A Reflection on the St John's Way

Anita Tozzi • September 18, 2025

This reflection on the St John's Way of the Pilgrimage of Hope was given by Anita Tozzi, a perpetual pilgrim, at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on 13th September 2025. A video of all four reflections can be found here.


A Reflection on a Season of Creation

Sunrise at St George’s Cathedral in Southwark, and after Mass we venerate the relic of St George before setting off on our pilgrimage to Nottingham.

As we pass through London, we stop at Tyburn Convent and then the Willesden Shrine where we are hosted by the lovely ladies of Harlesden.


Hedgerows bursting with luscious fruits as we pass on from Willesden on the canal. Canal walks with beautiful barges drifting by with subtle messages. One is called ‘Finally Here’. More wonderful hospitality at St Gregory’s, Ruislip.


As we reach Rickmansworth, we experience the sheer joy of a hot shower and a camp bed. Branching out into Bedfordshire, the morning prayer is accompanied by ‘Morning Has Broken’. Blue skies beam down on us once again as we are accompanied by flying kites on our way into Leighton Buzzard.


The canal becomes wider as we pass through the cathedral of trees reaching Newport Pagnell. Fields of golden sunflowers as we reach Northampton, and then further north fields of grain and wheat as we stretch into Rutland’s rolling countryside.


Greeted by cows, sheep and horses, we are drenched as we slide through soggy fields. God’s creation is everywhere, even in the muck-spreading!

We are rewarded with a stay at the Shepherds’ Huts in Belton in Rutland. God provides a refuge for all at the end of a long day.


Then onto Melton Mowbray and we are hosted by parishioners from St Francis’ Convent – the chapel windows display 800 years of the Canticle of Creation – Brother Sun and Sister Moon.


We pass on through the village of Willoughby on the Wold and into Keyworth where we are again treated to more kind hospitality from parishioners. And then our final leg into Nottingham, accompanied by Bishop Patrick.


God’s creation is evident in the beautiful places we’ve travelled through, the kindness of strangers and the warm welcome we’ve received everywhere.


Laudato Si: Praised be to God for a wonderful pilgrimage and for all the beautiful people we’ve met on the way. Friends for life and memories that I will cherish for ever. Laudato Si O Mi Signore.


Anita Tozzi 


More about the St John's Way route can be found below.

ST JOHN'S WAY

A Reflection on the St Luke's Way

By Terence Cavanagh • September 18, 2025
This reflection on the St Luke's Way was given by Terence Cavanagh, a perpetual pilgrim, at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on 13th September 2025.

A Pilgrimage along the St Mark's Way

By Rowan Morton-Gledhill • September 18, 2025
The St Mark's Way was the northern Way of the Pilgrimage of Hope. During the pilgrimage Rowan Morton-Gledhill wrote a blog.

Are You Lost Yet?

By Joe Northam • September 17, 2025
Joe Northam reflects that there is something frightening about getting lost, but also an appeal about being far off the beaten track yet finding a way.

The Grace of Pilgrimage

By Anna Larkin • September 17, 2025
This reflection on the St Mark's Way was given by Anna Larkin, a perpetual pilgrim, at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on 13th September 2025.

To Walk Takes Courage

By Joe Northam • September 17, 2025
Joe Northam decribes her experience of the first six days walking along the St Matthew's Way, the western Pilgrimage of Hope route to Nottingham.
I

Pilgrimage of Hope Podcast

By Phil McCarthy • September 17, 2025
In this special edition of the All Knds of Catholic podcast Theresa Alessandro speaks with pilgrims walking the Pilgrimage of Hope.

Food for the Body; Food for the Soul

By Eddie Gilmore • September 17, 2025
They say that an army marches on its stomach. Eddie Gilmore thinks the same must be true of pilgrims!
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England

In Search of the 'Apostle to England'

By Mario Mancini • September 16, 2025
Mario Mancini, an Italian Pilgrim to England, came to Merseyside in search of the 'Apostle to England'!

St Luke's Way (East) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St Luke's Way The eastern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from the Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist in Norwich to the Cathedral Church of St Barnabas in Nottingham via the National Shrine of Our Lady at Houghton St Giles and the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham at King's Lynn. Patron : Julian of Norwich (c. 1343 – after 1416) English anchoress, mystic and theologian. Julian's writings, now known as Revelations of Divine Love, are the earliest surviving English-language works attributed to a woman. They are also the only surviving works by an anchoress in English. Her feast is celebrated on 13 th May. Overview St Luke's Way starts at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, leaving the city along the Marriotts Way, crossing the River Wensum towards Cawston, then taking the Pilgrim Cross route to Walsingham along country lanes to the National Shrine to Our Lady at Houghton St Giles. From Walsingham the Way follows tracks and lanes to Dersingham and then crosses the Sandringham estate to King's Lynn. The Way continues alongside the Great Ouse to Wisbech, then across fenland to Spalding and Bourne. The Way uses roads and footpaths to navigate the rolling countryside of Kesteven to Grantham, then follows the Grantham canal near Belvoir Castle across farmland to Bingham, joining the Trent Valley Way at Radcliffe, to arrive at St Barnabas' Cathedral in Central Nottingham. Essential facts: Route length: 155.4 miles Ascent: 1,883 ft Peak elevation: 443 ft (the route is generally flat) The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below).

St John's Way (South) to Nottingham

By Phil McCarthy • September 15, 2025
St John's Way The southern Pilgrimage of Hope Way from Southwark and Westminster Cathedrals in London to St Barnabas' Cathedral in Nottingham via the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate & St Thomas of Canterbury in Northampton. Patron : St Anne Line (c. 1563 – 1601): English married lay woman, convert and martyr. After the death of her husband, who had been banished for attending Mass, Anne was active in sheltering clandestine Catholic priests. Finally arrested, she was condemned to death and executed at Tyburn. She was canonised in 1970. Her feasts are: 27th February (individual), 25th October (with the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales), 30th August (with SS Margaret Ward and Margaret Clitherow). Overview The Way starts at the Cathedral of St George in Southwark and crosses the River Thames to reach Westminster Cathedral. It then passes through Royal parks to the Shrine of the Tyburn Martyrs. At Paddington the Grand Union Canal is reached. Apart from optional diversions to churches the Canal arm is followed to Northolt where the Way joins the Dog Rose Ramble and then the Hillingdon Trail. At Bayhurst Woods the Way diverts W to Harefield and soon rejoins the Grand Union Canal. Apart from diversions to Rickmansworth, Abbots Langley (birthplace of Adrian IV, the only English pope), and Leighton Buzzard the Canal is followed to Newport Pagnall. After the town the route follows the Three Shires Way, then the Midshires Way, the Northamptonshire Round and finally the Nene Way to Northampton Cathedral. The path leaves the city and rejoins the Midshires Way to Arthingworth and soon after follows the Brampton Valley Way to Market Harborough. The Way continues N on the Rutland Way and then the Leicestershire Round. Where this bends W the path follows the Jubilee Way to Melton Mowbray. The Way crosses farmland to reach Willoughby-in-the-Wolds where it breifly re-joins the Midshires Way before diverting to Keyworth. The Way heads towards Nottingham, briefly following a disused railway line, to finally reach Nottingham Cathedral. Essential facts: Route length: 169.4 miles Ascent: 4,669 ft - the route is mostly very flat Peak elevation: 656 ft The Way can be followed using a GPX file (download below)