30 miles on, very wet and tired, the Bishop of Southwark still managed to wave cheerily from the Meridian Line just outside the Dome, after walking along it from Lingfield in Surrey. A group of Greenwich schoolchildren braved the rain and wind to stand on the line with him. They had walked a short way with him from their school, Christ Church, then went by bus and met him at the Dome.

The Rt Rev Tom Butler started at Lingfield on Saturday afternoon, 7 October. He prayed at each parish church, or sometimes at the parish boundary, with church members who turned out to greet him and join him on the route, through Crowhurst and Hurst Green to Oxted.

After Sunday Eucharist at Oxted Bishop Tom continued mostly in sunshine with groups of people from each church as he went through Limpsfield, over the steep slope of the North Downs through Titsey Park and on to Chelsham St Leonard's. New Addington sent a large party including wheelchair-users to meet him, then he continued to West Wickham, where he met people from the churches of St John and St Francis before Evening Prayer at St Mary of Nazareth.

Monday began in the Borough of Lewisham, skipping the part of the Line that crosses Rochester Diocese. From St Barnabas, Southend he went to St John the Baptist School, and as he left, the Rev Sandy Borthwick, resplendent in kilt as well as clerical collar, piped the Bishop on his way. From there it was a succession of five schools, with a handover by clergy and parishioners at each parish boundary. "It's like passing the parcel, and I'm the parcel," joked Bishop Tom.

At St Andrew, Catford, the Bishop walked along a green tape which traces the Meridian Line as it passes right through the church from one side to the other. Hither Green, St Swithun passed him on to The Good Shepherd, Lee and to St Margaret's School where he went round the classes.

Blackheath Station was the meeting point with the Vicar and parishioners from All Saints Church, plus the 'Friendship Squad' from All Saints School, who led the Bishop to their school. After assembly there and another at St Alfege School, he went on with St Alfege School Council to the Cutty Sark for a brief picture stop in the rain. He spoke to Christ Church School then strode on in drenching weather for the last leg of the walk to the Dome. There the Bishop met some of the Dome Chaplains and with his fellow travellers lined up on the Meridian, marked in red across the piazza. Finally they took part in the daily worship in the Prayer Tent to end the Bishop’s pilgrimage.

The Bishop commented: "I met some fascinating people on this journey, crossing and re-crossing the Meridian Line. In our life's journey we cross and re-cross the lines of the past and the present. As I walked, I thought how important it is to move forward, working with others we meet to make a better world."

PHOTOGRAPHS OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ON THE WALK, AND MORE DETAILS OF SPECIFIC PLACES available from Patrick Olivier, as below.

Ends.

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