All are welcome to attend The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage Annual General Meeting.

If you would like to attend please email me at:

chris.a.nussbaum@gmail.com 

I will then send you the Zoom invitation and instructions for logging on together with a copy of the Agenda, the Minutes from the last AGM and the Treasurer’s Report.

Our main agenda items will be: 

Reviewing The Old Way Pilgrimage, St Thomas Pilgrimage August 2022, May Mini Pilgrimage 2022, October Reunion and Service for Deceased Pilgrims , Treasurer’s Report and Election of Officers

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday via Zoom.

God Bless.

Chris

Coordinator

Welcome – we are so pleased that you have chosen to walk with us on this Pilgrimage even though we are unable to stay together in overnight accommodation.  We will arrange informal evening meals together where possible.

• Before starting on your first walk with us please take a lateral flow test the night before the walk and then twice a week.  These can be obtained free from a pharmacy or search for ‘order a lateral flow testing kit’ and go to www.gov.uk.
• DO NOT WALK with us if you test positive.  You will then need to report your test on gov.uk and go for a PCR test at a testing centre.
• Please follow local rules and wear masks and sanitise hands when visiting eg Churches, Pubs, etc and scan the QR Code if possible on your phone.
• CAR SHARING – The Government advice on car sharing is:
  • Use a hand sanitiser before and after a journey.
  • Wear a face mask.
  • Share with the same small group only.
  • Keep the car well ventilated – windows open if possible.
  • Sit as far away from each other as possible.
  • Clean car surfaces after every journey – especially seat belts and internal/external handles.
• REGISTRATION FORM – Please make sure that you have completed the online registration form at thepilgrims.org.uk even if you are only walking for a day or two.
• WHATSAPP – Join our WhatsApp Group if you are able for ease of communication between us.  The sign-up details are in my previous post.
• GPX FILES – these will be posted up very shortly on the page for each day and can be downloaded onto a Smart Phone from the Pilgrim website.
• ARROWS – Walk Leaders/Front Markers will use ORANGE ARROWS if over 10 Pilgrims walking.  Arrows will be used only when the walk direction changes. Back Markers will collect any arrows used and ensure nobody gets lost.
• TOWER TOUR Day 1 – Southampton to Hamble – You will need £3.25 cash if you wish to take the Tower Tour at the Royal Victoria Chapel Museum.
• HAMBLE FERRY Day 2 – Hamble to Wickham – You will need £2.50 cash.
• SUPPORT CAR – We have a support car carrying water, drinks and first aid.  Please supply your own cup/bottle for filling.
• PRAYER STOPS – Each day we will have three or four Prayer Stops and would like to invite Pilgrims to volunteer to take one of these.  These are very informal. Prayer and inspiration sheets will be made available to you.  Please see Steven if you are interested.
• SNACKS – It is advised that you take snacks each day as some lunch stops are late and some routes do not have any/many shops or cafes.  Please refer to the Route Timings.
• LUNCHES – Many of the Pubs would like to know numbers and would ask that you pre-order.  If you are coming to meet us at a Lunch stop please WhatsApp to let us know.
• CELEBRATION LUNCH Day 15 – The Queens Head, Icklesham.  The Menu will be posted on WhatsApp the week before – let me know your choices.
• DAILY DAIRY – We have an online Daily Diary where Pilgrims can post photographs and comments.  This is especially good for those who cannot be with us this year so that they can follow our progress.
• UNABLE TO WALK ON THE DAY – Registered but unable to join us or delayed – Whatsapp us or we will contact you.  
• ….And finally don’t forget those all important items ….sun lotion, hats, wet weather gear – but we do hope the sun will shine on us!

Looking forward to seeing you all.

God Bless

ChrisCoordinator  

Thank you to those who have registered for the walks. For those not yet registered please do so as soon as you can using the online form so that we can confirm arrangements.

The fees are: £5 per day – £20 for one week – £30 for two weeks.

The bank transfer details for the walk fees are:

RCD A&B Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage

Account number 01079204 Sort Code 40-05-20.

The ‘Route Cards’ with full details of each of the walks together with a briefing sheet to help us stay Covid secure will be posted on this website within the next few of days.

A WhatsApp Group has been set up to help Pilgrims to connect with each other with regard to e.g. car parking, car sharing and a buddy system where are are parked at the start and finish and Pilgrims ferried back to get their car. Please try and stay within the same small group of people for car sharing. If you would like to join the Chat Group please use the link <removed> or email YES to WhatsApp with you mobile number to david.l.fletcher@gmail.com

God Bless

Chris

Coordinator

Hi Everyone

I just thought I would let you know that John has been very busy going over the ‘Old Way’ route to plan our walking days for this August. We will be discussing the route this afternoon and working out the logistics and more of the detail.

We plan to start from Southampton and walk probably as far as Battle. The remainder of the route to Canterbury we plan to complete on another occasion.

Each day will start and finish with prayers and we are looking for walk leaders to recce and lead each day. Please contact John if you would like to do this.

There will be a registration form to complete and a small fee of £5 per day, £20 for one week or £30 for the two weeks.

As already mentioned each Pilgrim will have to arrange their own accommodation and travel. Some are staying with friends and family, some B&Bs or camping and some are doing day trips. For those driving each day we hope to arrange that some cars will be parked at the end of the route and some at the beginning so that pilgrims can be ferried back to the beginning at the end of the day to collect cars or to be dropped off at stations.  Masks are to be worn in cars and we will ask everyone to take a lateral flow test before the first day of walking and then probably every three days.   There are plenty of stations, buses and taxis along the route and of course pub and cafe stops will be planned.

I do hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us. For those who feel it is too far to travel please let me know if you are able to get together with others to organise your own walks.

We will confirm the walk details and issue the route as soon as possible so that Pilgrims can plan their accommodation and travel.

God Bless

Chris

Coordinator

Your Committee met recently and again it is with great regret that owing to the ongoing Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic the decision was made to postpone both the Mini and August Pilgrimages arranged for this year until 2022.

This decision was not taken lightly and was based on the risk that could be posed especially with regards to pilgrims living in such close proximity to one another in our overnight accommodation. Also area lockdowns, the emergence of variants and problems with vaccine rollout are all possible. If we had to quarantine during our pilgrimage then we may find it difficult or even impossible to get home during that period.

The Mini Pilgrimage Arundel to Guildford has been postponed until the 29th April – 2nd May 2022 and the Swansea to Hereford St Thomas Pilgrimage will now take place on the 13th-28th August 2022.

We were all really looking forward to getting back together again and with this in mind we have a sub-committee working on organising a series of day walks from the 14th – 29th August 2021. It is envisaged that these will take place within the Arundel and Brighton Diocese and will probably follow the ‘Old Way’ routes as detailed on the British Pilgrimage Trust website. Pilgrims will have to arrange their own travel, food and accommodation if needed.

For those who live further afield it is hoped that small groups may be able to get together to arrange walks at the same time and for all diary entries and photos to be shared so that we still feel connected no matter the distance. If you think that you might be able to get a small group together in your area please let me know.

Details of these pilgrimage walks will be posted on this website towards the end of April.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

God Bless.

Chris

Coordinator

Hi Everyone,

I do hope that you continue to keep well and safe.

At our recent AGM it was decided that although we have been unable to walk either of our planned pilgrimages this year, we would still like to hold our traditional service for deceased pilgrims.  The date is Saturday 24th October at 3.00 pm at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Dorking.

Fr Tony Milner, Parish Priest at St Joseph’s and our pilgrimage chaplain will preside.  Pilgrims can decide to attend the service in person or to join remotely via Zoom. The service will also be filmed. Unfortunately restrictions mean that we will not be able to gather for tea afterwards.

Please email me at chris.a.nussbaum@gmail.com to let me know if you wish to attend in person or via Zoom. Further details will be emailed to you next week.

We had hoped to organise a day walk but as Covid cases are increasing it was decided to wait until the situation improves.

I look forward to seeing you on the 24th October.

God Bless

Chris

Coordinator

 All are welcome to attend The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage Annual General Meeting.

If you would like to attend please email me at:

chris.a.nussbaum@gmail.com 

I will then send you the Zoom invitation and instructions for logging on together with a copy of the Agenda, the Minutes from the last AGM and the Treasurer’s Report.

Our main agenda items will be: 

Rebooking the St Thomas Pilgrimage, May Mini Pilgrimage, October Day Walk and Service for Deceased Pilgrims , Treasurer’s Report and Election of Officers

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible on Sunday via Zoom.

God Bless.

Chris

Coordinator

Hi Everyone,

I hope you are all managing to stay well and safe during these strange times and have managed to get out on some walks in the lovely sunny weather we have had for most of the Summer. 

It is extremely disappointing that we have not been able to meet up for our Saint Thomas Pilgrimage.  By now we would have been in Abergavenny for our rest day having walked through the beautiful Welsh countryside, towns and villages from Swansea to Margam, Elwenny, Llancarfan, Cardiff, Caerphilly, Newport and Usk.  Then on to Longtown, Ewyas Harold and Hereford.  We have not missed out completely as your Committee have provionally rebooked the entire St Thomas Pilgrimage for Saturday 14^th – Sunday 29^th August 2021.   The communities we would have been visiting this year were, like us, very disappointed but are looking forward to welcoming us next year. 

In the meantime, we have our AGM on Sunday 20^th September 2020.  This will be an online Zoom meeting and I do hope that as many of you as possible will be able to log in and join us.  Further details of how to log in together with the Agenda and the 2019 Minutes will follow.

Your Committee would also like to organise a day walk to take place on a Saturday at the end of September or beginning of October in the Dorking area with a service for deceased pilgrims at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.  It is hoped that those who would not be able to attend could join the service via Zoom.  The walk will be organised for 30 pilgrims walking in small, socially distanced groups.  A date and further details will follow.

It would be lovely to hear from you so please do post your comments about how you’ve been fairing and perhaps add a memorable moment from a past pilgrimage.

God Bless.    

Chris 

Coordinator

Once again it is with considerable regret that owing to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic the decision has been taken to postpone the St Thomas Pilgrimage planned for the 15th – 30th August 2020 walking from Swansea to Hereford.  

The St Thomas Pilgrimage will now take place from the 14th – 29th August 2021.

Your Committee will be rearranging everything already booked and planned for the St Thomas Pilgrimage as well as the May Mini Pilgrimage. We look forward to healthier times and to welcoming you on these Pilgrimages in 2021.

The October Reunion is also doubtful but we will keep you informed.

Please stay safe and well and keep up with that daily exercise.

God Bless.

Chris Nussbaum – Coordinator 

It is with great regret that owing to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the Government’s restrictions the 3-Day Mini Pilgrimage planned for the 8th-10th May 2020 walking from Arundel Cathedral to Guildford Cathedral will be postponed until 2021.  

We hope to be able to hold this pilgrimage over the first May Bank Holiday weekend from the evening of Friday 30^th April – Monday 3^rdMay 2021. Confirmation will be posted towards the end of 2020.

Pilgrims who have already applied and paid for this Pilgrimage will be sent a refund.

The decision regarding the August St Thomas Way Pilgrimage will be posted shortly.

Please keep yourselves safe and well.

God Bless.

Chris Nussbaum – Coordinator