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The Oxford Diocese’s Pilgrim Project is where the priorities of ‘Sustaining the Sacred Centre’ and ‘Making Disciples’ overlap.
We have launched a brand new pilgrimage route through the Diocese: the Thames Pilgrim Way.
At 104 miles, the Thames Pilgrim Way follows a well-established national trail, and winds majestically through the very heart of our great diocese, and each of our four archdeaconries.
As Bishop John writes: “By following the Thames Path, the journey is already laid out for us, so in some ways we are simply reclaiming an iconic route for God. More than 70 of our churches lie within half a mile of the river, all treasures.
“We won’t be stopping at all of them (this time, at least), but my hope is that by blessing the route, praying along the way, and providing resources for prayer and reflection, we’ll be able to offer something unique and long-lasting for pilgrims of the future.”
Read more about it here: ‘Oh happy band of pilgrims‘
Watch a short video here
Pilgrim Map
Our diocesan pilgrimage map features 15 places of special spiritual significance. There is a prayer leaflet in every church to help bring the visit alive.
Featuring 15 churches out of 813 will only ever provide a snapshot of the diocese but our hope is that the pilgrim map will inspire not just visitors to each place on the map, but also a spirit of pilgrimage elsewhere.
For example, one rural benefice has already been inspired by this project to plan a local pilgrim map encompassing each of its seven churches. Do think what you might do in your area.
Download the prayer resources for the Pilgrim Map sites here.
- St Margaret’s Binsey
- Christ Church Cathedral
- St Swithun Compton Beauchamp
- Holy Trinity, Cookham
- Dorchester Abbey
- St Mary the Virgin Drayton Beauchamp
- St Michael and St Mary Easthampstead
- St Thomas of Canterbury Goring
- ABVM North Marston
- St Peter and St Paul Olney
- St Peter Ad Vincula South Newington
- St Mary’s Speen
- St Michael’s Stanton Harcourt
- St Giles Stoke Poges
- University Church St Mary the Virgin Oxford
Other resources you might find helpful in planning around pilgrimage include:
- Pilgrimage: A Simple Guide, part of our ‘Simple Guide’ series.
- Sally Welch Every Place is Holy Ground (Canterbury Press)
- John Pritchard Pocket Prayers for Pilgrims (CHP)
There are A3 poster size maps available and also pocket sized folded maps. Please contact the Communications office (01865 208225) if you would like more copies.