Around 80 pilgrims took part in the Our Lady of Christendom pilgrimage, walking 15 miles from Tewkesbury Abbey to Evesham, the site of an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 702 A.D. The group included eight Franciscan monks, and pilgrims ranged from the very young to the elderly, all united in prayer and purpose. One of the highlights of the day was a rest stop at Hinton Church, where many were struck by the church’s quiet beauty. On a particularly hot day, the shade of the trees in the churchyard offered welcome relief, and we gathered there for a short time of prayer and reflection. The pilgrimage concluded with Mass at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Evesham, and later in the evening, pilgrims came together again for sung Vespers in the atmospheric setting of St Lawrence’s Church, near the ruins of Evesham Abbey. Thank you to the PCC for the use of the Church for the rest and making us feel welcome.
