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Bishop to lead pilgrimage on Twitter

08 August 2011

See also: Follow the Paulinus Way on Twitter

Enjoying a refreshing pilgrimage has never been more accessible or affordable, as the Bishop of Oxford issues an invitation to join him on pilgrimage via 'tweets' on the Twitter website. His progress - along with inspirational prayers taken from the new book Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims and useful links to information on his chosen destinations - will be read on mobile phones and computers free of charge by all who follow the Church of England's national Twitter identity c_of_e at http://twitter.com/#!/c_of_e.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd John Pritchard, begins his tour of 15 Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire churches of interest today, Monday, 8th August; leaflets detailing his route and worshipfully bringing alive the chosen churches can be downloaded here.

"I'm inviting everyone on Twitter to join me for a refreshing time of prayer and reflection," said the Rt Revd John Pritchard, "and I'm really looking forward to leading people on this pilgrimage wherever they may be."

Compiled by Bishop John, Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims accompanies pilgrims through every stage of their spiritual journey, whether it be a local tour of UK churches, a visit to famous pilgrimage site abroad, or even a spiritual retreat in the home. One prayer reads:

God the Sender, send us.
God the Sent, come with us.
God the Strengthener of those who go, empower us,
that we may go forever and wherever with you
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Anon)

Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims, compiled by John Pritchard, is available now from Church House Publishing, Official Publisher of the Church of England (ISBN 978 0 7151 4238 7, price £6.99) at www.chpublishing.co.uk or from Christian booksellers.

Notes

A new podcast featuring Bishop John Pritchard, introducing the idea of pilgrimage, can be heard here.

The Bishop of Oxford's route is as follows:

Monday 8 August

  • 9.30am St Peter & St Paul, Olney MK46 4AD
  • 11.15am Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary North Marston MK18 3PH
  • 12.30pm St Mary the Virgin Drayton Beauchamp HP22 5LU

Tuesday 9 August

  • 9am Holy Trinity Cookham SL6 9SP
  • 10.30am St Michael and St Mary Magdalene Easthampstead RG12 7ER
  • 12 noon St Giles Stoke Poges SL2 4NZ

Wednesday 10 August

  • 10.30am St Mary the Virgin, Speen RG14 1SA
  • 12 noon St Thomas of Canterbury Goring RG8 9DS

Thursday 11 August

  • 10.30am St Michael, Stanton Harcourt OX29 5RJ
  • 12.15 Dorchester Abbey OX10 7HZ

Friday 12 August

  • 9am Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford OX1 1DP

Tuesday 30 August

  • 10 am St Peter Ad Vincula, South Newington OX15 4JF

Wednesday 31 August:

  • University Church; Oxford OX1 4BJ
  • 10.45 St Margaret of Antioch Binsey OX2 0NG
  • 2pm St Swithun, Compton Beauchamp SN6 8NP

FOLLOW THE PAULINUS WAY ON TWITTER

wakefieldstpaulinusPilgrims are soon to set out across Yorkshire on a newly discovered trail that will retrace the footsteps of the 6th century saint Paulinus all the way to York.

These modern day pilgrims - some from as far away as Sweden and New Zealand - will launch the first pilgrimage along the Paulinus Way next Sunday (28 August) when they leave Todmorden for the seven-day trek along the 65-mile route through Halifax, Dewsbury, Wakefield, Leeds and Tadcaster to be greeted at York Minster by the Archbishop of York on 4 September.

Their progress will be Tweeted by the Church of England's via the Twitter identity c_of_e.

This new pilgrimage trail is the culmination of a three-year project by teacher and academic Tina Clayton, from Todmorden, researching the little-known figure of St Paulinus, the first Bishop of York, who converted many northern Britons to Christianity in the early seventh century.

Tina said: "I just want to be in the footsteps of this man I've spent so long with and get a sense of his commitment and faith."

Churches and chapels along the route will open their doors to offer refreshments and overnight accommodation for these 21st century pilgrims, who will write a daily blog and use Twitter and Facebook to report on their progress; they will take along and use copies of the Bishop of Oxford's recently published book, Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims.

Anyone interested in walking or joining the route can contact Tina Clayton on 01706 819140, 07923 618271, or ptollycat@hotmail.co.uk.