On Friday 20 May, Bishop John and his wife H-J will be setting off to cycle the almost 500 miles on the Camino Frances, which runs from St Jean Pied de Port in the Pyrenees, France, to Santiago De Compostela, Spain, to raise funds for the Cathedral.
The Cathedral of Santiago De Compostela is known as the culmination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, and the alleged burial site of the Biblical apostle St. James.
According to local legend, the tomb of St James the apostle was discovered there in 813AD by a local shepherd. When the king of Asturias and Galicia, Alfonso II, found out the news, he undertook the Camino to see with his own eyes the discovery. He then ordered a church to be built where the remains of St James were found and declared St James the patron of his empire.
Since then, millions of pilgrims have made their way there. One of them was the 15th Century ‘Worcester pilgrim’ whose remains were discovered in 1987 at the base of the tower of Worcester Cathedral. Beside his body lay a long wooden staff, with a double-pronged iron tip and a perforated cockle shell, which is the traditional emblem of the pilgrimage route.
Bishop John said:
"We shall be asking St James, St Wulfstan and all the saints to pray for the flourishing of Worcester Cathedral and all associated with it. Cathedrals are the finest works of art in the country, the jewel in the crown of our historical cultural, and spiritual inheritance. There is none finer than Worcester, which has become my spiritual home. It has stood four-square for the good news of God’s love in Jesus for hundreds of years, inspiring generation after generation to lead good and godly lives, just as it inspires me and thousands of others today. We are making the pilgrimage to another cathedral with which ours is linked in history, to pray for and celebrate this one and raise money to ensure its future."
Bishop John is hoping to raise £3,000 by undertaking the 500-mile, 3 week journey.
Sponsor Bishop John through this link.
