CONGRATULATIONS! You have successfully convened a Pilgrim Paths Group, devised a series of short pilgrimages using your local churches, published useful leaflets or guides, and offered a series of journeys — in short, you have got your community really engaged with the concept of pilgrimage. Indeed, some people are so enthusiastic that they are talking about taking the next step and venturing further afield. They are asking you what you are planning next. . .
The easiest and simplest solution is, of course, to direct them to the numerous pilgrim paths that already exist around the country, and encourage them to undertake a journey by themselves. The British Pilgrimage Trust (BPT) operates an excellent website with countrywide coverage, offering pilgrim routes of all lengths and many locations.
In addition, the BPT hosts its own pilgrimages, with experienced leaders who provide music and interesting information along the way, and overnight hospitality in their network of “sanctuaries”. There is even a luggage-transfer option (britishpilgrimage.org). It should be noted, however, that the BPT operates on a principle of “Bring your own beliefs”; so those pilgrims looking for Christian insight will be disappointed.
EVEN further afield, the independent traveller can be encouraged to make use of the many organisations that offer guided journeys along the Via Francigena, the Camino de Santiago, St Olav’s Way, and other European Christian pilgrim routes.
Both the BPT and tour-company pilgrimages come at a cost, however, and few offer direct Christian input. In addition, unless a large contingent from your area decides to join together, these will not be community-building exercises. In all, you might feel it more productive to organise your own pilgrimage.
Questions to ask:
- Will your route be local, encompassing the pilgrim routes that you have already explored? This might be a good choice for your first multi-day venture, as prospective pilgrims will feel more comfortable on their home territory. On the other hand, it’s not terribly adventurous.
- Will you opt for an established route somewhere in the UK? This is a step up, as it is unfamiliar landscape, but still brings the familiarity of the same language, and easy access for trips to hospitals/back home in case of emergencies.
- Will you be truly adventurous and step out on a European pilgrim route? If you are not going to go with a tour company, this will require a mountain of preparation. It might be better, in this instance, to ask for a tailor-made trip, and simply to add on the Christian input.
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
ARE you organising just the pilgrimage walk itself or the whole experience? I have only ever dealt with the walk alone: every time I have begun to research offering an inclusive package, the administrative details have mounted up so fast that I have given up. Even if you simply offer the guided walk, there are things to bear in mind.
Transport
How will your pilgrims get to and from the starting point each day? If the pilgrimage is linear, is there enough and sufficiently varied accommodation near by to enable people to stay overnight on a budget that suits them? Don’t forget to look at using the sanctuary network, or “champing” (champing.co.uk) This last, organised by the Churches Conservation Trust and marketed as “sleepovers with soul”, is fun, but quite expensive.
Food
To begin and end the whole journey with some kind of hospitality is undoubtedly a good thing, but even that might elevate it from something relatively simple to plan, to something that requires the skills of a tour operator (there is a reason that that is a job!). Given the challenges of food allergies or intolerances, it is best simply to signpost people to places where food might be obtained — warning or reminding them that they will also need to think of lunch.
Support vehicle
A support vehicle is not so much a luxury as a necessity. Not only can it ferry the overtired and blistered, but it can also carry first-aid kit, and luggage for those people who did not take seriously your instructions to travel light; and it can store supplies of spare food and drink for those who think no further than breakfast.
Dogs or no dogs?
Some people will walk only with their dogs. On the other hand, how many canine encounters of the bitey kind are you prepared to put up with?
Children, or child-free?
Pilgrimage is a wonderful activity for families, but you will need to plan in more break times, and interesting stops and activities along the way — making a “journey stick”; finding tiny items that fit into a matchbox; word games; etc. The opportunities for serious, in-depth conversations will be more limited; and don’t bank on a stoical approach to walking miles in the rain from the under-15s.
Risk assessment
Imagine every possible disaster, and plan for it.
You must walk the route first. You must know where you are going. You must be aware of exit points if someone is injured. You must have a proper risk assessment. You must alert your insurer. You must have permission from your PCC to undertake the trip. You should have a qualified first-aider with you. You should have a walk leader, and one or two back-ups, depending on the size of the group: 20 is the maximum number who can walk in a group safely, and for this number there should be at least three people in charge.
And finally. . .
WHAT makes a walk into a pilgrimage and not a group hike is the intention and, crucially, the supporting material. Where are you going to source this? Some routes have booklets ready made (St Frideswide’s Way, cathedral@chch.ox.ac.uk; Cornish Celtic Way, cornishcelticway.co.uk; Peak and Hope Pilgrimages peakpilgrimage.org.uk, to name but a few).
For others, you will have to glean material from elsewhere — or, better still, get someone from within your community to write something.
The Revd Dr Sally Welch is Vicar of the Kington Group in the diocese of Hereford.
