This was a short pilgrimage that I came across on the British Pilgrimage Trust where it shows a map and the churches and places to visit on the route. Thing is I had been to all the churches that were mentioned and nearly all the places apart from the start which was odd as I had been all around it.
I could not tell you how long the pilgrimage has been going but I do remember it from when I was a youngster along with one to Walsingham that I heard about while in church. I have show photos of the churches in this blog along with links that take you to my blog of the church showing you what to expect if you visit them.
This is a screen shot of the route along with churches and places to visit. I thought it might be a good idea to write a blog to go with the pilgrimage showing the churches you will visit. In reality the route is of no problem and it is one that is followed every year on the pilgrimage. If you are going to do the pilgrimage I would suggest you get an Ordnance Survey Map of the are which shows all the footpaths, google maps is not but not my preferred map the link at the end should take you to a couple of OS map I printed that you can download
This is an Ordnance survey map I marked up with a route you can take
This is the start Churn Knob which is traditionally believed to have been the site of a sermon by
St Birinus, first Bishop of Dorchester-on-Thames, in the 7th century and is
still the focus of an annual pilgrimage and service. It was taken by Andriew Smith on Geograph in 2006 so you will no longer see Didcot power station and the cross I remember the council complained it had no planning permission and was taken down, I did see a photo of it laid nearby.
From Churn Know you make your way downhill towards Blewbury.
Where you will come to St Michael & All Angels church where you can spend a few moments to pray or meditate. After your stop head out north from the church and follow the route towards Blewburton Hill. As you near the hill you should take a footpath left around the base of the hill or if you want to check the view out go up. You could even take another short detour where you can see All Saints Aston Upthorpe but you would need to retrace your steps to get back on route. After leaving Blewburton Hill head north along the footpath to the road where you should meet up with a footpath that takes you to South Moreton
This will bring you out by St John the Baptist Church which is a nice church in need of some TLC. It may not be open because on some of the occasions I visited it was locked. Hopefully some one can arrange for it to be open.Carry on walking north along the rod to a road junction where you turn right and follow the footpath past the Baptist Chapel which I might add is looked after superbly. At the Crown turn up along the side and follow the footpath you need to veer right towards the railway where you will find a bridge to go under, on the other side follow the footpath which runs to the right. This will take you along past ditches and Mill Brook where you will find the footpath turns left along a ditch which will turn right towards a bridge over Kibble Ditch and heads on towards Mackney. There you need to find the footpath near Macknety Court which will take you to Brightwell-Cum-Sotwell.
The path will bring you out near St Agatha's Church which is a very pleasant church to look around, in the churchyard you can see Cob walls. From St Agatha turn left and take the road till you come to Little Martins where to the left is a footpath taking you to Highlands Farm. At the end of the path you will come to the A4130 which is quite busy, cross the road and find the old rod going left to Highlands Farm. To the left of the entrance is a footpath taking you across field past Brightwell Barrow which will be on the right. The path will take you towards Castle Hill the left towards Little Wittenham Wood where you walk through to come out opposite your next church.
Coming out of the church turn let towards Days Lock which you need to cross to get to the opposite side of the River Thames. Walk along the river meadows till you see a pillbox where you can find a footpath taking you along Devils Dyke know locally as the Dyke Hills
Which is a couple of mounds making a ditch running towards Dorchester. Follow the footpath till tou see it turn left with brings you out on Little Wittenham Lane which you walk along till you come to Watling Lane, turn right here and walk till you reach Bridge End where you turn left and walk toward your next Church
St Berinus which is a beautiful little Catholic church well worth saying a prayer in. After you have finished in there walk back out the gate and turn right going along Bridge end toll you reach the junction.
Across the road past the Toll house you will see your final destination Dorchester Abbey which amazed me when I visited and made me want to return again Below are a couple of maps you can download and print, the first is a marked up map of the route I talked you though in the blog, the second is the same map with out the markings.
I will most likely update this blog with more information in the future. I hope you found this blog of use and enjoy the Pilgrimage
Well Billy, I wish I could be over there to do the pilgrimage, but your pictures are delightful, and I thank you for them. I must look up the Oliver Cromwell connection.
ReplyDeleteHe went to a wedding at Little Wittenham. Funny I have know of the Pilgrimage for years just never bothered with it till I read about it
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