Picture created by Ed Cearns, friend and local artist. Instagram @pocket_of_art
Molly is a 1979 VW T2 Super Viking and between 19th May and 14th July 2023 she took me on a 1,139 mile pilgrimage around England. I visited five cathedrals presided in four of them as I reflected on what God has done in my life. The journey was accompanied by a soundtrack of songs from the year she was born. A great year for music, from disco to punk, Chic to the Sex Pistols, The Jam to Edwin Starr. The blog was written as I went along but has now been reordered into chronological order to make it easier for those who have found this page for the first time.
Blog
The best laid plans of mice and men…
First published 15th May 2023 Last week (w/c 7th May) my attention began to turn towards the journeying part of my sabbatical. I’ve rested and relaxed, visited mum and dad, caught up with friends for coffee and beer, now is the time to get serious, get to the holy bit – the pilgrimage. As I…
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ST Paul’s Cathedral – part one
First published 22nd May 2023 There is a brilliant book called “How to keep your VW alive” which is essential reading for any classic VW owner. It was written and beautifully illustrated in the 70’s by a hippy, John Muir. John disapproves of you just jumping in your VW and driving straight off. He has…
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ST Paul’s Cathedral – part two
First published 24th May 2023 When I told my mum and dad that I was going to be ordained at St Paul’s cathedral they were really excited. But two weeks before the service mum called me and asked “Your service thingy, where is it?” “My ordination, mum, it’s at St Paul’s Cathedral” I replied. “Are…
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Ely part one
First published 28th May 2023 Following on from the excitement of London it was good to be back in Cambridge for the Ely leg of the pilgrimage. Family commitments and goings on meant It was he lpful to be at home this week. As I was home I could help my youngest daughter with her…
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Ely part two
First published 28th May 2023 The Dean of Ely had asked if I could come to evensong the night before presiding at the Eucharist, so that afterwards we could go through what happens at 8am Friday. I was told I could park in the south car park, I wasn’t sure which car park this was…
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Oh Oh..
First published 1st June 2023 Saturday morning I wrote up the blog for the week and decided to tackle the oil leak before the long trip up to Durham. Molly needs her oil change d every 3,000 miles and was a job I’d planned to do before the trip even started, but problems with the…
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Durham Part one
First published 7th June 2023 To Durham Cathedral, if I went the most direct route, is 218 miles, turns out that the slightly less direct way I took in Molly was 311! This is a long way for a 40 year camper van, so I decided to break the journey into manageable chunks. There was…
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Durham part two
First published 8th June 2023 On Sunday the church I was glad I went to, was St Paul’s in Spennymoor. It’s where I did a two year placement when I was a student at Cranmer hall, 25 years ago. The service that morning was a new monthly non eucharistic, all age service they had just…
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Carlisle part one
First published 11th June 2023 Caroline, who I’d been at college with, sent me a message saying that I would go past her house on the way to Carlisle from Durham, she lives in Swaledale (All creatures great and small country), and I’d be welcome to stay on her drive. I decided that it would…
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Carlisle Part two
First published 11th June 2023 Unfortunately, I had a terrible night’s sleep next to Carlisle Cathedral. Throughout the night the branches of the trees kept tap tapping on Mollys roof and then, as dawn broke on Wednesday morning about 5am I was woken by an unholy row outside. Nervous that it might be the ‘wanderers’…
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Manchester part one
First published 17th June 2023 Sara and her husband Stewart, were a good hour or so away from Ulswater in a lovely little cottage (appropriately called ‘The little cottage’) in tiny little village just off the A6. Two small roads, village green, a garage and a pub, that’s it. Sara was part of the group…
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Manchester part two
First published 17th June 2023 It was great to be back at home in the house that I grew up in. The rest of Monday was spent giving mum my washing and relaxing in the back garden. In the evening we had a nice pub dinner and a reasonably early night. Whilst I was in…
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Manchester part three
First published 17th June 2023 Whilst at home, I was keen to see my old youth worker, Maureen, who I had given such a hard time to in the youth group all those years ago. Wednesday morning, I found myself, once again, in her kitchen, having a cuppa (with a bonus bacon sandwich). It was…
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Cambridge – Home
First published 24th June 2023 Exactly a week after I had returned home from Manchester I decided I was going to start writing the last chapter of the blog. I’d had a wash or two, celebrated birthdays and was feeling refreshed. I’ve really enjoyed writing this blog, and those of you reading it have said…
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Journey dates and times
Friday 19th May 2023 – St Pauls Cathedral London. Presiding at the Holy Communion service at 8am. Friday 26th May 2023 – Ely Cathedral. Presiding at the Holy Communion service at 8am. Friday 2nd June 2023 – Durham Cathedral. Attending 12:30 Holy Communion service Wednesday 7th June 2023 – Carlise Cathedral. Presiding at the Holy…
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Soundtrack to the Sabbatical
I am told that there is a tradition amongst classic car owners to create a playist for the year your car was ‘born’. Fortunatly for me 1979 was a great year for music. Disco, punk and the emerging sound of the next decade are all in the mix.
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VWPilgrim 