St Chad Pilgrimage
150 Christians from various Churches will undertake a pilgrimage on Saturday (23 September 2017), walking from the midlands hub of the Roman Catholic Church – the Metropolitan Cathedral Church and Basilica of St Chad, Birmingham – to the historic mother-church of Mercia, the Anglican Cathedral of St Mary and St Chad, Lichfield (pictured).
The St Chad Pilgrimage celebrates the fact that, 500 years on from the cataclysmic divisions associated with the Protestant Reformation, Catholics and Protestants are now, more than ever before, walking, praying and working together in respect, friendship and co-operation.
Church Leaders
Walking some or all of the 18 miles between the two Cathedrals will be:
- The Most Revd Bernard Longley, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Birmingham
- Mgr Timothy Menezes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Birmingham
- The Right Revd Dr Michael Ipgrave, Anglican Bishop of Lichfield
- The Right Revd David Urquhart, Anglican Bishop of Birmingham
- The Right Revd Anne Hollingshurst, Anglican Bishop of Aston
- Revd Rachel Parkinson, Chair of the Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District of the Methodist Church
- Revd Ian Howarth, Chair of the Birmingham District of the Methodist Church
- Revd Adrian Argile, Regional Minister Team Leader for the Heart of England Baptist Association
- Revd Steve Faber, Moderator of the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church
- Majors Peter and Julie Forrest, Divisional Leaders, The Salvation Army West Midlands Division
Pilgrims will be sent on their way with a blessing by Canon Father Gerry Breen (pictured), Dean of St Chad’s Cathedral, and will receive an official welcome upon arrival at Lichfield Cathedral from Canon Custos Peter Holliday.
Route
Leaving St Chad’s Cathedral, pilgrims will walk northwards along canal towpaths, cycle paths and parks to reach St Peter’s (Anglican) Church, Little Aston, where walkers will take a short lunch break. Leaving St Peter’s Church, the walk continues northwards through country lanes and fields to reach the Cathedral of St Mary and St Chad, Lichfield.
Bearing in mind that the walk is 18 miles long, pilgrims will leave St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham at 9.00am promptly and should arrive at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Chad, Lichfield, around 6.00pm.
Registration
The costs of the St Chad Pilgrimage are being underwritten by ‘Churches Linked across Staffordshire and the Potteries’ and ‘Black Country Churches Engaged’ (the official ecumenical bodies for Staffordshire and the Black Country respectively), with support from the (Anglican) Diocese of Lichfield and the (Roman Catholic) Archdiocese of Birmingham.
The closing date for registration has now passed. Those who have missed the deadline may contact organiser Robert Mountford at this address. Acceptance of late registration is entirely at Robert’s discretion. No responsibility can be taken for those who do not register in advance to participate, and any who walk without prior registration will not be covered by the Public Liability Insurance protecting those who are authorised to take part in the pilgrimage.
