DAY FOUR Great Malvern to Bromyard

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Our day started much as yesterday had finished - at the bottom of blooming great hill! Still, we'd enjoyed our first real showers, so we were clean little pilgrims as we set out - back towards those hills!

Our route retraced last evening's steps back into the town . . .

. . . and up to Malvern Priory, which we had passed on our way in last night.

Here we were welcomed to join morning prayer, in the choir stalls, and we had a chance to admire the building, with its stained glass rated second only to York Minster.

From the Priory it was a short walk to the Baptist church, where again we were made very welcome.  The church has a considerable history.

Stephen and Patrick led us in a hymn (chosen for its reference to bread) to accompany Tineke's reflection on the street children of Peru, who have to survive on the scraps from other diners' tables.

Then, unsure of the weather, we were encouraged on our way back up the Malvern Hills.

First stop was at St Ann's Well cafe, which we had passed (then closed) on our descent into the town yesterday.

And then, up, by a different route and over the top: the countryside spreading out before us.

Then down we went (yes John, I know it's a Palace shirt).

The morning sun cast interesting shadows on the arrows.

At noon, we were due to pass and not stop at a pub ("too early for lunch"), but you know pilgrims . . .

In fact, the pub was normally closed at lunchtime because of a down turn in passing trade, and the landlady was very grateful for our custom. Backmarker Maurice looks set for a session . . .

And ringleader Patrick looks suitably sheepish as he leaves.

Meanwhile, other pilgrims proceeded to the official lunch stop, a picnic overlooking Suckley Church.

For some, a well-earned rest (I hope they remember to wake up!)

And so, down the hill and up again to St John the Baptist, Suckley, where we received yet another enthusiastic welcome.

On today's theme of Food, Patrick told us of his recent trip to Kenya to work with Fr Joe Kengah (pilgrim in 2000 and 2002) with the orphans there. They have so little materially, but can teach us a lot in their love of life. Patrick has inspired his confirmation group too, who raised a significant amount of money to take out to buy goats to provide for the orphans.

The parishioners sent us on our way with their prayers - we will remember them in our prayers, especially at Chester where we will pray for all the communities we have passed through.

We then had a pretty tough walk across to St James, Stanford Bishop - the paths were little used, and although not high the terrain was undulating so we did plenty of climbing.

However, as we approached across the fields, Rosie, Jonny and Bridget (together with the curate, Fran) rang out the bells to encourage us. (The youngsters had got a lift from Suckley.)

In the church, Fran introduced the prayers with a Psalm, then Anne gave a very moving reflection on being drawn from depression by a chance sighting of a siskin.

Anne's reward was to sit in the seat in which St Augustine sat many centuries ago when he attended a synod here.

Meanwhile the Vicar of Bromyard joined the frontmarkers to lead us into his parish. Up and down again - a long 3 miles - then across a final wheat field to the edge of town.

Michael appreciated the chance to pin an arrow to a sheep - albeit a wooden one on their Millennium sculpture.

And so on to our destination - Queen Elizabeth High School. Don't look so worried Ant, that's a minibus not the accommodation . . .

We've heard that the nearest pub is some way away, so it's "bring a bottle home" tonight.

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