“The Golden Valley pilgrimage is going from strength to strength – it really has breathed new life into Tyberton church and bookings are looking good for 2024. We are enjoying the sink and the new loo.”
Church Warden Tyberton, Herefordshire
Welcoming pilgrims is an opportunity for us to show brotherly love in the traditional act of hospitality.
'Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares' (Hebrews 13:1-2).
How to Welcome Pilgrims
Please join this scheme.
Please find a place within your church or church hall for pilgrims to unroll their bed mat, for one night only, as they pass on their route.
Place a small sign or symbol at the entrance to indicate this church welcomes pilgrims.
Place a phone number near the sign and/or a lock box with key pad, for pilgrims to contact the key holder.
The water point and toilet could be placed outside the church building or within or even nearby in a parish hall or local pub for example. Each church would establish the best place, taking everything into account.
Spiritual resources and practical information can be added at the discretion of the parish wardens and congregation
Funding Sources
Little funding is actually necessary, and applying for it probably diversionary from the main aim of bringing people to God through walking. However, there are plenty of sources out there for this type of scheme if it is needed, for the toilet, signing and key pad lock. Funding sources include:
This website funds up to £5000 for facilities and good will
Volunteers, building, researching, providing
Heritage Lottery
Crowd Source Funding
Government Community and Environment Grants
Has It Been Done Before?
Many people have camped in a church ground in the UK and abroad, informally without it being noted.
The Churches Conservation Trust started a 'Champing' scheme in 2016, 21 churches have opened their doors to Bed and Breakfasters. This is welcomed but it is different to the scheme proposed here because it misses the spiritual element, is quite expensive, takes co-ordination and management, is too widely spaced to permit walking pilgrimages and has to be booked on line.
The Golden Valley Pilgrim Way began in June 2021 and is a six day pilgrimage with five church resting points. Navigate to the page on this site for more information
The Diocese of Llandaff encourages pilgrimage based on its churches at Cardiff and Llandaff but leaves accommodation to the individual www.llandaff.churchinwales.org.uk/faith-2/tourism/
The Canterbury Diocese promotes Being a Green Pilgrim www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.org/green-pilgrimage but does not take that step further of providing a camp spot. There are many other sites that encourage pilgrimages, but none provide accommodation
Norway promotes walking pilgrimages, providing information on accommodation and churches www.greenpilgrimageeurope.net/trondheim.html
Scotland churches encourage pilgrimage and free camping is permitted on most land including churches in Scotland
Many other organisations encourage and promote pilgrimage, but none include easy free camping thereby making them expensive affairs needing much planning.
Some Toilet Examples
see www.natsol.co.uk and other examples on line
Dunster composting toilet
Many possible partners, some include:
www.ldwa.org.uk long distance footpath association
www.greenpilgrimageeurope.net green pilgrimage organisation
www.cte.org.uk Churches Rural Group and www.germinate.net Arthur Rank Centre
www.nationalchurchestrust.org Small Pilgrim Places Network
www.ramblers.org.uk Ramblers Association
The Rural Churches Group www.cte.org.uk/Groups/235017/Home/Resources/Rural/The_Churches_Rural/The_Churches_Rural.aspx