Cathedral Pilgrimage

The Baptistry Window in Coventry Cathedral

A pilgrimage is a journey of faith — an opportunity to draw closer to God through

prayer, reflection, and shared fellowship. As we travelled together to Coventry

Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral, and Ely Cathedral, we followed in the footsteps of countless Christians who have also sought God in these sacred places over many centuries.

Each Cathedral offered us a unique witness to the Christian story. At Coventry, we were

reminded of Christ’s call to forgiveness and reconciliation, standing in the shadow of destruction from the Coventry Blitz. Lincoln lifted our eyes heavenward, reflecting the glory and majesty of God. Norwich spoke of faithful, continuous worship rooted in monastic prayer. And Ely, rising from the surrounding fens, called us to be a light in the world, steadfast in faith.

This pilgrimage invited us to pause, to pray, and to listen for God’s voice........

It was a time to deepen our relationship with Christ, to encourage one another in faith, and to rediscover the richness of our Christian heritage. Our prayer as we began was that this journey would be one of spiritual renewal, drawing us ever closer to the love and presence of God.

As we left Ashtead in glorious sunshine, there was a shared sense of anticipation about what lay ahead. After a brief stop for lunch, we arrived in Coventry and checked into our hotel.

A short walk brought us to Coventry Cathedral, where we attended Evensong. Sitting in the choir stalls, we took in our surroundings and found much to reflect upon. From the powerful Cross of Nails to the striking modern tapestry behind the altar, every element seemed rich with meaning. As we made our way back to the hotel, we spoke about how much we were looking forward to the next day — especially the opportunity to better understand the symbolism we had seen and the stories it holds.

After breakfast the following morning, we returned to Coventry Cathedral for a guided tour of both the old ruins and the new building designed by Basil Spence. It is an extraordinary feat of engineering, yet what struck us most was how beautifully the two structures are held together — side by side, telling a story of destruction and renewal. Across the decades, and despite immense change, God is still glorified here, and the worshipping community continues to gather daily, especially on Sundays, united as the body of Christ.

As our time in Coventry drew to a close, we attended a service of reconciliation. This ministry lies at the very heart of the Cathedral’s mission. During the service, we prayed:

'All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own, Father forgive.'

We reflected on how these words remain as true today as they were in 1940, when the old Cathedral was destroyed during the Coventry Blitz.

We then continued our pilgrimage, travelling onward to Lincoln and our next hotel. After a restful evening and a good meal, we met together for a time to share and pray together. It The next day after breakfast, we walked a short distance to Lincoln Cathedral — once again in glorious sunshine, as we arrived we saw the Cathedral rising majestically above us. It drew us in, inviting us to learn more about its history and significance. Even today, it remains at the heart of the community, a place not only of worship, but also of gathering, where events and shared experiences continue to bring people together.

We enjoyed a restful pause at lunchtime, sitting in the Cathedral courtyard with coffee and a light snack. It was a welcome moment to gather our thoughts before continuing on our journey to Norwich.

After a fairly long journey, we arrived at our hotel, tired and ready for a rest! Later that evening we shared an enjoyable meal at a local restaurant before retiring for a well-needed night’s sleep.

Following another good breakfast, we are eating well! We took a short walk to the Shrine of Julian of Norwich. There, we were warmly welcomed by the chaplain, Bruce, who introduced us to the life of Julian as an anchorite. He then led us in a time of quiet reflection, inviting us into silence as we contemplated passages from her work, Revelations of Divine Love. For many, this became one of the highlights of the pilgrimage — a sacred and peaceful sanctuary in the heart of the city, offering space to rest, reflect, and pray.

After coffee, in the welcome centre, we left with our guide Paul on a walking tour of Norwich, a walk that focused on the Christian faith of the city over time and especially including places that Julian would have know.....it was an excellent tour, we saw and took in so much.

After a rather rushed lunch break we met at the front of Norwich Cathedral which for more than 900 years, has risen high above the city’s skyline and its ancient architecture echoes with stories. From its beginnings as a Benedictine monastery to its role as a modern day cathedral, there is so much to explore… we met our tour guides, who gave us a glimpse of the Cathedral’s past, present and future. We then stayed on and attended Evening prayer before having some free time to explore more of the city.

After joining together for our last dinner, in the hotel, we sat sat and chatted into the evening, finally going to bed and getting ready to leave the next day. After breakfast and checking out we walked back across the road to the Cathedral and joined with others as we worshipped at the Sung Eucharist. The service was led by Dean The Very Rev'd Dr Andrew Braddock, he led with warmth and holiness and several of the pilgrims said how much the service had meant to them.

We then travelled onwards to Ely, stopping for lunch at a farm shop cafe, arriving at our last Cathedral of the pilgrimage, Ely.....and were warmly welcomed by Canon Jenny Wright, who is the Canon Theologian. She had orgainsed a cup of tea for us, which was welcome, after that we spent a short while looking around before attending Evensong in the Choir.

A pilgrimage always carries this quiet tension at the end: Gratitude and a letting go. We have walked, prayed, noticed, and perhaps been changed in ways both clear and hidden. Now, rather than striving for a conclusion, the last few days invited us simply to receive  -  to gather what has been given, and to carry it forward.

The roads between all these great Cathedrals become more than a drive; it was a threshold. We left one sacred space, not empty-handed, but filled and moving toward another, where our prayers were offered back in worship, prayer and song.

Our journey ended not with arrival, but with offering.

Here are some final pictures of all of us as we spent time together, thanks to everyone for all that they contributed on this very special pilgrimage........Sharon

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