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
Discover Pilgrim Places or find out how your church could join in
Visiting a Pilgrim Place
Many people today love visiting churches, cathedrals and other special places such as Lindisfarne and Iona. These beautiful historic sites can give us a sense of belonging and perspective. But they offer more than this.
Visiting a Pilgrim Place doesn’t mean you have to be wearing hiking boots or a rucksack (though walking or cycling is a great way to travel if you can). Instead, it means that like millions of people before you, you can find peace, hope, comfort, and understanding to take back into your everyday pilgrim journey of life.
Being a pilgrim in a special place offers space to pause and explore our own experience and thoughts. It helps to take time out of the ‘ordinary’ to think about our journey through life. Helpful questions include, ‘Where have I come from?’, ‘Where am I now?’, ‘Where am I going?’, ‘What might I need to help me cope – and grow?’
At the heart of being a pilgrim is our journey through life, in which we can experience God’s guidance and care each day. This is strengthened by developing our inner relationship with him.
Explore FaithFaith 1. Belief and trust in someone or something. 2. Acceptance of particular religious teachings.
Interested in finding out more about faith and what
Christianity offers?
Becoming a Pilgrim Place
Any church, in any context, can become a ‘Pilgrim Place’ – that is a welcoming, peaceful, safe space which offers time to relax and reflect. You may be on an existing pilgrimage route or walking trail; you may want to develop your own trails; or you may just want to find fresh ways to welcome visitors and local people.
Working with partners, Faith in the North is developing a new set of easy-to-use resources. These encourage visitors to explore church buildings and other sites, to engage with the stories they tell, and so enhance their own journey through life.
Resources under development include:
- Free ‘Being a Pilgrim’ Prayer Cards
- Trails for use in churches (themes: Being a Pilgrim, Discovering the Northern Saints and Exploring the Lord’s Prayer)
- Pilgrim Place signage
- Resources for children & young people to engage with your building
- Toolkit of Ideas to help you use your building to welcome visitors
To register your interest in becoming a Pilgrim Place and receive updates on resources email theo.sheridan-watts@archbishopofyork.org
‘Being a Pilgrim’ Prayer Cards
We can talk to God about anything that matters to us. We don’t always need words but Faith in the North has produced a set of prayer cards which you may find helpful. They are based on themes which were important in Anglo-Saxon experience and spiritualitySpirituality Term used to describe the experiential dimensions of religion, encompassing aspects such as prayer, meditation, contemplation, and mysticism. and are still very relevant to our lives today.
Pilgrim Trail Leaflets
These short, illustrated trails offer simple, accessible reflections and prayers. They can be used in any church building, by people of any background, and then taken home for further spiritual exploration.
Being a Pilgrim
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. faith offers many ways to be a pilgrim.
Other Related Pages
Explore Faith
Interested in finding out more about faith and what Christianity offers?
Explore Heritage
Love Heritage? Fascinated by the beauty, art, and architecture of historic churches? Intrigued by the meaning behind them?
Exploring Prayer
Learn more about the practice of prayer and how the Anglo-Saxons prayed.