THE Archbishop of Canterbury will embark on a six-day pilgrimage on foot this week, from London to Canterbury, as part of her preparation for her installation at Canterbury Cathedral on Wednesday 25 March.
Archbishop Mullally will be walking the 87-mile route along the Becket Camino, accompanied by her husband, Eamonn Mullally. She will set out for Canterbury Cathedral from St Paul’s Cathedral on Tuesday, reflecting her journey from Bishop of London to Archbishop of Canterbury.
The route will take the party along stretches of the Thames Path, the Via Britannica, and the Augustine Camino. The group will pause for prayer at churches, cathedrals, and abbeys along the way. Stops will include Southwark Cathedral, Aylesford Priory, the shrine of St Jude in Faversham, Lesnes Abbey, and Rochester Cathedral.
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd David Monteith, and other members of the Canterbury Cathedral Chapter, will join the pilgrims for the final stretch of the journey. They will arrive at the Cathedral in time for evensong on Sunday 22 March.
A pilgrim’s passport, designed by pupils from Ospringe Church of England Primary School, in Faversham, has been produced for the occasion. The group will also give out prayer cards featuring a prayer written by pupils from the Archbishop’s School, in Canterbury.
Archbishop Mullally said that it was “deeply humbling” to follow in the footsteps of those who have walked the route before. “For centuries, faithful pilgrims have flocked to Canterbury, and I will be reflecting on this tradition as we make our way through the Kent countryside and its towns and cities. I’m looking forward to visiting local churches, cathedrals, and holy sites along the route — and to meeting people, praying with them, and hearing their stories.”
She said that she would be praying “for our Church and our world” as she walked.
“Every Christian life is a pilgrimage — a journey with God. As I begin this new chapter in my own life and ministry, I am grateful to be walking with God and with others.”
