As the UK endures its fourth heatwave of the year, more people than ever are using their spare time to get out and about to enjoy the sunshine and the many walking routes our country has to offer. Yes, you have to be sensible – you have to be prepared – but why not use this seasonal time of rest and relaxation to combine faith, prayer, and pilgrimage to walk a path of witness that medieval English and Welsh people followed religiously pre-Reformation.
One man who wants to see that ancient tradition of walking pilgrimage resurrected and embedded into the Catholic consciousness is Phil McCarthy, the project lead for an initiative called ‘Hearts in Search of God’. We have spoken to Phil more generally about his passion for pilgrimage, but today we have a very particular focus.
The Pilgrimage of Hope is a national walking pilgrimage with four main ‘Ways’ that form a cross – north, south, east and west – converging in Nottingham at the Cathedral of St Barnabas on Saturday 13 September 2025, for shared prayer and celebration.
Inspired by what Phil has said? There’s still time for you to join the National Jubilee Pilgrimage as a Day Pilgrim, but you must register by Thursday, 21 August 2025.
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Image: With thanks to pilgrimways.org.uk.
