Churches are central to the English landscape. They were placed to spread the Christian Message, parishes grew up to support them and other administrative and economic functions followed. Churches are at the very centre of our landscape, almost the purpose of our landscape. Footpaths and roads lead to them from the time when the most important events in people's lives took place there. It is important to remember as well that other activities have always gone on in churches; they were sanctuaries and the grounds were used for sport, trade and recreation.
More recently churches have declined into places only of worship and Heritage Assets, their care the responsibility of a few parishioners.
A modern role for Churches (of all denominations) could be as a destination point for walking and cycling pilgrimages, across England. The pilgrimage need not be one of visiting saints' relics as in the past but a pilgrimage of spirit induced by walking through the landscape. Churches are holy but the landscape between is also holy, as is everything God made.
The walk across counties of England could become a formative part of people's spiritual lives, undertaken by everyone at some stage, as it was in the past. This sort of pilgrimage means going without a car or back up support.
Churches could make this possible by providing a simple resting and destination point. They are ideally placed to be this means. All they have to provide would be
Drinking water,
A toilet (this could be a compost toilet)
Somewhere to lay out a bedroll, in the nave or church hall, it could be accessed by a key in a keypad safe with contact tel number on the front
A small sign or symbol expressing welcome and directing to key pad lock
A rubbish bin - maybe (many pilgrims will take their rubbish with them)
A phone charging point - maybe (not essential, pilgrims can find their own en route)
If each church undertook to do this, it would, at a stroke open up the countryside and towns to walkers and cyclists, providing a means for people to undertake a spiritual renewal.
More reasons …
Many people cannot afford holidays today, just one week staying away from home can cost over a thousand pounds, way beyond the ability of most. Camping however is within their reach but camp sites are few and far between and often large, expensive and not what walkers or cyclists want.
Walking is the best exercise, good for mind, body and soul and most people can do it. Paradoxically, people are very restricted nowadays, in spite of cars, indeed, probably because of cars. They only go to places where they can park which means they go out and back to the same place. Mostly people walk for the dog, not themselves. Opening up churches as stop over points would make weekend or week trips possible. People could criss cross the countryside using the existing footpath network, in the knowledge that they always have a safe haven within two or three miles.
The Church could promote pilgrim destination points, as they did in the past, and could update their list of the brave and selfless people who have suffered to make lives better for us today (e.g. Andrew Hardie, Tom Paine, John Doherty and many many more). The mood and need for such activity is currently there in the population. Especially as air and other travel is difficult and not wanted after Covid 19.
How it Could be Done
A place to layout a bedroll could be in the nave of the church, or within the church hall, accessed by a key held in a key pad lock with a telephone number to a volunteer or warden. This would give a contact number and name to the visitor for security.
The water point and toilet could be inside or outside of the church building. If outside, to avoid graves and archaeological considerations, a place as near to the edge of the grounds would be suitable, but each church would establish the best place, taking everything into account. Diocesan building officers are the first people to ask.
A compost toilet could be a solution because
There is no below ground disturbance (remember though, the small wooden building may require planning permission and church consent).
They are inexpensive
They would reinforce the message that the churchyard space is for people who walk lightly on the earth and will stay only one or two nights
A portaloo might be another solution. However, the decision of toilet and water facilities would lie with each church individually
Ideally every parish in England should take part, it would be a matter of opting out not opting in.
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 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 promotes pilgrimage and wild camping is permitted
Many other organisations encourage and promote pilgrimage, but none include easy free camping or space of a bed roll, thereby making them expensive affairs needing much planning.
Some Toilet Examples
see www.natsol.co.uk and other examples on line
Possible partners:
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