One of the key highlights of last year’s Yorkshire Churches Day was a series of specially designed ‘pilgrimage’ trails – walks that linked places of worship for visitors to explore, each offering a range of refreshments, exhibitions and displays.
From the Abbots’ Way’ in Nidderdale to the Friendship Walk journeying from East Moors to Rievaulx , friends and supporters of the Trust enjoyed exploring the deep-rooted history and heritage of Yorkshire’s churches.
Now Faith in the North have launched the Pilgrim Places – an initiative to encourage people to explore churches as special places, taking time to pause, reflect and find peace, hope, comfort, and understanding to take back into the everyday pilgrim journey of life.
Any church, in any context, can become a ‘Pilgrim Place’ – somewhere welcoming, and peaceful which offers time to relax and reflect. Faith in the North have developed package of resources including trails, prayer cards, signage and toolkits, designed to support all churches, whether on an existing pilgrimage route or walking trail; looking to develop their own trails; or just wanting to find fresh ways to welcome visitors and local people.
The Revd Caroline Pinchbeck, Diocesan Rural Change Enabler, said: “Pilgrim Places is really important resource and network provided by Faith in the North. “For our small rural churches, it adds to the many ways in which we can extend our welcome to enable pilgrims and visitors to encounter God and deepen their own spirituality.”
Click here to find out more: Pilgrim Places – Faith in the North