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The Diocese of Arundel & Brighton Ecumenical Walking Pilgrimage (EWP) marked its 50th anniversary this week! On Easter Monday 1975, 25 intrepid pilgrims set out from Arundel Cathedral to “beat the bounds” of the Diocese, marking the 1975 Holy Year and the 10th Anniversary of the creation of the Diocese.

As reported on the Pilgrims Live website, that first August pilgrimage included heavy rain, a blizzard and a lot of Ring-a-Ring-o-Roses! The walkers were joined on the final day by Bishop Michael Bowen and his dog Jamie, and "were delighted to see that even Bishops 'all fall down'.”

The EWP has continued each summer since then, undertaking an ecumenical pilgrimage to a place, shrine or area exploring a particular theme or aspect of our Christian faith and heritage:

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"What we rediscover, year after year, is the amazing personal and community value of going on pilgrimage as our medieval forebears did, where the journey, walking, laughing, sharing, praying [and] singing is as important as the destination. We stop at pubs for lunch and sleep on the floors of churches, schools or community halls, walking on footpaths and not roads as much as possible."

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The EWP group walks about 15 miles a day, with the journey open to people of all faiths. Bookings have opened for 2025's "Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope" which will take place from the 9-24 August. Walking across the Surrey Hills and along the Sussex coast, this year's route will visit every deanery in the Diocese, together with churches of many denominations, with pilgrims welcome to join the group for a day, a few days, or the whole 2 weeks.

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To find out more and book your place the button below and and visit the Pilgrims Live website.

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‍Source: Pilgrims Live