This year’s pilgrimage can be summed up in four words: sunshine, bluebells, eggs and of course HOPE.
On 6th April six St Luke’s pilgrims and ‘Chester’ the spaniel set out from St Luke’s on a new route of approximately 8 miles to St Albans Cathedral in the most glorious Spring sunshine. We were joined at the top of Gammons Lane by six more pilgrims and then made steady progress through Leavesden Green to Chequers Lane, where at the very moment of our arrival a taxi pulled up and, like celebrities, three more pilgrims joined us. So now we were a joyful party of 15, and Chester.
The route took us on beautiful country lanes through Holt Farm, woods carpeted with bluebells, Noke Farm, and a house offering the sale of fresh eggs, which a member of our party could not resist.
After walking through a magnificent field of head-height golden rapeseed, we approached the Cathedral, and had plenty of time to enjoy our picnic. We were delighted to be joined by four more members of St Luke’s before we processed into the Cathedral holding our banner aloft.
Maybe it was because it was the 80th anniversary that children were invited to the front by Bishop Jane during the service, and asked how far they had walked, and given Easter eggs. There was even a doggy prize and of course Biggleswade were once again the church who had travelled the furthest — 30 miles over two days.
Leah Bucko, the youth Pastor from Soul Survivor, gave a profound and touching reflection, with hope at the heart of the message, and the final song, as always, was the uplifting ‘Thine Be the Glory’ before we all walked back into the sunshine to make our way home.
Jill Rogers