Pilgrimage 2000
Pray with your Feet

In November and December hundreds of pilgrims will be crossing Britain from eight start-points to meet in Canterbury on New Year's Eve - and several of the routes pass through Southwark Diocese.

Pilgrimage 2000 is the idea of a group of Christians from St George's, Camden Hill, Kensington and is being taken up by Christian groups nationwide. The eight start points range from Iona, Lindisfarne and Holyhead to London's St Paul's Cathedral and the groups will start on staggered dates with routes planned to converge along the route so they all walk together into Canterbury.

Five routes pass through Southwark Diocese, four in the south going along the A25 between Dorking and Oxted, stopping overnight at Woldingham. The fifth, from St Paul's, will call at Southwark Cathedral and follow the river with an overnight stop on Boxing Day in Greenwich on its way to Rochester.

The organisers say they are happy for local pilgrims to join anywhere along the route - but if it's in your Christmas/New Year plans, let them know so that they can warn the overnight stops further down the route to expect you. Overnight stops are being provided in church halls, homes etc. The Vicar of Chilham, the last overnight stop, from which all the pilgrims will walk the last 15 miles into Canterbury has earmarked four village halls, a school and PCC members' homes!

If you are interested in more information contact Pilgrimage 2000 at 128 Kensington Church Street, London W8 4BH, tel: 020-7221 6109 or e-mail Pilgrimage2000@compuserve.com.

Southwark Mayor leads 200 to Walsingham

Southwark Mayor, Cllr. Charles Cherrill, and his wife Josie led a historic pilgrimage of 200 people to the shrines at Walsingham on 25 September. The pilgrimage was Cllr. Cherrill's idea, as a major initiative of his Mayoral Year.

He believes that as the people of Southwark live and work together for the benefit of all in the borough, so they should be able to worship God together and pray for all who strive to be 'good neighbours' and for the well-being of the community. Four coaches with members of Anglican, Baptist and Roman Catholic parishes in the Borough left St John's, Larcombe Street, and St George's Roman Catholic Cathedral. They reached Walsingham in time for morning worship and blessing at the Anglican shrine's well with Holy Water.

After lunch and free-time, the pilgrims finished their day at the Slipper Chapel, the Roman Catholic shrine, with the Stations of the Cross and evening worship.

At the shrines the Mayor gave an address and presented cheques, on behalf of the pilgrims, to the Administrators. Photo: The Mayor giving his address at the Anglican Shrine