On Wednesday 16 April, King’s Lynn welcomed the Northern and Midland legs of the Pilgrim Cross Easter pilgrimage to Walsingham. The Northern group had walked 112 miles from Nottingham, while the Midland group covered 114 miles from Leicester.
Before the official groups arrived, a separate band of pilgrims made their way to the chapel, having journeyed all the way from Manchester. Camping along the way, they retraced the footsteps of 16th-century pilgrims and were delighted to visit the Red Mount Chapel for the first time. After their stop, they continued on, to spend the night camping at Sandringham.
Each group of Pilgrim Cross walkers, typically 25 to 30 people, includes a diverse mix of ages, ranging from early 20s to over 65. For seven days, they carry a large wooden cross weighing approximately 30kg as they make their way to the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham, arriving there on Good Friday. Along their journey, the groups pause at the Red Mount Chapel in King’s Lynn for a short rest and reflection.
Due to the ferry being out of use this year, the pilgrims arrived on foot from West Lynn via the Cut Bridge. The Nottingham group was the first to reach The Walks and the Red Mount Chapel, where they received a warm welcome from the Borough Mayor, Cllr Paul Bland, along with members of the Friends of The Walks, who offered much appreciated refreshments to the weary travellers.
The 15th-century Red Mount Chapel was originally built as a rest stop for pilgrims making their way to Walsingham, who arrived in King’s Lynn either on foot via the ferry or by ship from the continent. At its peak, Walsingham was the second most popular pilgrimage destination in England, after Canterbury.
Although pilgrimages were banned by Henry VIII during the Reformation in 1537, it remains fitting that today’s modern pilgrims continue this ancient tradition, visiting the historic Red Mount on their journey.
Pilgrim Cross aims to blend traditional and contemporary elements of pilgrimage, including poetry and music beyond the bounds of conventional church services. After enjoying their refreshments, the groups gathered in the upper chapel for a short service with hymns—concluding, most appropriately, with a spirited rendition of John Bunyan’s classic, To Be a Pilgrim.
Arriving with the cross
Mayor greets the pilgrims
Group prayer
