Leigh Hatts

In 1162 St Thomas Becket was consecrated bishop in Canterbury Cathedral on the Sunday after Whitsun having been ordained priest on the previous day. He subsequently promoted that Sunday as Trinity Sunday annually ahead of its universal adoption under Pope John XXII in 1334. Pope John also introduced Corpus Christi on the Thursday after Trinity […]

Henry Beaufort was made a cardinal 600 years ago this week: May 1426. If you start your pilgrimage at Southwark Cathedral you see his shield with its red cardinal’s hat in the south transept. But if you are setting out from Winchester you find his magnificent tomb alongside St Swithun’s shrine. Bishop Beaufort is depicted […]

A large banner based on Archbishop William Warham’s shield is now hanging in the tower at Oford Palace. The new attraction is the work of Jacky Gulczynski. The heraldic features include a goat’s head and three pilgrim shells. The Archbishop’s shield can be seen on his tomb close to the Martyrdom in Canterbury Cathedral. It […]

This weekend’s Sunday is the Third Sunday of Easter which means that St Aphege does not get much of a mention this year. In some years he is overtaken by Easter Week. But 19 April is St Alphege’s Day. Alphege was Bishop of Winchester and then Archbishop of Canterbury. He was martyred in Greenwich by […]

The Dirty Habit pub in Hollingbourne will reopen in May. The inn has been closed since October 2022 when it was badly damaged by fire. Drinks and food should be available from Tuesday 5 May before the all day ‘grand re-opening party’ on Saturday 9 May which is open to all. The Pilgrims’ Way runs […]

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 […]

The new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally is to leave London on foot for her enthronement at Canterbury Cathedral. ‘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,’ says Archbishop Sarah. On St Patrick’s Day next Tuesday, […]

Canadian sculptor Timothy Schmalz, whose work is found in Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Fatima, has donated a striking image to Canterbury. The new artwork is outside St Thomas of Canterbury Church in Burgate. The bronze work takes the form of a long seat with a life-size pilgrim or an angel, depending on where you […]

The woods around Lesnes Abbey have London’s largest display of wild daffodils. The familiar yellow flowers are appearing now and will reach their peak this month. There are also crocuses near the abbey fish pond and blossom in the monks’ garden. **Lesnes Abbey is between Shooters Hill and Dartford on the second stage out of […]

The Pilgrims’ Way starts in Winchester and Southwark before converging at Otford. Both starting points have a St Valentine resonance. On the edge of Winchester the PW passes through the remains of Hyde Abbey. Here one of the treasured relics was the head of St Valentine which had been given by Canute’s Queen Emma, mother […]