Hurst Virtual Pilgrimage

Thank you to Fr Ian for asking me to contribute to this SCP blog. I’m Liz Devall, Vicar of Hurst, St John the Evangelist,  Manchester Diocese and a member of the Manchester SCP Chapter. Since lockdown began, I have been worrying about and praying about how to bring the congregation together when we are apart, how to encourage them in prayer at this time and the state of our church finances, with usual fundraising opportunities out of the question – not necessarily in that order! 

On 25th May, St Bede’s Day, I went out for a walk over the hills. The idea came to me, almost fully formed of a Virtual Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne and a sponsored walk, beginning the following Sunday, Pentecost, and ending virtually (physically if possible!) on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne on 31st August St Aidan’s Day. 

I am not that great with maps but I worked out a walking route that would take in other holy sites along the way. A route was planned that took in CR Mirfield, York Minster, Stanbrook Abbey, Ampleforth Abbey, Whitby Abbey, Hartlepool, Durham Cathedral, Monkwearmouth and Jarrow (to thank St Bede!)  Newcastle Cathedral, Alnmouth Friary, Bamburgh and Lindisfarne amongst other places and over the next couple of days more places were added until a 309 mile walking route was finalised. The idea was to walk near where I lived and plot the miles walked on the pilgrimage map. Alison Peacock, the Misson Planning Officer in Manchester Diocese, very helpfully offered to create a map with the 38 stages marked with the distances marked and links to websites of the places I would visit. 

I began to write to the people at the places I would visit, asking them if they would virtually welcome me when I reached them on the pilgrimage. I realised I could visit SCP colleagues on the first day of the Pilgrimage as Mossley Parish and its two churches and St Chad’s Uppermill and Fr David  and Mthr Penny Warner and Mthr Sharon Jones offered to welcome me and offer refreshment on the first day. I set up a way too for the congregation and others to give online with our Easyfundraising “Donate Now” button and I explained my plans to the congregation in the weekly Saturday newsletter, telling them I would be setting off the next day! Stepping out of my comfort zone completely I even made a video in an attempt to explain what I was up to! 

After worship and our zoom “After service coffee” on Pentecost Sunday I got ready to depart. I was amazed that a number of parishioners had come along to see me off! Each day as I walk, I take photographs of things of interest, of flowers and wildlife. The things I see, hear, feel and smell inform or trigger my prayer. As I walk on to each place I pray for the congregations and communities that I will meet. Each day I post the pictures and the prayers on Facebook (@StJohnsHurst) and Twitter (lizdevall1 and then retweeted on @StJohnsHurst) and each week I produce a booklet that I share with the congregation as a source of prayer over the coming week. You can view the booklets here. Week 1 Week 2   Week 3

After the first week I had the idea of walking to and praying for all the 20 churches in the Ashton Deanery. This would sometimes involve short car journeys to one of the churches and then walking between 3 or 4 of churches, returning back to the first church to pick up my car. The Diocese of Manchester is undergoing a pastoral re-organisation and soon Ashton Deanery will be joining with Oldham East and Oldham West Deaneries and I have now committed to walking to and praying for all the churches in those two deaneries too in this time of transition for us all. 

 I have received Virtual blessings from Bishop Mark Davies, the Bishop of Middleton and The Very Revd Richard Sewell, the Dean of St George’s College Jerusalem as I began the pilgrimage. I have received a virtual video welcome from The Revd Canon Rachel Firth at Huddersfield Parish Church, The Very Revd Simon Cowling from Wakefield Cathedral, Archbishop Elect Stephen Cottrell when I arrived at Bishopthorpe and The Revd Canon Dr Vicky Johnson, Canon Precentor at York Minster. I have also received a wonderful welcome and prayers from the Brothers at Mirfield and from The Revd Robert Hart at St Helen’s Hemsworth. 

It has been a great encouragement that the Pilgrimage appears to be bringing the St John’s family together in conversation and prayer. Those not on the internet are kept up to date with regular updates from friends and when I phone around people tell me where I am up to! I have noticed that people who used to live in the area have begun to follow the Pilgrimage on Facebook as they love to see places they remember with affection. We have raised over £1000 so far with just a few donations. The Pilgrimage has helped me in my prayer, at a time when prayer had at times felt dry and difficult and it is certainly making me fitter! 

On the 9th anniversary of my ordination to the Priesthood on 19th June I reached York Minster and had walked a total of 75.2 miles – only another 233.8 miles to go! The Pilgrimage has proved a blessing for both me, and I believe St John’s Church family. Please pray for me as I continue with St John’s on this pilgrimage of the heart to Lindisfare and I continue with this personal challenge of walking 309 miles. Pray too that I may be able to physically walk the last few miles to the Holy Island that I love. 

Mtr Liz Devall SCP

Manchester Chapter