Leigh Hatts

For centuries pilgrims have worn a badge as a visible sign of their pilgrimage. Often this would be obtained on arrival at Canterbury and thrown into the Thames on the pilgrim’s return to the capital. Now a badge is available at Southwark Cathedral for those setting out from there for Canterbury. The badge of St […]

The Mothers’ Union has reached 150 years in age with supporters all round the world. Millions of people are helped by the MU. Mary Sumner founded the Mothers Union at Old Arlesford – the PW passes near New Arlesford to the south. Later Mary, wife of a bishop, lived at Farnham Castle on the PW. […]

Lammastide was marked at Southwark Cathedral on Friday when a new loaf from Borough Market provided the communion bread. The celebration began in the Bread Ahead bakery where the Dean of Southwark, The Very Revd Mark Oakley, blessed harvest grain, new bread, the bakers and bakery students with holy water. Afterwards a harvest sheaf, new […]

The July calendar features several saints associated with pilgrimage: St Thomas Becket, St Swithun and St James. At the end of the month comes St Martha’s Day on 29 July. Since 2021 this day is now designated as the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus who shared a home in Bethany where Jesus was […]

Gatton church is promoting itself as a pilgrim church with an open day fundraiser on August Bank Holiday Monday 31 August. Although very close to the path, the ancient church is easily missed being hidden in the Gatton Park. Pilgrims walking Stage 6 from Box Hill to Merstham pass through Gatton Park towards the end. […]

This year St Swithun’s Day will be extra special in Winchester where St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church is celebrating its centenary. In July 1926 The Tablet newspaper reported that the church was opened on ‘the Feast of St Swithun’. This year the Mayor of Winchester and guests from the cathedral and local churches will gather […]

On Sunday the church of St Thomas in Salisbury marked the coming Translation of St Thomas Becket Day early with its annual Rose Petal Sunday. The church’s patronal festival was kept with a choral Eucharist of St Thomas presided over by new curate Carly Taylor who was celebrating her first Mass following ordination at the […]

The Translation of St Thomas Becket falls on 7 July marking the moving of the saint’s body from Canterbury Cathedral crypt to the shrine in the main church in 1220. This was always a much better attended occasion than the anniversary of his martyrdom on 29 December. Monday 6 July Cathedral: 5.30pm First Evensong of […]

Ancient St John’s church in Medway’s riverside Halling will be keeping its patronal festival with an open evening. Wednesday 24 June is St John’s Day when the church is opening from 6-9pm offering free refreshments and a chance to have go at bellringing. The village has long been on the Pilgrims’ Way as it maintained […]

Soon there will be handy PW waymarks found along the route. The plan is to start in places where they are most needed -for example where the PW is not over the same ground as the North Downs Way. If there are any places where you have briefly felt confused let us know in the […]