Abbots' Way - A pilgrimage route taking in the churches in the Fountains Parish
Our new “Abbots’ Way” is finally ‘under way’!
On Saturday 13th September 2025, Yorkshire Churches Day, 17 of us gathered at Sawley Green, to start the inaugural pilgrimage of our “Abbots’ Way”. This is the first of three proposed pilgrimage routes across the Fountains Benefice – collectively, ‘Fountains Ways – Ancient Paths for Modern Pilgrims’. Following a few words from Pippa Manson, on behalf of the planning group, Tom Ramsden, in his roles as a planning group member and Chair of the Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust (YHCT) – whose ‘Yorkshire Churches Day’ this was – and myself, as planning group convenor, we prayed a little ‘Pilgrims’ Prayer’, and set off. Using the newly-printed, professionally-designed route brochures, we made stops at St Michael and All Angels, Sawley, St Mary’s, Studley, St Cuthbert and St Oswald, Winksley, and St Lawrence, Aldfield, before returning to the warmth of The Sawley Arms. We were blessed with glorious sunshine at times, and equally amazing rain (and full rainbows) at others! Thomas from Grewelthorpe, now year 8 at St Aidan’s, Harrogate, gave mini 5 recitals on each of the organs, including the marvellous Widor Toccata in the beautiful setting of William Burgess’ St Mary’s, Studley! National Trust volunteers kindly opened St Mary’s for an additional two hours for us, and seemed delighted to welcome our group. Each church provided an “Abbots’ Way” welcome board, engaging children’s quizzes, and supplies of the walk brochure.
Click on the link below to download a leaflet giving details of the route: