Join a Franciscan pilgrimage through our diocese

Pilgrims will be marking the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis as they walk through our diocese from Clent to Upton from 23 – 28 August. There will also be a special day of celebration in the Cathedral on Thursday 27 August, with an exhibition, communion service and picnic.

All are welcome to join the walk for part or all of the route, or for the day at the Cathedral and also a stop at Harvington Hall on Sunday 23 August.  Our section of the route is part of a longer pilgrimage with Franciscans walking from Almouth to London, visiting all the Franciscan houses on route, including our very own Glasshampton Monastery, near Shrawley.

Sun 23 August

The pilgrims will start at St Leonard’s Church in Clent at 10am walking to Harvington Hall. Saint John Wall, a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Franciscan Secular Order, spent much of his life at Harvington Hall in hiding and providing a safe shelter for many other Catholic priests fleeing for their lives.  He was Martyred on 22 August 1690, and the RC Diocese of Birmingham keeps his Feast Day on 23 August.  Pilgrims will stop for lunch and an outside communion service marking the Saint’s day, leaving at 2pm to walk to St Michael’s Church Stourport.

Mon 24 August

Pilgrims will depart from St Michael’s Church in Stourport at 11am, walking to Glasshampton Monastery where they will remain for a rest day on the Tuesday.

Wed 26 August

The pilgrimage will leave Glasshampton Monastery at 10am, walking to the Wild Goose Rural Training Centre at Top Barn Farn, near Hallow. They will stop there for lunch before leaving at 2pm and walking to St George’s Church in Barbourne, Worcester.

Thur 27 August

There will be a short walk leaving St George’s Church in Worcester at 10am and walking through the city centre to the Cathedral. At the Cathedral there will be exhibition in the Lady Chapel throughout the day with eight stations depicting different parts of St Francis’ life. There will also be a table with children’s activity. At midday, the pilgrims will gather in the Lady Chapel for a service of communion, which will be followed by a picnic lunch in the gardens of the Old Palace. The day will be concluded with the pilgrims and others joining Cathedral Evensong at 5.30pm.

The Revd Ruth Wintle is a Member of the Worcestershire section of the Third of Franciscans and part of the group organising the stage of the pilgrimage through our diocese. She said:

“While people are welcome to join us for any part of the pilgrimage, we really hope that some will come along to our day at Worcester Cathedral. It will be an opportunity to learn more about the life of St Francis and the different orders which follow his rule of life, as well as celebrate, pray and eat together.”

Fri 28 August

The final stage of the Franciscan pilgrimage through our diocese will see the pilgrims leaving from The Pepperpot in Upton at 10am and following the Severn Way to Tewkesbury.

All are welcome to join the day in the Cathedral on the Thursday. If you are planning to join the pilgrims for any other section, do let Ruth Wintle know on ruth.wintle@btinternet.com.