Day 14: Hampton-in-Arden to Sutton Coldfield

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The penultimate walking day! We set out from Fentham Hall after a good night's sleep. We were heading for the next village, Catherine de Barnes, but the route differed from that Maurice had measured, so we were a bit late. However, the alternative route took an appropriately named lane

We stopped at the church at Catherine de Barnes, where John Lamb read from the Gospel "whatever you do to the least of my brothers", illustrated by the woman at the well, illustrated on a board in the church (and the ladies providing tea and coffee).

On the wall there was a hanging, drawn by a local artist (George Busby) and coloured by the village children.

Out of the church, we joined the towpath of the Grand Union canal and headed towards Birmingham. This was to be our companion for most of the day.

After a while we cut off to St Margaret's Church, Olton. The church was decorated for a wedding, and Cath Grafen gave a wonderful reflection on her involvement with the pilgrimage, starting as the parent of a pilgrim in 1976, with lots of different experiences on the way, and the love and support of all the pilgrims. We concluded with a chorus of Bind Us Together.

Back to the canal, along the towpath, and off again to the Lincoln Poacher for lunch. No pictures - I was trying to finalise details for tomorrow's service at St Chad's, Lichfield. I must admit it's the first time I've sat in a pub with my laptop and e-mailed a Bishop. If only someone had grabbed the camera...

More canal side walking, getting increasingly industrial, but still a swathe of quiet cutting through the city.

Near the city centre (Birmingham, in case you've lost the thread), we cut off through the city streets to St Chad's RC Cathedral, capturing some signs on the way.

   

Inside the cathedral we found a statue of St Chad

One of the cathedral clergy gave us a history of the cathedral, and led us in prayer. He told us of the relics of St Chad preserved through penal times, and those who wished were able to venerate these at the end of the service.

Leaving the Cathedral we rejoined the canal, which took us right through (under) spaghetti junction. Although it was noisy, there was a peace in the shelter of the massive elevated roads.

We eventually crossed the canal, walking in a bit of a cluster as Rob, who had planned the day, had been taken ill (too much sun and too little water).

Leaving the canal, we walked the length of College Road, which must be one of the longest! But it faithfully led us to the college, namely St Mary's College, Oscott, the seminary for Birmingham Diocese.

Here we enjoyed unexpected showers, and the luxury of being served dinner by the staff. It also gave us a chance to sing grace before meals, in the form of Father Joe's song Nasema Asante.