St Edward’s Way gets underway
A footpath route between Wareham and Shaftesbury Abbey was developed by the Dorset Ramblers but was delayed due to the pandemic. Bishop Karen is currently leading a pilgrimage walk, with the final leg tomorrow (Saturday 4th September).
On 1st September, Bishop Karen tweeted:
“St Edward's Way - Looking forward to walking this over the next three days as we mark this pilgrim trail in Dorset.”
And there were several replies.
Then, on the 2nd, Bishop Karen tweeted a video of the Town Crier announcing the pilgrims’ departure, saying:
“Great first day of the launch of the St Edwards Way Pilgrim Route. Sent off by the Wareham Town Crier. Happy pilgrims!”
And, at the conclusion of the day’s walk, the Bishop added:
“Second Day of the St Edward’s Way Pilgrimage, fantastic weather. 13 miles from Winterborne Kingston to Shillingstone. Thanks to the refreshments providers and for the fellowship of pilgrims.”
The final leg is tomorrow, Saturday 4th September, starting in Shillingstone at 10.00am.
Pilgrims will include Michael Antram, the Head of St Edward’s School in Poole.
The pilgrimage will end with a short service at Shaftesbury Abbey at 4.30pm on Saturday with storytelling and prayer.
Bishop Karen says:
“Come and join us!
“We will end by walking up Gold Hill to have some refreshment in the Town Hall before a short service in the Abbey and gardens.”
A scenic route
St Edward, a boy king murdered possibly on the orders of his stepmother at Corfe Castle, was originally buried at Wareham. Later in 979, for political reasons, his body was moved to Shaftesbury Abbey where it became an object of pilgrimage.
In 2019 there was an archaeological dig in the Abbey and surrounding area to try and understand more about the Abbey, whose influence spread far and wide.
‘Shaftesbury Abbey: A Voyage of Exploration and Discovery’ involved many volunteers, including schools, with students taught basic principles of archaeology and doing some digging on site. The results of that dig are still being analysed.
To celebrate the project, the acting Bishop of Salisbury, the Bishop of Sherborne Karen Gorham is leading a pilgrimage walk, and we are all invited for a walk of some ten miles through varied countryside, with the final day’s walk starting in Shillingstone at 10.00am and ending at 4.00pm.
Itinerary:
Thursday 2nd 9.30am leave Wareham to Winterborne Kingston (lunch 1pm Bloxworth)
Friday 3rd 9.00am Winterborne Kingston to Shillingstone (Lunch 1pm Winterborne Stickland)
Saturday 4th 10.00am Shillingstone to Shaftesbury (Lunch 1.30pm Bedchester)
Bishop Karen would like as many people as possible to join in what has, in the last year, become a permanent waymarked pilgrimage route.
Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/st.ed.way
Email to notify you are joining: bishop.sherborne@salisbury.anglican.org
More details of the route: britishpilgrimage.org/portfolio/st-edwards-way
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