Pilgrimage Sunday

Barbara Brittain
Aug 15
2 min read

Walking with a purpose on Sunday 27th July 2025

Energised and spurred on by talk of pilgrim people and pilgrimage of hope at the 10am service, a group of walkers set off from St. Petroc’s Church. Its destination, St. Meubred’s Church, Cardinham and onwards to St. Hydroc’s Church, Lanhydrock.

The purpose of the journey involved gathering for worship, starting with the Eucharist service at St. Petroc’s, walking the 4.5-mile route for reflection and prayers at St. Meubred’s and the final 5.5-mile stretch to Evensong at St. Hydroc’s. These two sections are part of The Bodmin Way’s 21-mile circuit of the five churches making up the Bodmin Team Ministry.

It’s probably impossible to be on a pilgrimage without gaining a special awareness and connection with nature. Beautiful flowering bushes along Launceston Road pathed the way to the hedge-rimmed fields, panoramic countryside views and gigantic pine trees lining the route through Cardinham Woods.

Animal life seemed to greet the walkers as they entered large open fields full of recently shorn sheep. A young deer momentarily joined a path on the Lanhydrock Estate, too quick to capture on camera, but clearly seen by grateful pilgrims.

Ann Kerridge, one of the church wardens at St. Meubred’s, led the pilgrims in a cleverly crafted reflection based in John Bunyan’s book ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’. It expresses in story form the determination needed to keep the journey of faith. Ann hoped today’s pilgrimage wouldn’t be as challenging! And said: “But there are times for us all when we carry a great burden and feel like crying out “What shall I do?” At other times we set out into the unknown, leave the familiar behind, face fears, become discouraged, rely on strangers and find ourselves.”

Words taken from Ann’s longer prayer: “Father, protect us in all our wanderings. Do not stretch us beyond our limits and though we may often lose our way may we find our true selves on our pilgrimage.”

And following the singing of the rousing hymn ‘To be a pilgrim’ that uses words from Bunyan’s story, and some refreshments, the journey continued.

Evensong at St. Hydroc’s, welcoming pilgrims and members of the Prayer Book Society, provided a gentle reflection to end Pilgrimage Sunday.