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 brief, you may have got your community really engaged with the concept of pilgrimage. Indeed, some individuals are so enthusiastic that they’re talking about taking the subsequent step and venturing further afield. They are asking you what you might be planning next. . .
The easiest and simplest solution is, after all, to direct them to the many pilgrim paths that exist already across the country, and encourage them to undertake a journey by themselves. The British Pilgrimage Trust (BPT) operates a wonderful website with countrywide coverage, offering pilgrim routes of all lengths and lots of locations.
In addition, the BPT hosts its own pilgrimages, with experienced leaders who provide music and interesting information along the way in which, and overnight hospitality of their network of “sanctuaries”. There is even a luggage-transfer option (britishpilgrimage.org). It must be noted, nonetheless, that the BPT operates on a principle of “Bring your personal beliefs”; so those pilgrims in search of Christian insight shall be dissatisfied.
EVEN further afield, the independent traveller could be encouraged to utilize the numerous organisations that supply 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 price, nonetheless, and few offer direct Christian input. In addition, unless a big contingent out of your area decides to affix together, these is not going to be community-building exercises. In all, you would possibly feel it more productive to organise your personal pilgrimage.
Questions to ask:
- Will your route be local, encompassing the pilgrim routes that you may have already explored? This is perhaps a great alternative in your first multi-day enterprise, as prospective pilgrims will feel more comfortable on their home territory. On the opposite hand, it’s not terribly adventurous.
- Will you choose for a longtime route somewhere within the UK? This is a step up, because it is unfamiliar landscape, but still brings the familiarity of the identical language, and quick 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 should not going to go together with a tour company, it will require a mountain of preparation. It is perhaps higher, on this instance, to ask for a tailor-made trip, and easily so as to add on the Christian input.
FURTHER CONSIDERATIONS
ARE you organising just the pilgrimage walk itself or the entire experience? I actually have only ever handled the walk alone: each time I actually have begun to research offering an inclusive package, the executive details have mounted up so fast that I actually have given up. Even in the event you simply offer the guided walk, there are things to remember.
Transport
How will your pilgrims get to and from the start line every day? If the pilgrimage is linear, is there enough and sufficiently varied accommodation near by to enable people to remain overnight on a budget that suits them? Don’t forget to take a 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 entire journey with some form of hospitality is undoubtedly a great thing, but even that may elevate it from something relatively easy to plan, to something that requires the abilities of a tour operator (there’s a reason that that may be a job!). Given the challenges of food allergies or intolerances, it’s best simply to signpost people to places where food is perhaps obtained — warning or reminding them that they can even need to think about lunch.
Support vehicle
A support vehicle just isn’t a lot a luxury as a necessity. Not only can it ferry the overtired and blistered, but it could also carry first-aid kit, and luggage for those individuals who didn’t take seriously your instructions to travel light; and it could store supplies of spare food and drinks for individuals who think no further than breakfast.
Dogs or no dogs?
Some people will walk only with their dogs. On the opposite hand, what number of canine encounters of the bitey kind are you ready to place up with?
Children, or child-free?
Pilgrimage is an excellent activity for families, but you will want to plan in additional break times, and interesting stops and activities along the way in which — making a “journey stick”; finding tiny items that fit right into a matchbox; word games; etc. The opportunities for serious, in-depth conversations shall be more limited; and don’t bank on a stoical approach to walking miles within 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 might be going. You must pay attention to exit points if someone is injured. You will need to have a correct risk assessment. You must alert your insurer. You will need to have permission out of your PCC to undertake the trip. You must have a professional first-aider with you. You must have a walk leader, and one or two back-ups, depending on the scale of the group: 20 is the utmost number who can walk in a bunch safely, and for this number there must be no less than three people in charge.
And finally. . .
WHAT makes a walk right into a pilgrimage and never a bunch 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 call but a couple of).
For others, you’ll have to glean material from elsewhere — or, higher still, get someone from inside your community to jot down something.
The Revd Dr Sally Welch is Vicar of the Kington Group within the diocese of Hereford.
