Pilgrims visit the Red Mount on their Easter Pilgrimage to Walsingham
- By Gary Walker
- 01 April 2024
- King’s Lynn
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On Wednesday 27 March King’s Lynn hosted the Midland and Northern legs of the Pilgrim Cross pilgrimage to Walsingham.
The Midland leg covers the 114 miles from Leicester, and the Northern leg covers the 112 miles from Nottingham.
Pilgrim Cross is an inclusive Easter pilgrimage for all Christians. Whether joining virtually or walking for one, three or seven days the pilgrimage has options that suit all physical abilities, ages and levels of faith.
The pilgrims, numbering 25 in each group, are a mixture of students, those working and retired with ages ranging from 22 to 65 and over.
The ecumenical group of pilgrims carry a large cross weighing 30kg on their journey, which takes 7 days for the groups visiting King’s Lynn, where they enjoy a stopover, before journeying on to complete their pilgrimage at the Shrine of Our Lady in Walsingham on Easter Friday.
Having arrived by the ferry from West Lynn, the first group of pilgrims, who had journeyed from Leicester, headed for the The Walks and the Red Mount Chapel, where they were met and warmly welcomed by the Borough Mayor, Cllr Margaret Wilkinson, who was joined by members of the friends of the Walks group and children from Greyfriars Academy.
The 15th century Red Mount chapel was originally constructed as a way point for pilgrims arriving in King’s Lynn on foot via the ferry or ship from the continent, on their way to Walsingham, which at the time was the second most popular pilgrimage site next to Canterbury.
Although pilgrimages were banned by Henry VIII at the time of the Reformation in 1537 it is nevertheless appropriate that the pilgrims, on this annual modern day pilgrimage, should visit the town’s historic 15th century chapel.
The Northern Leg Leader, Jack said “" Once again, we were welcomed upon our arrival at the Red Mount Chapel and this year received a special welcome from the Mayor of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk. It is always a pleasure to share some of our pilgrimage with those from the communities we visit along the way, and this was no exception."
One of their stated aims is to enjoy a mix of traditional and more modern elements including poetry and music from outside of the Church tradition and so after enjoying the refreshments provided by the Friends of the Walks, they retired to the upper chapel for a service and hymns, these concluding, appropriately, with a noisy rendition of John Bunyan’s classic ‘To Be A Pilgrim’!