FOR hundreds of years Christian pilgrims have trodden well-worn paths to holy sites from Jerusalem to Canterbury in search of a closer relationship with God.

Next Thursday the way to spiritual enlightenment will pass through Oxfordshire as a 10-day pilgrimage begins along the new Thames Pilgrim Way to mark the end of the Bishop of Oxford’s time in the city.

The new 104-mile route, which starts at Radcot Bridge, near Clanfield, and ends in Runnymede, Surrey, is designed to allow Christians to make use of the Thames Path to explore their faith and say goodbye to the Rt Rev John Pritchard, who plans to retire on October 31.

Pilgrims will pause in Oxford on September 20 for the Grand Day Out, a celebration of faith ending with open air worship on Christ Church Meadow.

The Rev Sally Welch, associate priest at St Margaret’s Church in Oxford, has helped organise the pilgrimage and said it was the achievement of a long-standing goal for the Bishop. She said: “It has always been close to the Bishop’s heart and about four years ago we talked about it as making what was already a very popular walker’s path have a more spiritual element.

“I have just finished walking it for the fourth time. I walked it first to see that it was possible and then I walked it with the church to see if it compared as a pilgrim.

“Then two more times to make sure I knew exactly where we will be walking, as I will be the chief navigator.”

The route is made up of 10 stages, each of about 10 miles each, and pilgrims are able to walk the entire route or sections along the way.

The Bishop of Oxford is one of those who will be tackling the whole 104 miles.

Ms Welch, who has been at St Margaret’s for five years, said: “Pilgrimage goes back a long way, it features in many more religions.

“Christian pilgrimages have been going since the days when people went to see where Jesus walked and talked.

“Now people find that the actual journey itself definitely has more emphasis, which is what we are trying to do with the Thames Path.

“There is an end event where we all gather at Wraysbury Church and there will be a service and a celebration.

“This pilgrimage is a way of uniting the whole diocese through a geographical feature that has been central to the diocese down many years. It adds a spiritual dimension to something everyday.”

Bishop John said: “Launching the Thames Pilgrim Way gives me the chance to journey through all four archdeaconries of our great diocese to celebrate our Christian heritage and spend time with people from right across the patch.”

DAY-BY-DAY

  • Day 1: Radcot to Newbridge
  • Day 2: Newbridge to Wolvercote
  • Day 3: Wolvercote to Radley
  • Day 4: Radley to Little Wittenham
  • Day 5: Little Wittenham to Moulsford
  • Day 6: Moulsford to Tilehurst
  • Day 7: Tilehurst to Shiplake
  • Day 8: Shiplake to Marlow
  • Day 9: Marlow to Maidenhead
  • Day 10: Maidenhead to Runnymede

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