The Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Canterbury is the UK’s second most popular route according to the British Pilgrimage Trust. ‘For many, the appeal of pilgrimage lies not simply in the act of walking, but in walking towards the unknown in search of something meaningful,’ claims the Trust which welcomes the King’s Christmas message featuring […]

Monday 29 December is the anniversary of St Thomas Becket’s murder in Canterbury Cathedral. At Canterbury Cathedral there will be celebrations of The Eucharist at the Altar of Swordspoint at 8am and 12.30pm. The Roman Catholic Mass is at noon at St Thomas of Canterbury Church in nearby Burgate. The church is home to relics […]

The Christmas carol Bethlehem Down was written by poet Bruce Blunt in 1927 whilst between two pubs on the Pilgrims’ Way. He was walking from The Plough in Bishop’s Sutton to The Anchor on the outskirts of Ropley in Hampshire. Both pubs are now closed. The Plough, on the corner of Water Lane, suffered a […]

Jane Austen was born 250 years ago on 16 December 1775 in the north Hampshire village of Steventon. Her death in 1817 came in Winchester where she is buried in the cathedral. Her statue, unveiled this year, is outside although at the moment suddenly almost lost between Christmas Market stalls. Advent, as she celebrated her […]

Bishop of Southwark Christopher Chessun, who has often spoken about pilgrimage, this week returned to the theme in a letter announcing his retirement next year. ‘During my time in Southwark I have very much enjoyed leading diocesan and co-leading ecumenical pilgrimages, particularly to the Holy Land,’ writes the Bishop in his letter to the diocese […]

A special granite Camino milestone, or mouteira, has been installed in Winchester on the line of the St James’ Way. The location is outside St Bartholomew’s which is a surviving church within the once large Hyde Abbey on the edge of Winchester. The St James’ Way, from Reading Abbey to Southampton, is the first leg […]

Southwark Cathedral church will be closed for sightseeing on Wednesday morning 15 October during the consecration service for the new bishop Kelly Betteridge. She is to be a suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Winchester where her responsibilities include pastoral care churches on the Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Bentley. It is appropriate that the […]

The Chevening Parkland Scheme embracing a wide area has resulted in an unexpected and very welcome improvement. The footpath running east from Chevening churchyard runs directly to a lodge on a very busy road bend. Thanks to the opening of new paths it is now possible to avoid walking along the road lacking a pavement […]

Good news from Hollingbourne in Kent. The Dirty Habit next to the Pilgrims’ Way is due to reopen in 2026. The pub was devastated by fire in the autumn of 2022. The exterior restoration is nearing completion and in the New Year work will begin on the interior. The reopening, expected late next year around […]

A Pilgrims Way patch is now available from the Rochester cathedral shop. The woven patch (71mm height x 53mm) is made from recycled yarn and has an easy iron-on backing. The price is £6 but purchased online there is £4.99 postage charge. Rochester Cathedral Shop is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday […]