself between Mundford and Hilborough.