Save Our Spire

Pilgrimage Ministry in Caterham and Chaldon

What do Debbie McGee, Greg Rutherford, Edwina Currie, Monty Panesar, Su Pollard, Ashley Banjo and Patsy Kensit have in common?  They have all taken part in the BBC TV series, Pilgrimage, now in its eighth year.

Along with other celebrities, including some I’d never heard of, they’ve walked to Santiago, Rome, or Istanbul; through Portugal, the Alps or North Wales;  to the Scottish Isles or the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

On their journey, they have laughed and cried, shared their stories with each other, and reflected on their faith, whether that be strong, lapsed, held on to by a thread, or perhaps even non-existent.

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The series is a fascinating insight into the way humans interact whilst discovering new places, learning more about themselves and growing as individuals, all while enjoying the odd bottle of wine or a slap-up meal at the end of the day.  In many ways, they are no different from those 14th century travellers we all read about at school in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

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In those days, the ‘celebrities’ were the Miller, the Wife of Bath, the Pardoner, the Second Nun, (quite what happened to the First Nun I have no idea).  Each sharing their stories with each other as they walked, or rode, from London to Canterbury.

Coming back to our 21st century times, we live in an age when pilgrimage is going through a huge revival.  Look at that most famous pilgrimage route of all, the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, in Northern Spain.  In 1980 there were 209 pilgrims recorded having walked the Way of St. James.  In 2025, it was more than 530,000.  In our turbulent times, it is clear that pilgrimage meets a basic human need  and desire to find ways to navigate a very challenging world.  

So what is a pilgrimage?  Most people would understand a pilgrimage to be a special journey to a special place with a special meaning.  But who is a pilgrim?  Is it only the person with rucksack, walking boots, bottle of water and suncream who has travelled far through sun, rain, or mud?  Or is there room for all of us, whether or not we consider ourselves to be walkers?

There is no doubt that the revival of pilgrimage is a huge gift to the church in our times.  Which is why I was delighted to receive affirmed ministry  as leader of Free Spirit and Pilgrim Guide, in July.

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This new ministry pathway, offered by the Diocese of Southwark and, in my case, applicable to our parish as well as our neighbouring parish in Chaldon, will enable us to develop our churches and parishes as Pilgrim Places, here in Tandridge Deanery.

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The question then, is this – what do I want to do with this affirmed ministry?  How can I offer this blessing back to God?  What is my vision for pilgrimage in our area?  I have already begun working on a pilgrimage route for Tandridge Deanery.  Visiting every church in the deanery, it will be accessible by public transport and can be broken down into short, manageable day walks, from one railway station to another.

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My vision is that we will be able to offer these routes locally, and invite parishes from the urban parts of our diocese to catch a train and walk in the countryside for the day.  Catch a train to Caterham, for example.  Walk up Waller Lane (get the steep uphill bit out of the way early – very well planned that!).  Visit St. Mary’s and St. Lawrence’s, for morning prayer, refreshment and a loo stop!  Walk on to Chaldon for lunch, visiting the doom mural.  Then walk back down to Whyteleafe, stopping to reflect at the RAF Kenley memorial, arriving at St. Luke’s church for an afternoon tea break, before catching the train home from Whyteleafe.

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Could St. Mary’s become a Pilgrim Place?  Could we offer hospitality?  Do we dare leave our church open more often for Pilgrims from both near and far to rest awhile?  Maybe even offer a bed for the night to Pilgrims walking the Way from Winchester to Canterbury?  After all, the Pilgrims Way passes through our parishes, by the Harrow pub.

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I also want to offer ‘Pilgrimages in a Day’.  We have two opportunities in September.  On Saturday 12 September we have our annual ‘ride and stride’ event when we mark the completion of the Warlingham section  of the Tandridge Deanery pilgrimage, visiting the four churches in the Warlingham team ministry.  For the longer walk (9.5 miles), meet us at St. Luke’s Whyteleafe at 9.30am.  For the shorter walk (6.75 miles), meet at All Saints Warlingham at 11am.  Bring a packed lunch which we will eat together at St. Leonard’s Chelsham.

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I am also very conscious that some of you may be reading this and thinking, I don’t walk, pilgrimage isn’t for me.  Well, one of my visions is to prove you wrong!  Pilgrimage does not have to involve walking long distances.  So on Saturday 26 September, you can join a pilgrimage to Southwark Cathedral by train to attend Choral Evensong at 4pm.  This will be sung by the New Gloriana Choir, of which both Yvonne and I are members.

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So today I ask you all to walk with me, either physically or in prayer, as we begin this journey to make our church and our parish a Pilgrim Place for all, to the glory of God.

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Jesus says, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

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My prayer is that my new ministry as affirmed pilgrim guide will encourage us all to be that mustard seed that grows into the greatest of shrubs, so that all who are searching in our present times may find a Pilgrim home with God, through our witness as a church and as the people of God.

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Martin Dollery