Peace Pilgrimage
Richard Smart reflects on walking for peace for the Awareness Foundation.
The Reverend Nadim Nassar always signs off on his e-mails ‘Peace be with you’ not Kind Regards, Best Wishes, or Yours Sincerely etc. This indicates to me in this troubled world, be it Ukraine, Syria, or Palestine, that we in the UK take peace for granted despite two world wars which saw our country on the brink of disaster. Our memory is brief and short lived as, in May 2025 we celebrate eighty years from the end of the war. Peace is one of the most important things we can wish for each other.
The Awareness Foundation has its mission as ‘Peace through Education’ much of its work being through working with youth in the Middle East, and in, particular Syria. The Peace Pilgrimages were started in 2020. We walked from St George’s Chapel, Windsor through Windsor Park to Bagshot Park where HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh lives – a patron of the Awareness Foundation. Despite the scepticism of our American trustees (‘why are you doing that, everyone travels by car') this was a grand success raising £20,000 for our first peace walk. It has now become an annual ritual with pilgrimages to Westminster Abbey, St Pauls, Rochester Cathedral, and St Albans Abbey/Cathedral.
The ritual is important as it brings together worship, prayer, fellowship, and fund-raising ending at a cathedral or notable church. The walk from Aylesford Priory to Rochester Cathedral was a significant learning curve for me as a Blue Badge Guide. The Justus Way follows the banks of the Medway before ascending over the North Downs ridge south of Rochester, with the last section along the riverbank again to the Cathedral founded by St Justus – part of the outline of Justus’ original building can be seen outside the west front. I particularly remember the beautiful Aylesford Priory and welcome from the Carmelite order set in the Catholic tradition of pilgrimage. Within the Priory there is a beautiful garden dedicated to Peace.
Fortunately, I had pre-walked the route to Rochester as the pathway along the Medway was impassable due to undergrowth having remained uncleared and flooded. An alternative route along the lane was not safe as it now attracted speeding cars from a new housing development. So, we sought an alternative route up the Downs and across to the cathedral taking in account the various walking abilities of the walking group. A pub stop was essential! We had a very warm welcome from Rochester Cathedral and a short historic tour from the Dean before attending evensong, a marvellous end to the walk.
A similar experience was had walking along the River Ver to St Albans Cathedral. This was a route which paralleled the Watling Street but there was heavy rainfall prior to the walk. This resulted in widespread flooding seen on my pre-walk. I was determined not to lead my group into what had become flooded footpaths and effectively a swamp. So, an alternative was planned. Fortunately, on the day much of the water had subsided and we were able to find a way through with the help of an Ordnance Survey map. Again, the welcome from St Albans Cathedral was marvellous with an expert guide pointing out the two medieval shrines to St Alban and St Amphibalus and an enjoyable evensong.
So, what are the lessons learned? Always do a pre-walk planning for the unexpected and a risk analysis taking in account the abilities of your walkers. Be sure to have a first aid certificate and kit whilst being insured. Build in good opportunities for worship and prayer at the beginning and end of the walk. Bless the churches and cathedrals as you go and the Christian charity after the walk. This year we are looking to walk along the River Wey to Guildford cathedral. We endeavour to keep the Peace Pilgrimage ecumenical and enjoyed by all.
I have found these Peace Pilgrimages with the Awareness Foundation made me think more closely about peace in our society and internationally. How we can encourage a new generation not to make the same mistakes as we have in the past? I have met many interesting people on the way who are engaged in marvellous work for peace.
Peace be with you!
Richard Smart - Blue Badge and City of London Guide
The Awareness Foundation is a Christian, ecumenical, educational charity which was founded by The Revd Nadim Nassar in London in 2003 to empower Christians everywhere to be a counter force of love and peace to the intolerance and mistrust that now prevail in so many communities, and to build understanding between the faiths. The Awareness Foundation has provided support and services to over 2,000 children aged 6 to 12, across Syria, and has taught over 700 young people to be leaders in the Middle East, showing them how to handle conflict, how to transform and empower their communities, and how to build bridges with other faiths to promote peace and understanding. Outside the Middle East, the foundation helps Christians live their faiths fully and faithfully in this diverse, globalised world through education and through the work with Christian denominations that help them to prepare local responses to fundamentalism and fanaticism.
