Pilgrimage to Canterbury 2018

We are just back from our first ever pilgrimage to Canterbury. 

At 1pm, we were met by our coach. The coach took us along the old pilgrimage route from Faversham via Harbledown, and then we reached the Westgate of Canterbury. 

We arrived at the Cathedral just before 2pm, and were welcomed by two vergers and Fr Jim Rosenthal. 

Mass was celebrated in the beautiful crypt - the first location of the Shrine of Saint Thomas Becket before it was moved upstairs. 

Fr Kevin Alban celebrated Mass with Fr Ged Walsh proclaiming the Gospel. Christine Duckworth-Patterson read the first reading.

Afterwards, we joined many other people in the Evensong celebration, and enjoyed the most beautiful singing and music. This was followed by prayer at the former shrine of Saint Thomas Becket which is overlooked by the tombs of the Black Prince and King Henry IV of England. 

Once we caught our coach from outside the city walls, the pilgrimage got back to Faversham and stopped at the beautiful Saint Mary's Church in the town. We were welcomed by Catriona Cuthbert, the Parish Administrator who told us about the history of this beautiful church.

We have a wonderful day. Thank you to all the pilgrims who joined us; thank you too to Fr Kevin Alban, Prior Provincial for leading, and to Fr Ged Walsh and Br Tony O'Donnell for joining us. We prayed for all friends of Saint Jude today and left the intentions at the Shrine.

Saint Jude, pray for us. Saint Thomas of Canterbury, pray for us.

 

 

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Pilgrimage to Canterbury

At 1pm today, the Shrine of Saint Jude will heading on its first ever pilgrimage to Canterbury.

Canterbury has been occupied since Paleolithic times and served as the capital of the Celtic Cantiaci and Jute Kingdom of Kent. Many historical structures fill the area, including a city wall founded in Roman times and rebuilt in the 14th century, the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and a Norman castle, and the oldest extant school in the world, the King's School. Modern additions include the Marlowe Theatre and the St Lawrence Ground, home of the Kent County Cricket Club.

We will be heading to one of the most famous cathedrals in the world: Canterbury Cathedral.

If you would like us to leave a petition at the Shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, please visit our page.

Founded in 597, Canterbury Cathedral was completely rebuilt from 1070 to 1077. The east end was greatly enlarged at the beginning of the twelfth century, and largely rebuilt in the Gothic style following a fire in 1174, with significant eastward extensions to accommodate the flow of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170.

On our arrival, Mass will be celebrated by Fr Kevin Alban, O.Carm, Prior Provincial with Fr Ged Walsh, O.Carm. Afterwards, we will be visiting where the old Shrine of Saint Thomas Becket stood before it was destroyed (pictured) and then we'll take a look at where he was murdered.

We will then be off to some more pilgrimage stops on the way back to Faversham.

Saint Jude, pray for us; Saint Thomas Becket, pray for us

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