Walking on the St Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail in North Yorkshire

Bishop Barry Hill, Bishop of Whitby, and Archdeacon Amanda Bloor led 150 people on an 8.5 mile Gathering Lent Walk along the route of the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail.

Pathfinder Joyce Garbutt leading the Lent Walk © Valerie Mather The Trail, launched last September and mapped and planned by pathfinders Joyce Garbutt and Mal Gyte, was bathed in sunshine and temperatures of 15 degrees. Bishop Barry and Archdeacon Amanda were joined by Reverend Mel Burnside, Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of Helmsley and Upper Ryedale, who leads the SAPT team. They were also joined by the Reverend Andy Lindley, the Ryedale Methodist Circuit Superintendent, the Venerable John Day of the Diocese of York, and many friends and supporters from Anglican, Methodist and Catholic churches in the region.

The Lent Walk began with 80 folk spilling onto the churchyard ad village green outside the small historic medieval Church of All Saints, Old Byland, where they were welcomed by churchwarden Ivan Holmes.

Families on the Lent Walk at the start at Old Byland Church © Valerie Mather The church was decorated with stunning banners and textile artwork by local artist and walker Sue Wressell, and an amazing textile installation based on the SAPT by artist and Bransdale farmer Trudie Sanderson.

Second stop on the trail was the iconic Church of Saint Mary’s, Scawton, erected in the 12th century by the monks who later built the stunning Byland Abbey.

More walkers and horse riders from the Ryedale Bridleways Group joined at the third stop, Cold Kirby Village Hall, where a welcome lunch of soup and rolls was consumed.

Rev Mel Burnside and Bishop Barry © Valerie Mather Fourth stop was Rievaulx, for tea and biscuits at the Methodist Church. At this point the Lent Walk had swelled to over 150 strong, processed behind Bishop Barry to Rievaulx Abbey. Walkers gathered in the Abbey Nave for a poignant service introduced by the Reverend Melanie Burnside and led by Bishop Barry, accompanied by the Bilsdale Silver Band. Prayers and readings were interspersed with lusty hymn singing which with the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Silver Band echoed around the sunbathed grandeur of Rievaulx Abbey’s ruins and the surrounding valley. The day was rounded off in the Abbey Café with hot drinks, pasties and sausage rolls prepared by English Heritage chef Stevan Davies.

Bishop Barry and pilgrims in the Fountains Abbey Nave © Valerie Mather