For eight days in June 2011 a group led by FOCCUS board member, the Rev.Matthew Corkern, participated in a pilgrimage: Living and Following the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury.
Our journey began in Chichester at the lovely cathedral that has art positioned effectively throughout ... including a Cbagall window and Gormley sculpture. At the Hospital of S1. Cross, our group was officially commissioned to travel The Pilgrims' Way (By tradition, pilgrims still request a hom of beer/ale and a morsel of bread.) We then strolled the WaterMeadows Walk following in the steps of ancient pilgrims along the river Itchen and then through St. Swithin's Priory Gate to Winchester Cathedral. Our next stop was Compton's Church of St. Nicholas, one of Britain's outstanding examples of an Anglo-Saxon church. In addition to its Knight Crusader graffiti, the parish retains the oldest liturgical wood screen in England. There we were served coffee and delicious flapjacks and had an opportunity to visit with some lovely folks.

Chaldon, and the church of SS. Peter and Paul , is the isolated midway point between Winchester and Canterbury. There is an 1120 AD mural of the seven deadly sins here. The tiny medieval Church of All Saints, Tudeley holds one of the glories of twentieth century art: 12 luminous windows designed by Marc Chagall. The sun came out just as we arrived and so the windows were even more spectacular. The very picturesque village ofChilham was our next overnight stop. As with every place we visited we were met and entertained by gracious, interesting people- whether it was as guides or having tea or runner. Their cordiality added so much to our experiences.

Our final walk took us from the Church ofSt. Dunstan to Canterbury. The highlight was walking through the West Gate down the busy High Street (as the earlier pilgrims would have done) and, in our case, in a drizzling rain. Just before we reached Christ Church Gate we were greeted by the Dean and Vice Dean of Canterbury Cathedral. Our four days here were very special - a candlelight tour oftbe Cathedral, Evensong each day, praying at the shrine of St.Thomas Beckett, an evening in the Deanery as guests of the Dean, and opportunities to meet some of the staff of the Cathedral. Throughout our journey the meals and lodging were fine.

To quote our able leader. Matthew Corkern: "To be a medieval pilgrim evokes an image of a dauntless soul, braving weather, weariness and woe to fulfill a spiritual quest, treading ancient highways and following some inner force to Jerusalem, Rome, Santiago or Canterbury. Pilgrims today are more fortunate since, through the wonders of modern travel and communications, pilgrim sites are now accessible in a way our medieval forbearers could never have imagined. Be that as it may, true pilgrimage never changes: it is to set out on a journey of outward and inner discovery; and to return changed and inspired by all that has been seen and experienced along the way." I believe each of us found this to be true.