St Philomena's Way is a Pilgrim Way for the Diocese of Shrewsbury from the Cathedral of Our Lady Help of Christians & Saint Peter of Alcantara in Shrewsbury to the Shrine Church of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena in New Brighton. St Philomena was a C4 virgin martyr whose remains were discovered in 1802 in the Catacomb of Priscilla. She is the patron saint of infants, babies, and youth.

The Way passes Shrewsbury Abbey and then follows the north bank of the River Severn out of Shrewsbury to reach the remains of Haughmond Abbey. The Way follows the Shropshire Way to Wen and the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The path follows the Shropshire Way to Hollingwood where the route continues north across farmland to reach the Church of St George, Whitchurch. From Whitchurch the Way follows a north-west direction along the beautiful Sandstone Trail. Farmland is crossed to reach the Shropshire Union Canal and follow the Two Saints Way to Chester. After passing the Churches of St Werburgh and St Francis Assisi and Chester Cathedral the Way re-joins the Shropshire Union Canal to the Church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, Ellesmere Port.

Here pilgrims can ether take the train straight to New Brighton or walk on through the Wirral with its rich Catholic history. Walkers may visit St Patrick’s Well, Port Sunlight, and the churches of Christ the King, Bromborough; St John the Evangelist, New Ferry; St Anne, Rock Ferry; St Joseph, Birkenhead; St Werburgh, Birkenhead; Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Birkenhead; and Our Lady, Star of the Sea, & St Joseph, Wallasey. The route reaches the Mersey estuary and the King Charles III England Coast Path before finally turning inland to the Shrine Church of Ss Peter & Paul and St Philomena, New Brighton.

I am grateful to Catherine Manghan who walked the Way in advance and greatly helped to improve the route.