WALK FOR PEACE WITH

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI


"The Franciscan vision of peace is not limited to the relations between human beings, but also embraces the whole of creation. Francis, who calls the sun “brother” and the moon “sister”, who recognizes in every creature a reflection of divine beauty, reminds us that peace must be extended to the entire family of Creation.

This insight resonates with particular urgency in our time, when our common home is threatened and cries out under exploitation."


Pope Leo XIV on the opening of the Eighth Centenary Year of the death of

St Francis of Assisi


Pax et Bonum

Make a pilgrimage for peace with St Francis of Assisi in this special year


2026 marks 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi and Pope Leo XIV has declared a special Year to commemorate this. More can be found here. Francis was a pilgrim who undertook significant journeys to Rome and Santiago de Compostela and attempted to go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He urged that all forms of hostility or conflict be avoided and that a humble and fraternal attitude be shown to those who did not share his faith. Pope Francis wrote in Fratelli Tutti:


“In the world of that time, bristling with watchtowers and defensive walls, cities were a theatre of brutal wars between powerful families, even as poverty was spreading through the countryside. Yet there Francis was able to welcome true peace into his heart and free himself of the desire to wield power over others. He became one of the poor and sought to live in harmony with all.” 

(Paragraph 4)


You could, as Eddie Gilmore did, walk the Way of St Francis in Italy from Florence to La Verna, Assisi and Rome. You could walk to a church dedicated to St Francis of Assisi in England or Wales, either alone or in a group. You can find details and websites of Catholic churches dedicated to St Francis of Assisi via the map below and listed by diocese. If you are aware of other churches of St Francis of Assisi please contact the Project Lead. The details of the churches come from their websites and from the Taking Stock project. More can be found on the project website. If you plan a pilgrimage to one of the churches please check the parish website and ring the office to check opening times.


Other ideas for walking for peace and marking the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on Sunday 4th October were shared at the Spring Gathering and are below.

Let Us Walk

At the Hearts in Search of God Spring Gathering on 21st March 2026 a proposal was made for a national walking pilgrimage in the week before the Adoremus Eucharistic Celebration on 10th October 2026 to celebrate the Year of St Francis of Assisi. 


The 5 day walking pilgrimage will start at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Maidstone and end at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St George in Southwark on Friday 9th October for shared prayer. The Adoremus events will take place on Saturday 10th October and Sunday 11th. A small group of perpetual pilgrims will walk the full distance, joined by day pilgrims who will register for each day.


FIND OUT MORE

Ideas for the Year of St Francis of Assisi

At the Spring Gathering ideas were shared for walking for peace during the Year and for marking the feast day

Ideas for walking for peace with St Francis in our organisations and dioceses


  • Find out what initiatives are planned for the Year in the diocese and link with them 
  • Organise a parish day walk or a visit to a church dedicated to St Francis of Assisi and involve a Franciscan community in the diocese. Details of churches and communities are below.
  • Highlight links with care of creation and Laudato Si through parish visits to gardens, picnics in the country, etc
  • Consider a diocesan peace walk inviting people of other churches and faiths. A ‘Damietta Pilgrimage’ commemorates the 1219 meeting between St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malik al-Kamil during the Fifth Crusade at Damietta in Egypt.
  • Be aware of the Anglican Franciscan pilgrimage On New Roads
  • The Marian Franciscans held a pilgrimage from Ramsgate to Canterbury in 2025 
  • Use the Franciscan tau cross on walks
  • Consider a banner for churches and schools
  • Pray the St Francis of Assisi Rosary
  • Encourage schools dedicated to St Francis to undertake a short pilgrimage 

Ideas for marking the feast day on Sunday October 4th


  • Pray for peace in parishes and within parish groups with a suitable hymn
  • A Mass for Peace to mark the feast day with a walk before or afterwards. This is planned on 3/10 in Nottingham and Clifton.
  • The Diocese of East Anglia has no church dedicated to Francis, but a special Mass is planned for 3rd October
  • Link to the Season of Creation (1/9 to 4/10) and use symbols of creation and animals
  • Plant a tree to show we are all members of one family
  • Promote with young people who find St Francis attractive and interesting
  • Promote fundraising for people in conflict zones
  • Use the opportunity to promote and support CAFOD’s Harvest Family Fast Day which is on this date



More about the Franciscans in England & Wales



St Francis of Assisi's life of radical poverty and devotion to peace has inspiried global religious movements and communities

of men and women, lay and ordained. The map and list below includes Franciscan conventual churches and religious houses.

If you would like to make a pilgrimage to one of the communities please contact them first.


Interactive map of churches dedicated to St Francis and

Franciscan communities in England & Wales

Details and Websites by Diocese

  • Arundel & Brighton: Crawley

    The Friary Church of St Francis & St Anthony

    Haslett Avenue West

    Crawley

    West Sussex

    RH10 1HR

    WEBSITE

  • Arundel & Brighton: Ladywell

    The Franciscan Centre Ladywell, 

    Ashstead Lane, 

    Godalming, 

    Surrey, 

    GU7 1ST

    WEBSITE

  • Arundel & Brighton: Midhurst

    The Church of the Divine Motherhood and St Francis of Assisi 

    St Mary’s Presbytery, 

    Bepton Road, 

    Midhurst, 

    West Sussex, 

    GU29 9HD


    WEBSITE

  • Arundel & Brighton: Rye

    The Church of St Anthony of Padua, Watchbell Street, 

    Rye, 

    TN31 7HB



    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Kineton

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi

    Southam Street, 

    Kineton, 

    Warwickshire, 

    CV35 0LL


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Bedworth

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi

    Rye Piece Ringway, 

    Bedworth, 

    Warwickshire, 

    CV12 8JH


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Oxford

    St Edmund and St Frideswide,

    Iffley Road, 

    Oxford, 

    Oxfordshire, 

    OX4 1SB 




    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Kenilworth

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi 

    Warwick Road, 

    Kenilworth, 

    Warwickshire, 

    CV8 1HL


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Baddersley Clinton

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi,

    Rising Lane, 

    Baddesley Clinton, 

    Warwickshire, 

    B93 0DD


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Handsworth

    The Church of St Francis, 

    101 Hunters Road, 

    Handsworth, 

    Birmingham, 

    B19 1EB


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Shelfield

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi

    Mill Road, 

    Shelfield, 

    Walsall, 

    West Midlands, 

    WS4 1RH


    WEBSITE

  • Birmingham: Walmley

    The Church of Holy Cross and St Francis,

    1 Signal Hayes Rd, 

    Sutton Coldfield, 

    Birmingham, 

    B76 2RS




    WEBSITE

  • Brentwood: Canning Town

    St Fidelis Friary, 

    Killip Close, 

    London, 

    E16 1LX


    WEBSITE

  • Brentwood: Frinton-on-Sea

    The Church of the Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi, 

    Connaught Avenue, 

    Frinton-on-Sea, 

    Essex, 

    CO13 9AD




    WEBSITE

  • Brentwood: Halstead

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Colchester Road, 

    Halstead, 

    Essex, 

    CO9 2EW


    WEBSITE

  • Brentwood: Stratford

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Grove Crescent Road, 

    Stratford, 

    London, 

    E15 1BJ



    WEBSITE

  • Brentwood: Woodford Green

    The Friary & Parish of St Thomas of Canterbury,

    557-559 High Road, 

    Woodford Green, 

    Essex, 

    IG8 0RB


    WEBSITE

  • Cardiff-Menevia: Ely, Cardiff

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Cowbridge Road West, 

    Ely, 

    Cardiff, 

    CF5 1JB


    WEBSITE

  • Cardiff-Menevia: Milford Haven

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Priory Road, 

    Milford Haven, 

    SA73 2EE


    WEBSITE

  • Cardiff-Menevia: Much Birch

    The Poor Clares, 

    Much Birch, 

    Hereford, 

    HR2 8PS


    WEBSITE

  • Cardiff-Menevia: Rhayader

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Dark Lane, 

    Rhayader, 

    LD6 5DA


    WEBSITE

  • Clifton: Clevedon

    The Church of the Immaculate Conception,

    Marine Hill, 

    Clevedon, 

    BS21 7PP


    WEBSITE

  • Clifton: Nailsea

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Ash Hayes Road, 

    Nailsea, 

    North Somerset, 

    BS48 2LP


    WEBSITE

  • Hallam: Sandygate

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Sandygate Road, 

    Sandygate, 

    Sheffield, 

    S10 5SD

    WEBSITE

  • Leeds: Bradford

    St Pio Friary, 

    St Patrick's Church, 

    Sedgefield Terrace, 

    Bradford, 

    BD1 2RU 

    WEBSITE

  • Leeds: Eccleshill

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Norman Lane, 

    Eccleshill, 

    Bradford, 

    West Yorkshire, 

    BD2 2JU

    WEBSITE

  • Leeds: Holbeck

    The Church of St Francis, 

    Bismarck Street, 

    Holbeck, 

    Leeds, 

    LS11 6TN 


    WEBSITE

  • Leeds: Morley

    The Church of St Francis, 

    Westfield Road, 

    Morley, 

    LS27 9NF  



    WEBSITE

  • Liverpool: Digmoor

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Beechtrees, 

    Digmoor, 

    Skelmersdale, 

    WN8 6AE


    WEBSITE

  • Liverpool: Garston

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Earp Street, 

    Garston, 

    Liverpool, 

    L18 1RT


    WEBSITE

  • Liverpool: Mossley Hill

    The Church of St Anthony of Padua, 

    1 Elmsley Road, 

    Mossley Hill, 

    Liverpool, 

    L18 8AY​ 


    WEBSITE

  • Middlesbrough: Acklam

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Levick Crescent, 

    Acklam, 

    Middlesbrough, 

    TS5 4RL


    WEBSITE

  • Middlesbrough: Askham Bryan

    The Poor Clare Monastery, 

    155 Main Street, 

    Askham Bryan, 

    York, 

    YO23 3QS 


    WEBSITE

  • Middlesbrough: Hull

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Wembley Park Avenue, 

    Hull, 

    East Yorkshire, 

    HU8 0ND


    WEBSITE

  • Northampton: Shefford

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi

    25 High Street, 

    Shefford, 

    Bedfordshire, 

    SG17 5DD


    WEBSITE

  • Nottingham: Chesterfield

    Saint Clare's Convent (Franciscan Sisters Minoress), together with The Portiuncula,  Clay Cross, 

    Chesterfield, 

    S45 9AQ

    WEBSITE

  • Nottingham: Long Eaton

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Tamworth Road, 

    Long Eaton, 

    Derbyshire, 

    NG10 1DH


    WEBSITE

  • Nottingham: Melton Mowbray

    The Franciscan Sisters Minoress Convent, with the Chapel of Saint Francis, 

    Melton Mowbray, 

    LE13 0BP

    WEBSITE

  • Nottingham: Thorneywood

    The Church of Our Lady and Saint Edward, Nottingham – a former Franciscan Friary until c.2016 and a place of Franciscan pilgrimage, this year, in the Diocese of Nottingham 

    Gordon Rd, 

    Thorneywood, 

    Nottingham,

    NG3 2LG

    WEBSITE

  • Portsmouth: Ascot

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Coronation Road, 

    Ascot, 

    Berkshire, 

    SL5 9HG


    WEBSITE

  • Portsmouth: Milford-on-Sea

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Park Lane, 

    Milford-on-Sea, 

    Hampshire, 

    SO41 OPT 


    WEBSITE

  • Portsmouth: Portsmouth

    The Church of St Joseph, 

    1 Milton Road, 

    Portsmouth, 

    PO3 6AN  



    WEBSITE

  • Salford: Barton

    All Saints Friary, 

    Redclyffe Road, 

    Barton, 

    Manchester, 

    M41 7LG 


    WEBSITE

  • Salford: Blackley

    The Church of St Clare, 

    Victoria Ave, 

    Manchester 

    M9 0RR 



    WEBSITE

  • Salford: Gorton

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Textile Street, 

    Gorton, 

    Manchester, 

    M12 5PH


    WEBSITE

  • Shrewsbury: Chester

    The Church of St Francis of Asssi, Grosvenor Street, 

    Chester, 

    CH1 2BN


    WEBSITE

  • Southwark: Erith

    The Church of Our Lady of the Angels, 

    Franciscan Friary, 

    Carlton Road, 

    Erith, 

    Kent, 

    DA8 1DN 




    WEBSITE

  • Southwark: Maidstone

    The Church of St Francis, 

    126 Week Street, 

    Maidstone, 

    ME14 1RH 



    WEBSITE

  • Southwark: Waterloo

    St Patrick's Friary & Church, 

    26 Cornwall Road, 

    Waterloo, 

    London, 

    SE1 8TW 


    WEBSITE

  • Westminster: Notting Hill

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Pottery Lane, 

    Notting Hill, 

    London, 

    W11 4NQ


    WEBSITE

  • Wrexham: Pantasalph

    The Church of St David and Shrine of St Padre Pio, 

    Former Franciscan Monatery, 

    Monastery Rd, 

    Pantasaph, 

    Holywell, 

    CH8 8PE 

    (now in the care of the Vincentian Congregation)





    WEBSITE

  • Wrexham: Llay

    The Church of St Francis of Assisi, 

    Llay Chain, 

    Llay, 

    Wrexham,

    LL12 0TY


    WEBSITE