The Revs. Craig Townsend and Will Peyton are leading St. James' to Canterbury!
Won't you join us?

About Canterbury
Canterbury has been the center of Christianity in England since 597. Though the Archbishop of Canterbury has no legal or canonical power in our church, he is a symbol of the heritage of the Episcopal Church and of our unity with all the other independent national churches that comprise the Anglican Communion. Our pilgrimage to Canterbury is a journey to a central aspect of our particular Christian identity.

What's a Pilgrimage?
Pilgrimages may be understood as intentional journeys to holy places. Canterbury became an important pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages (chronicled memorably and sometimes scandalously in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales) after the martyrdom in 1170 of the Archbishop at the time, Thomas Beckett. Beckett was killed in the cathedral by four knights after a dispute with King Henry II over the powers and jurisdictions of church and state. His shrine was destroyed under Henry VIII in 1538, but people still flock to the cathedral to pay him homage, to commune with the faith of all the pilgrims who have gone before, and to feel the spiritual power of being at the hub of the Anglican Communion.

Will this pilgrimage be hard?
There are two ways to make this pilgrimage with us: to walk 60 miles to Canterbury at a pace of about ten miles a day, or to walk a portion of that each day (some 4-5 miles) after doing some sightseeing. Group members can choose their options each day. The walk is hilly, but anyone in moderately good physical condition can do it.

The Walk
After an afternoon and night spent in Salisbury to get ourselves acclimated (and to see that glorious cathedral painted by Constable and so many other artists), we will take our private bus to the little town of Otford, approximately 60 miles west of Canterbury. We will be walking on the North Downs Way, a National Trail that runs across southern England. The portion we will walk is in Kent, and much of it runs through what are delightfully called AONBs—Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The trail goes through farms, across pastures and open fields, through beautiful forests (including the King's Wood, pictured at top), and in and out of lovely little towns and villages.

The Finish
To walk into Canterbury after a journey that has been marked by prayer and open-air eucharists, fellowship, and great food (seriously! I promise!), is to experience an extraordinary spiritual exhilaration. We will have an extra day in Canterbury so that we might attend Evensong sung in the cathedral and a eucharist in the chapel down below in the crypt, and otherwise explore the town and reflect on our journey.

The Cost
The land package is $3000 per person based on double occupancy; airfare is not included. If you wish a single room, the supplement is $550. Hotels, two meals per day, and all taxes and transfers are included. Click to register.

To express your interest or learn more, contact the Rev. Craig Townsend (212-774-4254) or email ctownsend@stjames.org.