Pilgrim Cross 2023: On the Road Again!
Midland
The 'joyous' leg
Starting on: Friday 31st March
Cost: £250 (waged)/£150 (low waged)/£115 (unwaged)
Midland is a friendly, funloving and faithful leg. We are a lively and inclusive group, always ready to sing, dance and enjoy life. We are ecumenical but have a more Catholic approach. Our liturgy is challenging, reverent and fuelled by the Spirit. We aim for a mix of traditional and more modern elements including poetry and music from outside of the Church tradition. Midland leg has a tradition of welcoming LGBTQ+ people and a wide range of others who may have felt marginalised by the Church model of the “ideal Christian” and we have a tailored liturgy that preaches love and infinite respect for all of God’s people.
London
The 'teamwork means dreamwork' leg
Starting on: Friday 31st March
Cost: £230 (waged)/£115 (low waged)/£70 (unwaged)
We are the original leg of Pilgrim Cross and follow an ancient pilgrimage route with long established connections with the communities on our way. We are an inclusive and friendly group - you will become part of our supportive Christian community that stays connected throughout the year. We are trying to be as aware as we can be about our impact on our environment. Our liturgy will include Roman Catholic, Methodist and Anglican services along the way.
Northern
The 'late-night conversations' leg
Starting on: Friday 31st March
Cost: £200 (waged)/£100 (low waged)/£50 (unwaged)
Northern is a year round community that doesn't end when we reach Walsingham. We embrace everyone as they are and share our stories and talents with each other both during the pilgrimage and through the rest of the year. Our group has a diverse range of ages and experiences so we are never short of an interesting story. Our tales and music and evenings together mean that no one feels like an outsider for very long. We act as chaplains to one another with an ecumenical liturgy that is created by the community for the community. Northern Leg seeks to be a diverse and inclusive community, with LGBTQ+ pilgrims a visible part of the leg. Our liturgy creates a space for people to be in touch with their authentic selves.
Essex
The 'ice cream' leg
Starting on: Friday 31st March
Cost: £185 (waged)/£110 (low waged)/£65 (unwaged)Essex is the most coastal route, taking in the sights of sea, sand, an ice cream stop and hills! Praying, reflecting and worshipping together are important parts of our journey, and leading the liturgy is shared by members of the Leg, our chaplains and clergy and lay leaders in the communities we walk through, drawing on our different Christian traditions and life experiences.
Kettering
The 'students and young adults' leg
Starting on: Saturday 1st April
Cost: £185 (waged)/£100 (low waged)/£50 (unwaged)Kettering walks through three counties- Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, taking in beautiful villages and long stretches of fen. All along the way, communities welcome us as we pass through. The variety of what we see on our way complements our liturgy which is organised daily by different members of the group and develops organically as our community does. We have a Catholic chaplain and celebrate Mass several times during the week. Whilst we welcome pilgrims of all backgrounds we are mostly made up of students and young adults.
Oxford
The 'traditional' leg
Starting on: Friday 31st March
Cost: £195 (waged)/£110 (low waged)/£60 (unwaged)
The Oxford route is a bit like our journey with Christ - it may not be the most direct, but we get there in the end! We walk on tracks and country lanes, carrying our Cross. Usually around two thirds of our ecumenical group are students and young adults. On the road we sing, talk and pray; each day we also spend about an hour in silent reflection whilst we walk through beautiful countryside.
Ely
The 'walkers' leg
Starting on: Tuesday 4th April
Cost: £150 (waged)/£75 (low waged)/£50 (unwaged)
Ely has a shorter route than most, making it ideal for those unable to walk for the whole week. Meeting on the Tuesday before Easter, we walk for three days; one day off-road and two days on. Our liturgies are carefully crafted and draw on the riches of church tradition and contemporary spirituality. Although we only walk three days, we cover 60 miles, making us the leg for walkers.
Easter
The 'one day' leg
Starting on: Thursday 6th April
Cost: £65 (waged)/£35 (low/unwaged or children) - Pilgrims arrange their own travel and accomodation
Easter meet up in Walsingham on Thursday to start celebrating the Easter services with the local parish followed by an evening of getting to know each other. We walk the 10 miles from Wells to Walsingham the next day, stopping along the way for reflections on our theme prepared by volunteers from the leg. The small amount of time together does not stop us from forming great friendships. Walkers on Easter arrange their own accommodation and travel - the fee goes towards the cost of two main meals and other general expenses. This group is for everyone, from those with young children or limited mobility to work commitments - our wide age range leads to very interesting conversations. All who want to celebrate Easter in word and song are welcome!