Benefice Pilgrimage

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This Saturday (13 October), the Annual Benefice Pilgrimage will take place.

This year, the walk will start at St John’s, head to St Ethelbert’s, then St Stephen’s and finish at St John’s again.

At each church there will be a short time of prayer as we carry greetings and prayer from one church to the next around the Benefice.

There will be light refreshments available at all churches and a lunch at St Stephen’s.

All welcome to join with any part, or indeed all, of the walk. If you don’t feel up to walking, you are welcome to drive between the churches or just join at one for lunch or prayer.

Lots more details below:

BENEFICE OF CINDERFORD WITH LITTLEDEAN – PILGRIMAGE  SATURDAY 13.10.18

Arrival and Departure Times

Arrive at St John’s Cinderford                  09.30
Prayers
Depart                                                      10.00                              

Arrive at St Ethelbert’s Littledean            11.00
Light refreshments available.      Prayers
Depart                                                       11.40                                           

Arrive at St Stephens’s Cinderford           13.00
Light lunch available.                      Prayers
Depart                                                        14.00                                 

Arrive at St John’s Cinderford                 16.00
Light refreshments available      Prayers    

Toilet facilities are available at all the churches    

Any Questions – contact Peter Poole  01594 822967 or [email protected]

Purpose of walk

A time of fellowship and getting to know each other.
A chance to enjoy God’s creation – and to get some exercise!

Nature of Walk

Essentially this is a mainly off-road, varied and interesting opportunity to walk between the parish churches of the benefice.
An undulating excursion around 9 miles in total, you may want to do it all, or one or more sections. There are about 6 stiles and a couple of steepish climbs. We shall walk quiet lanes, graded paths, tracks, and typical narrower Forest paths once regularly used to link the various settled areas large and small. We pass, along the way, fields, woods, water, agricultural and industrial activity past and present, and houses in all their variety.
In good clear weather there are wonderful views and we have the chance to see familiar places from an unfamiliar aspect.
Some sections can be muddy at any time and uneven, so stout walking shoes or boots should be worn and rainwear carried. The first two sections are undulating with the last much less so. Unfortunately the terrain is not pushchair – friendly.
Although we have drinks stops arranged, it is advisable to carry ½ to 1 litre of water especially if you are walking the whole way.
If you plan to join us please be at the chosen venue in good time and be ready to walk noting the stated departure time from each place, at which time we shall leave. We shall need to try our best to keep to our schedule so that we complete our excursion in good light.
Please join us for all or part of this Benefice pilgrimage. Walking time varies from approx one hour to two hours for an individual section.
It would be good if at least one person from each community walked to the next community to carry greetings throughout the benefice.
We expect to have a group who intend to complete the walk – join us and swell the numbers! If you can manage one section, also do join us and refresh the company.
If you feel unable to walk why not join us for prayers and fellowship at one or more of the churches?