Archbishop Sarah Mullally has begun her pilgrimage to Canterbury by calling at Southwark Cathedral for a blessing.
Earlier Archbishop Sarah had set out from St Paul’s, her former cathedral seat, and crossed the River Thames to Bankside.
She will be arriving at Canterbury Cathedral for her enthronement as Primate of All England on foot as thousands of pilgrims have before her.
‘As I prepare for my installation at Canterbury Cathedral, it feels deeply humbling to be following in the footsteps of those who have walked this ancient route,’ commented the Archbishop on her first day.
On Wednesday she will be enthroned in the Chair of St Augustine during the installation service marking the start of her public ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury.
The party walking with the Archbishop gathered in the Harvard Chapel where the Dean of Southwark, the Very Revd Mark Oakley, reminded everyone that her predecessor, martyr Thomas Becket, made his last journey to Canterbury from Southwark.
Verger Robert Biden stamped the pilgrim passport designed by pupils from Ospringe Church of England Primary School in Faversham.
Among those present to see the Archbishop leave were former editor of The Times Sir Simon Jenkins and historian Alice Loxton.
Walking with the Archbishop and her husband Eamonn is Canterbury Cathedral’s Pilgrimage Officer Torin Brown.
Arrival at Canterbury is planned for Sunday afternoon.
