New Pilgrimage Resources Launched to Support Faith and Mission Across the North

FaithFaith 1. Belief and trust in someone or something. 2. Acceptance of particular religious teachings. in the North along with partners in the DioceseDiocese A geographical area composed of a number of parishes, under the administrative and spiritual jurisdiction of a Bishop. of YorkYork 1. A Roman city and early centre of Christianity. 2. Diocese and province under the leadership of the Archbishop of York. and national church continues to develop resources to enable churches, schools and individuals to explore the theme of Pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage has long been part of the ChristianChristian Name originally given to disciples of Jesus by outsiders and gradually adopted by the Early Church to designate all members of the church. tradition, offering people a way to deepen their faith through intentional journeying. Today, pilgrimage continues to help people notice God’s presence in places, in people, and in everyday life. For churches, it can open new ways of inviting people into faith and creating spaces of welcome, reflection, and encounter.

Earlier this year, Faith in the North launched, PilgrimPilgrim 1. In the New Testament and Christian thought, someone engaged in the Christian journey through life towards heaven. 2. Someone who journeys to holy places (such as biblical sites or shrines of the saints) to seek God's help, to give thanks, or as an act of penance Places, which invites churches to register as places of welcome, rest, and peace. 400 churches across the north have already signed up as Pilgrim Places, offering signage, prayer cards, and reflective trails to visitors.

The new Faith in the North children’s resource called Pilgrim Explorer Cards is a flexible activity pack. The cards encourage children to look closely at sacred spaces and respond to thoughtful, open-ended questions. Suitable for family visits, school groups, pilgrimage settings, and children’s church activities, the resource supports learning through play, curiosity, and discussion. Each card also includes a hidden “find the mouse” feature to encourage observation and engagement. This features wipeable laminated write-on cards, which can be used as part of discovery bags with objects such as binoculars and magnifying glasses, or as guided resources for group sessions. The pack also includes a “Pilgrim Bingo” activity to help children notice details within church buildings.

Alongside this, the Church of England has recently published Pilgrim Places, HolyHoly Set apart, sacred, especially implying coming from or consecrated to God. Lives, a new reflection campaign centred on pilgrimage. The booklet includes daily readings and reflections exploring eight places and the saints connected with them. Contributors include the ArchbishopArchbishop Bishop who also presides over a group of dioceses or provinces. of York Stephen Cottrell, Diocesan Discipleship Adviser Sammi Tooze, and Dee Dyas OBE. The reflections will also be shared on the Church of England’s Everyday Faith app from the day after PentecostPentecost Also called Whit Sunday. Seventh Sunday after Easter. The Jewish Feast of Weeks (harvest). Day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples (Acts 2). (25 May) until 21 June.

Meanwhile Diocese of York, working with partners at Faith in the North and York MinsterYork Minster Popular name for the cathedral and metropolitan church of St Peter in York. Seat of the Archbishop of York, the cathedral was established in 627 by St Paulinus as a baptistery for King Edwin. The present building contains elements of the Norman cathedral of Archbishop Thomas of Bayeux, but dates largely from the 13th-15th centuries., has launched a series of pilgrimage resources including a practical pilgrimage toolkit to help churches explore pilgrimage in their context. It includes ideas for prayer journeys within church buildings, connecting churches through walking routes, and engaging children and young people.

Sammi Tooze, Diocesan Discipleship Adviser, said:

“It’s a great joy to see pilgrimage growing across our diocese in many creative ways. I’ve been inspired by the ways churches have offered something deeply missional to their communities, enabling people to encounter God along the journey and discover something of faith.

“The collaborative work between our Diocesan Pilgrimage Group and Faith in the North has been incredibly fruitful, and it’s wonderful to be able to share these materials now to offer guidance, ideas, and support in exploring the creative ways we can all engage with pilgrimage in our local place.”

The Pilgrim Explorer Cards and other pilgrimage resources are available here in our Resource Hub.