Day 13: Southwell to Collingham

Arrows downstairs for breakfast? Not really, but soggy arrows need drying out to be re-used. Don't know who was responsible for the artistic arrangement, though.

The first leg of today's walk was extremely short - a few hundred yards from the Methodist Church to Southwell Minster - and we processed, singing. Down the alley, across the road . . .

. . . into the grounds of the Minster . . .

. . . through the West Door, up the nave and into the Quire.

The Minster provided a beautiful setting for our joint Eucharist.

After the service, we said goodbye to our Anglican chaplain, John Crowe, who was leaving us at this point. Sue thanked him for his considerable contribution to this year's pilgrimage and John thanked his fellow pilgrims for their friendship and welcome.

After yesterday's soaking, today we were blessed with sunshine.

Our first prayer stop was at Ss Peter and Pauls', Upton . . .

. . . where Maggie led our reflections.

As the morning went on, the temperature rose.

By lunchtime, it was very hot. The pub garden had no shade and so David improvised a sunhat from his newspaper.

After lunch, our route took us past Newark Castle and along the river.

All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small . . .

Our first prayer stop of the afternoon was led by John, who spoke to us about listening to God and to each other. His motto, based on the Green Cross Code, was Stop, Look, Listen.

This was at Winthorpe Road Baptist Church.

At All Saints, Winthorpe, our DIY prayer stop also provided a chance to sit in the sun for a few minutes. After yesterday's long walk, today many pilgrims were noticeably slower and lacking in energy.

At Holme (St Giles), Maurice shared his thoughts on quiet contemplation and escaping to the quiet of the countryside.

Amazingly appropriately, this effigy in the church, instead of the usual animal at the feet of the diseased, there was something representing somewhere else Maurice likes to go for contemplation - a barrel of beer!

The church had quite unusual architecture.

By late afternoon, the shadows were lengthening.

At our last church, St John the Baptist, Collingham, Helen led us in a very personal reflection, explaining how she felt the pilgrimage was like an onion. As the pilgrimage went on, the skin and outer layers peeled away revelaing the sweet centre.

From the church, it was only a short way to the Memorial Hall which is our home for tonight.

Frances and her team were, of course, already installed and busy preparing our evening meal. 

The meal now eaten, we are preparing ourselved for tomorrow, our last walking day, when we arrive at our destination, Lincoln.