The Spring Walking Pilgrimage Gathering

Phil McCarthy • March 30, 2026

The Hearts in Search of God Spring Walking Pilgrimage Gathering was held at Amigo Hall, Lambeth Rd, Southwark, SE London on 21st & 22nd March 2026. 60 people registered for the event and over 40 people attended on the day. Several more participated in the evening social event and Sunday morning pilgrim walk. The male/female split was 50/50 and about half of those who registered were new to the project.

The aims of the day were to:

• Bring together people and organisations already involved walking pilgrimage in our nations as a community

• Celebrate what was achieved during the 2025 Jubilee and plan how to promote and develop walking pilgrimage in England & Wales

• Consider a proposal for a walking pilgrimage to Adoremus in October 2026

• Discuss plans for walking pilgrimages in 2026 to mark the Year of St Francis of Assisi

The premiere of the film The Way of St Cuthbert

The day started with the first public screening of the film The Way of St Cuthbert and a panel discussion.

Historian of pilgrimage Dr Anne Bailey of Oxford University gave an insight into the life of St Cuthbert, his cult, and medieval pilgrimage to his shrine
Filmmaker Christian Holden of St Anthony Communications described the making of the film
Dr Jason Baxter, Director of the Centre for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College in Kansas, USA explained the inspiration for the film and the impact the pilgrimage had on the participating students.

The film was welcomed enthusiastically, and a lively discussion ensued about how to promote it in parishes, dioceses, schools, other Catholic organisations and ecumenically.

The film can be viewed and copies obtained for public viewing using this link: https://saintant.com/

Celebration of the Jubilee and plans for the Year of St Francis of Assisi

After lunch we celebrated what was achieved in relation to walking pilgrimage in England & Wales 2025. We also shared our plans for the coming year.

2025 was a Holy Year with the theme ‘pilgrims of hope’. 2026 is the Year of St Francis of Assisi, the pilgrim of peace. His example is needed in our dangerous times.

All the organisations participating in the Gathering presented reports. We also welcomed and celebrated the achievements of pilgrimage organisations not represented at the Gathering. Details are from their websites.

A&B Ecumenical Pilgrimage organises an annual group walking pilgrimage: www.thepilgrims.org.uk/wp

Archdiocese of Southwark organised the Southwark Jubilee Pilgrimage from St George's to Aylesford on 2nd - 6th June 2025: https://aec.rcaos.org.uk/pilgrimage2025

Augustine Camino celebrates the conversion of the English-speaking peoples to Christianity: www.augustinecamino.co.uk/

CAFOD organises an annual walking pilgrimage to Lindisfarne: www.cafod.org.uk

Catenians are a network of Catholic men. In the current year they plan to develop walking pilgrimage. Eddie Gilmore will address their national conference: www.thecatenians.com

Catholic People’s Weeks runs holidays that ‘make a difference’. This year they will be walking the Augustine Caminoand currently have one place free: www.catholicpeoplesweeks.org

Confraternity of Pilgrims to Rome promotes pilgrimage to Rome on foot, by bike or by horseback as well as the Francigena Britannica: https://pilgrimstorome.org.uk/

Confraternity of St James promotes pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela as well as pilgrim routes in the UK: www.csj.org.uk

Diocese of Clifton organised the St Wulstan’s Way pilgrimage in 2025 and plans a pilgrimage on the feast of St Francis of Assisi in 2026: https://saintwulstan.org.uk/2025/05/pilgrims-progress-the-saint-wulstan-southern-way-pilgrimage/

Diocese of Leeds has organised the St Wilfrid’s Way Camino for 10 years. Other pilgrimages include ‘In Fr Brown’s Footsteps’ and shorter ‘Laudato Si’ pilgrimages: www.dioceseofleeds.org.uk/st-wilfrids-way

Eddie Gilmore is a Hearts in Search of God collaborator and has started coaching and mentoring and leading pilgrimages: www.eddiegilmore.org

Hearts in Search of God promotes and develops walking pilgrimage in the Catholic dioceses of England & Wales: www.pilgrimways.org.uk

Hidden Catholic provides immersive walking tours, pilgrimages, and custom experiences that connect you to the Catholic heritage of England: https://hiddencatholic.com/

John Bradburne Memorial Society organises an annual walking pilgrimage on Cross Fell in June: www.johnbradburne.com

Latin Mass Society organises an annual walking pilgrimage from Ely to Walsingham over the August Bank Holiday weekend: www.lms.org.uk/walsingham-pilgrimage

London to Walsingham Camino offers a pilgrim path on footpaths and quiet lanes to England’s national shrine to Our Lady: www.andybull.co.uk/the-london-to-walsingham-camino

Mary’s Meals runs a programme of walking pilgrimages to support their mission to provide a simple solution to world hunger: www.marysmeals.org.uk

Men of St Joseph organise a walking pilgrimage to Walsingham annually in Holy Week from Stockport, Yorkshire and Cambridge.

Pax Christi organises a one-day Peace Pilgrimage as a witness against the SDSC UK Arms Fair: https://paxchristi.org.uk/

Pilgrim Cross is an inclusive Easter pilgrimage for all Christians: www.pilgrimcross.org.uk

Pilgrim Street - Anne Hayward explores pilgrimage in a contemporary setting in the British Isles: www.pilgrimstreet.uk/

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Ramblers Club holds weekend walks in the Home Counties: www.stfrancisramblers.ukwalkers.com

Conclusions from the Spring Gathering and next steps

We have much to celebrate in relation to walking pilgrimage in England & Wales and the Jubilee was a boost
There is commitment to working together in our organisations and dioceses
Volunteer diocesan promoters would be helpful
www.pilgrimways.org.uk can have a useful role sharing information including a calendar of walking pilgrimage events
There is enthusiasm for a walking pilgrimage to Adoremus in October 2026
We will plan to mark the Year of St Francis of Assisi in our dioceses and parishes.

Download the report of the Gathering

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

Saturday night and Sunday morning

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A Franciscan Pilgrimage in the Diocese of Clifton

By Phil McCarthy • June 30, 2026

Join the walking pilgrimages to the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea to celebrate the Year of St Francis! 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 about the Year can be found here . Francis was a pilgrim who undertook significant journeys to Rome, Santiago de Compostela and 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. He had a great love of creation. Saturday 3rd Ocober 2026 is exactly 800 years since St Francis died, and the day before his feast day. To mark this a walking pilgrimage is planned in the Diocese of Clifton on Saturday 3rd October with two legs: The Bristol leg will start at Clifton Cathedral at 10.30am and end at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea (9 miles) The Clevedon leg will start at the Franciscan church of the Immaculate Conception in Clevedon at 1pm and end at the Church of St Francis of Assisi in Nailsea (6.4 miles) The two legs will convene at 4.30pm at the church for refreshments and prayer. Those who wish can stay for the 6pm Saturday evening Vigil Mass for the Feast of St Francis. Pilgrims are welcome to register to join for one or other of the legs. Walkers do so at their own risk. Children under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Pilgrims will be responsible for carrying their own food and drink and for arranging their own transport to the start and finish. Nailsea is well served by trains to Bristol and buses to Bristol and Clevedon, for example: Bristol: There are trains from Nailsea & Backwell station to Clifton Down station at 16.29 and 17.29. Nailsea & Backwell station is about 15 minutes walk from the Church of St Francis of Assisi. Clifton Cathedral is 12 minutes walk from Clifton Down station. Bristol: There are trains to Bristol Temple Meads from Nailsea & Backwell at 16.29, 17.06, 17.29 & 18.06 Bristol: There is an X9 bus at 17.05 from Perrings West bus stop which is about 10 minutes walk from the Church of St Francis of Assisi Clevedon: There is an X11 bus at 17.14 from Ash Hayes Rd bus stop which is about 3 minutes walk from the Church of St Francis of Assisi For more details and updates please visit: Trainline and for buses Travel West . More details of the walks and registration More details about the walks and how to register can be found below. You can also be part of the pilgrimage by praying for the success of the event and for the safety of pilgims. You can find other ideas to mark the day here .