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So here it is - our final day. Although yesterday was our final walking day, today started with a walk (under a mile) to St Chad's church to join their 9.30 Holy Communion, so it was a relatively early start.
But what a welcome! The order of service showed the extent to which St Chad's had adapted their service to accommodate us. Our musicians got together with Shaun Miles, director of music, to arrange the accompaniment, as pilgrims and parishioners filed in.
We started with a rousing "Stand up stand up for Jesus". The parishioners then welcomed us in the words of a Celtic greeting, to which we responded with Father Joe's Nasema Asante. Jill (the rector), Patrick and John Bentley led us in the Peruvian Gloria, which was followed by the Prayer of St Chad.
One reading was read by a parishioner, the second by Clare Gamble, Frances' driver for the past week. After the Creed and intercessions, a new chasuble was presented to the church in memory of Madge Ferguson. Having blessed the chasuble, Jill donned it to continue the service.
Next was the presentation of commemorative cards to the pilgrims. These show the detail from the high altar (I'll link to St Chad's site to illustrate this in due course), but were inscribed on the back and on the envelope with emblems and prayers specific to our pilgrimage and St Chad. Stephen had done us proud! I read the roll (the fire register - much used this year) while the congregation sang the Taizé chant Jubilate Deo, and the pilgrims present came forward to receive their card from Jill
After an enthusiastic sharing of the peace, we led "Blest are you Lord God of all creation", accompanied by Shaun on the piano, which gave it a special lift.
During communion we again led the singing, "Be still for the presence of the Lord" and "This is my body".
The service concluded with a fair attempt at raising the roof singing "To be a pilgrim".
Afterwards we were treated to coffee and cakes, and a chance to chat to some of St Chad's parishioners. It was also an opportunity to catch breath and think "We've done it!" - this service was culmination of our pilgrimage.
Chatting to other pilgrims, it is clear that we've never had a welcome quite like this anywhere else. The enthusiasm of so many people, but especially Jill Warren, Stephen Smith and Bishop Keith, made this happen. Having taken on the job of organising our arrival in Lichfield, I'd had quite high expectations, but this really exceeded my wildest dreams.
We returned to the hall (some via the town or cathedral) for a bring-and-share lunch, at which Lesley was presented with a gift from the pilgrims (the other gifts had all been presented yesterday evening by Lesley, but her own memento had to wait another day). The presentation was made by John Lamb, who is taking on Lesley's Chief Coordinator role.
Then came the final packing: luggage for Brighton and Hove in the van, other destinations in the coach, or taken by car or train.
Some farewells had been going on throughout the day (and indeed from last evening) but the majority now occurred as the coach was boarded.
And, eventually, they were off (Cathedral spire almost visible in the background)
So, there it is. Over. It was eerily quiet as the remaining few said their farewells. It will take some time to get used to not living in a moving community of some 70 people; but it will be far longer before the memories of a wonderful pilgrimage fade.
And so, it's all done! Two things left: to ask the question "did it work?", and to thank those who made it happen.
Well, it certainly seemed to work. The feedback has been great, and that encouragement kept us going through two pretty gruelling weeks. Moreover, despite the doubts of some about bringing technology with us, it seems to have served a purpose in keeping those left behind in touch, feeling very much part of what was going on.
But there was another, unexpected, benefit. Although individuals have kept diaries before, I don't think we've ever kept a collective diary of the pilgrimage. Although most of the words were mine, there was an editorial team behind me, and many of the pilgrims took an interest. So I hope you'll agree it's a fair representation of what happened.
Thanks are due to many people. First must be Simon Longlands, always a good mate, who gladly lent me the camera that was responsible for the pictures you see (thanks too to smile the internet bank for the overdraft to buy the batteries for said camera). Then the editorial team. A special mention for Sarah, always there to help, and happy to run off for batteries even when she was really unwell (sorry for that, Sarah). Anthony, Jenny, Siobhan, David, Abi and Lauren all contributed, and John Russell often caught a flying camera and snapped the action.
In my role as Accommodation Officer and coordinator of all things Lichfield, there are thanks due to so many people: those who provided accommodation and/or let us in and out; the people at churches, pubs, etc that welcomed us on our way; special thanks to Bishop Keith Sutton and Dean Michael Yorke for their enthusiasm and welcome at the Cathedral; and the greatest thanks to Jill Warren, Rector of St Chad's, and her parishioners for their welcome both on the Saturday and the Sunday morning. I've never experienced a pilgrimage ending like it - even now I'm lost for words!
Finally, thanks to all the pilgrims, however much or little they walked, including those who could only join us via the internet. Every single one makes a contribution, every single one matters. You may not appear in these pages explicitly (you may be grateful for that!) but it wouldn't have been the same without you!
And so, dear pilgrim, keep in touch, and may God bless you as you continue your pilgrimage: may our paths cross again soon!
Aidan
2 September 2000
I was able earlier this week to call on Julian Farmer and give him the commemorative cards from Lichfield that he and Betsey would have received had they still been with us. I also gave him a "Chad Bear", a silly gift to cheer them up. In fact I found Julian in good spirits, the injury under control (though they may need to pin it). I presume that Sue Earley had visited previously, as there was a Lichfield Cathedral candle on the mantlepiece.
Julian gave me a copy of a poem he wrote on the pilgrimage:
WINDThe wind speaks a different language, a quiet, faintly intonated, ancient tongue, that rises to crescendo.Its accidence is hard to discern but its words have a certain resonance, a calling which is entirely contemporary.The peal of rhetoric which is blasting on the hill reminds us of that solid permanence of nature with the freshness of true art.It says, "Here I was before you ever trod the giving earth, and here I shall be when you are gone, wrenched from life and buried in its dark heart!"© Julian Farmer 2000