Day 6: Ewelme to Oxford

As we head towards our rest day, we are treated to another shortish, but this time much flatter walk. However, we still have plenty to do with a visit the village of Littlemore on the edge of Oxford, at which we are treated to a tour of the College and our Eucharistic service also in Littlemore itself. From here we make the short walk into the centre of Oxford, to the Catholic Chaplaincy, which we last stayed at in 1989

Those in the Watercress Centre woke among tools and information related to the production of watercress.

Yesterday's forecast had been for heavy rain and, although not heavy, it was certainly wet this morning. Jonny found somewhere dry to put his boots on!

Damp but not too wet as we set out.

Just a short walk to Ewelme Church.

After our setting out prayers, churchwarden Chips told us a short history of the church.

It's a grand building - endowed by Alice Duchess of Suffolk (Alice Chaucer, grand-daughter of Geoffrey Chaucer). She was a very wealthy woman, but used her wealth generously.

Alice's tomb - one of the finest of its kind.

The altar in the side chapel.

Roger chats with Chips.

Alice also endowed 13 almshouses adjoining the church, to accommodate agricultural workers when they were too old to work (and thus lost their tied houses). The trust modified the cottages to make them more suitable for modern times, and built further almshouses in the village to comply with the trust's rules that 13 homes be provided.

The almshouses' garden.

Jerome K Jerome is buried in the churchyard (Good pub quiz question: what does the K stand for?).

Cora and Joan are prepared for the weather.

Pilgrims remain cheerful nonetheless.

It gradually became wetter.

A damp drink stop.

At Drayton St Leonard we were welcomed with tea and coffee.

Julian gave a reflection based on his experience of worship in the Orthodox church.

The colourful pulpit.

Howard cleans the floor after all the wet and rather muddy boots had been through.

Nick says farewell to the member of the Dorchester team ministry who welcomed us.

Onwards, as the rain got heavier.

Bridget talks to a horse to keep it away from timid pilgrims.

Soon we were at the Seven Stars for lunch - and all squeezed in, dripping, and hoping to dry out.

Fr David catches up on the news.

Hoping our food would arrive soon - the weather resulted in more orders than usual and the pub has staff off sick, so things took a long time despite their best efforts.

The front markers are off!

At last Roger's food arrived ("Fish and Chips!").

Chatting to one of the staff as we depart.

A few more wet miles took us to Littlemore, where there was tea and coffee and somewhere to dry off, before Sister Kate gave a little talk on Newman, and specifically his time at Littlemore.

Ready for our tour.

Up to the Anglican church, built at Newman's behest.

Waiting to enter the church.

A memorial to Newman's mother Jemima - who had supported the building of the church.

An icon of "St John Newman" as he is known in the Anglican church.

Pilgrims explore the church.

Our tour then moved on to "The College" - the collection of cottages where Newman and the Oxford Movement lived.

The Library.

A bust of Newman.

The chapel - still as it was in Newman's day, but used by the sisters.

The modern church of Blessed Dominic Barberi, who received Newman into the Roman Catholic Church. Here we celebrated our daily Eucharist.

Our friends in Kenya are remembered in the Eucharist.

St Mary's Iffley was sadly closed - the building has windows of several different styles.

Crossing Iffley Lock.

Euan, walking his only half day of this day's pilgrimage, talks with Jack.

The river was alive with boats - mainly rowing crews, plus this sightseeing boat.

We walked up to the Head of the River, from where it was a short walk to the Catholic Chaplaincy.