Launching the new ‘Abbots’ Way’ Pilgrimage –the first of our three ‘Fountains Ways – Ancient Paths for Modern Pilgrims’
Our new “Abbots’ Way” is finally ‘under way’! On Saturday 13th September, 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.
Publicity in The Fountain, from Harrogate’s ‘The Stray Ferret’, the Diocesan E-news, and YHCT, alerted folk to the launch, and drew several walkers from further afield. It was a wonderful day, and we are so grateful for many prayers answered, including those for the team, working so hard to pull it together, for new volunteers offering support, to NY Cllr Felicity Cunliffe-Lister for financial support, to one of our church members for generous graphic design and printing support, and to NY Tourism for the promise of significant funding towards way-markers, permanent display boards, and ultimately, information-hosting on their public website. What is becoming crystal clear is that interest in pilgrimage is growing rapidly, both in the UK and worldwide. Our hope and prayer is that these pilgrimage walks will soon become established as part of a national network, and will draw many pilgrims to this outstanding area and its beautiful churches in the years to come. Abbots’ Way is now ‘open’! Why not grab a leaflet, maybe take a friend, and try it for yourself? Newly-printed leaflets from the Archbishop of York’s, ‘Faith in the North’ initiative in our churches will also help visitors engage in personal reflection on the place of faith in their daily lives.
We hope, soon, to organise a Benefice Pilgrimage, and possibly further guided walks, for those who would wish for some Christian reflective input during their pilgrimage experience. We are so grateful for the chance to be doing this, and hope that it will, in time, touch many lives with God’s love.
Revd Andrew Cromarty, Associate Priest and Project Lead, Fountains Ways