A COMMENT FROM THE AUTHOR: Your comments below have spurred a thought in me, which is: I'd be very interested to receive recommendations for places to visit, in Britain and Ireland and even further afield. I can't promise to get to them all of course, but I'd love to hear about them, and add some to my list.
It’s not actually a Substack feature - you just add a link at the end of each article to buyMeACoffee or your PayPal account if you have one. Just makes it easier for your free subscribers to show their appreciation.
I hope Paul visits North East England, which is steeped in early Christian history. Try Lindisfarne (Holy Island). It’s an obvious choice, but still very lovely.
Saint Martins Canterbury which is the oldest church in the English speaking world is an interesting one. There’s a holy well in the graveyard but I could never find it. Maybe you would. Layer upon layer of building and worship, earliest dating back to 5th century. Said to originally be a pagan site of worship. Everything that came later in Canterbury started here. Also there an ossuary in St Leonard’s Hythe which is worth a visit. Kent generally is an interesting county re early Christian sites as en route to Europe. Anyway really glad these special Sundays will continue. Thank you.
I'm so looking forward to this series - it'll also be a 'pilgrimage of memories' for me. Connemara is definitely a good place to start ...
Once you get to Wales (well, that's where the ferries go ...) then look out for place names starting in 'll', e.g. Llandeilo. "Llan" means 'place with a church or chapel' - not that other places didn't have churches or chapels without that name.
Personally, I've always loved visiting the small village churches wherever we went. There's something ineffable about standing in a place where for centuries people congregated for prayer and celebrations.
This sounds great Paul! I’m particularly looking forward to you showing us sites you’ve found in England, maybe some down here in the South, so I can later visit them on one of my weekend hikes! :)
I, a Swede with an English mother, went to Ireland years ago to accompany my American/Irish friend pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick mountain on St Patricks day. It rained, it looked like a short distance but it was not... we ended up crawling up and down on all four most of the time covered in mud surrounded by pilgrams walking barefooted backwards up the hill! One of my life's most memorable moments. It was a true statement how the landscape and the people in Ireland are integrated with the myths and the faith.
And ... we fell in love with the poet and philosopher John O´Donahue. His books, his recordings about our spiritual quests and how it can be found in nature. Curious about if he is someone you have turned to?
I saw the skulls on the shelves and it made me think of the monastic school where I used to work. The headmaster kept a skull on his desk and I remember it quite vividly from some of the meetings we had. I wonder why the skulls are separeted from the rest of the bones on those shelves? Does anyone know why?
On Mount Athos, when a monk dies he is sewn into the cassock he wore during life and then buried. Some years later, his body is exhumed, when the flesh has rotted away, and the bones are separated from the flesh and also placed in ossuaries. The skulls are placed separately. All of it serves as a constant reminder of death. Here's an article with more detail:
I can't wait for this series. As newly Orthodox and living in North England, it will be great to learn of new pilgrimage sites I haven't visited yet. You could also try Whitby Abbey. St. Hilda, the Abbess, was sought out by kings for advice and guidance. She also held a council there that decided how the date of Pascha should be calculated.
l'm looking forward to this new series. The idea of pilgrimage seems to be making a comeback, 'having a moment' as they say, helped by The British Pilgrimage Trust and their book Britain's Pilgrim Places -https://www.britishpilgrimage.org
Looks good👍 Some interesting places on Anglesey….just a ferry trip. Penmon has the ruins of an old abbey and a well; Llaneilian church near Port Lynas is really interesting and there is well not too far away on the coastal path; there is also St Patrick’s church close to where St Patrick is supposed to have been shipwrecked near Cemaes
It will be a great adventure seeking out all these places. Have a wonderful time….looking forward to reading about it
A COMMENT FROM THE AUTHOR: Your comments below have spurred a thought in me, which is: I'd be very interested to receive recommendations for places to visit, in Britain and Ireland and even further afield. I can't promise to get to them all of course, but I'd love to hear about them, and add some to my list.
There is some wonderful history on the Lancashire Catholic martyrs
https://www.lancastercastle.com/history
and a beautiful (and well used) holy well I know well.
https://ladyewellshrine.co.uk/
Very happy to assist you if you are in the locality!
Very much looking forward!
Wonderful. I can’t wait, but have to.
Dear Paul, why not add a Donate button to your pieces, so those of us who cannot afford a regular subscription can send you ad hoc support?
I didn't know they existed! Behind the technological times again. Thanks, I will investigate.
It’s not actually a Substack feature - you just add a link at the end of each article to buyMeACoffee or your PayPal account if you have one. Just makes it easier for your free subscribers to show their appreciation.
Good idea. Thanks.
Wonderful, St Wite's well and ossuary call.
I'm looking forward to spending the winter on the pilgrimage!
As a relative newcomer to England, I would love to read about your pilgrimages here — so that I may partake in them myself afterward.
I hope Paul visits North East England, which is steeped in early Christian history. Try Lindisfarne (Holy Island). It’s an obvious choice, but still very lovely.
Oh yes! Lots of wonderful places there - St Cuthbert’s Cave and Inner Farne are worth seeing. Also, St Aidan’s church in Bamburgh.
East Anglia and the Fens are also replete with interesting sites.
Oh, hiking the st cuthberts way in april! So excited,!
You’ll enjoy it I’m sure - so many special places en route.
Just did 100 miles of the camino frances,.in spring st cuthberts then more of the camino. The way is calling!
I certainly want to get there.
Saint Martins Canterbury which is the oldest church in the English speaking world is an interesting one. There’s a holy well in the graveyard but I could never find it. Maybe you would. Layer upon layer of building and worship, earliest dating back to 5th century. Said to originally be a pagan site of worship. Everything that came later in Canterbury started here. Also there an ossuary in St Leonard’s Hythe which is worth a visit. Kent generally is an interesting county re early Christian sites as en route to Europe. Anyway really glad these special Sundays will continue. Thank you.
I'm so looking forward to this series - it'll also be a 'pilgrimage of memories' for me. Connemara is definitely a good place to start ...
Once you get to Wales (well, that's where the ferries go ...) then look out for place names starting in 'll', e.g. Llandeilo. "Llan" means 'place with a church or chapel' - not that other places didn't have churches or chapels without that name.
Personally, I've always loved visiting the small village churches wherever we went. There's something ineffable about standing in a place where for centuries people congregated for prayer and celebrations.
Good for you, Paul, getting out and about and physically visiting the sites...
It kind of makes a pagan out of you, you know ? as in not... cosmopolitan, I mean.
Looking forward to the trip behind my computer... ;-)
‘First let us make the younger generation good pagans and afterwards let us make them Christians.’ - C. S. Lewis
YES ! You are working to become a good pagan, and me too, and both of us in the same, and different ways... maybe.
This sounds great Paul! I’m particularly looking forward to you showing us sites you’ve found in England, maybe some down here in the South, so I can later visit them on one of my weekend hikes! :)
I second that!
Looking forward to your coming adventures:)
I, a Swede with an English mother, went to Ireland years ago to accompany my American/Irish friend pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick mountain on St Patricks day. It rained, it looked like a short distance but it was not... we ended up crawling up and down on all four most of the time covered in mud surrounded by pilgrams walking barefooted backwards up the hill! One of my life's most memorable moments. It was a true statement how the landscape and the people in Ireland are integrated with the myths and the faith.
And ... we fell in love with the poet and philosopher John O´Donahue. His books, his recordings about our spiritual quests and how it can be found in nature. Curious about if he is someone you have turned to?
https://www.johnodonohue.com/
I saw the skulls on the shelves and it made me think of the monastic school where I used to work. The headmaster kept a skull on his desk and I remember it quite vividly from some of the meetings we had. I wonder why the skulls are separeted from the rest of the bones on those shelves? Does anyone know why?
On Mount Athos, when a monk dies he is sewn into the cassock he wore during life and then buried. Some years later, his body is exhumed, when the flesh has rotted away, and the bones are separated from the flesh and also placed in ossuaries. The skulls are placed separately. All of it serves as a constant reminder of death. Here's an article with more detail:
https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2017/12/the-burial-practices-on-mt-athos
I can't wait for this series. As newly Orthodox and living in North England, it will be great to learn of new pilgrimage sites I haven't visited yet. You could also try Whitby Abbey. St. Hilda, the Abbess, was sought out by kings for advice and guidance. She also held a council there that decided how the date of Pascha should be calculated.
l'm looking forward to this new series. The idea of pilgrimage seems to be making a comeback, 'having a moment' as they say, helped by The British Pilgrimage Trust and their book Britain's Pilgrim Places -https://www.britishpilgrimage.org
I've also written about pilgrimage routes and - today! - St Edith of Wilton on my 'stack at https://jackfrench.substack.com
One place I recommend to visit is the Saxon Church at Bradford-on-Avon - the most simple, perfect, peaceful space I've ever entered https://substack.com/@jackfrench/note/c-67144378
Looks good👍 Some interesting places on Anglesey….just a ferry trip. Penmon has the ruins of an old abbey and a well; Llaneilian church near Port Lynas is really interesting and there is well not too far away on the coastal path; there is also St Patrick’s church close to where St Patrick is supposed to have been shipwrecked near Cemaes
It will be a great adventure seeking out all these places. Have a wonderful time….looking forward to reading about it