Easter Monday Pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral 2008
Sturry Church was one of 3 start points for organised walks into Canterbury Cathedral, with the pilgrims leaving Sturry at 10:30am accompanied by Bishop Stephen. But this was not the start of the walk for everyone. Three girls arrived on foot from Ramsgate having set off very early in the morning, so Sturry was a welcome refreshment break towards the end of their journey. Many groups arrived from Margate and Ramsgate by train, bus and car, as well as other more local pilgrims from the Sturry area.
 Assembling inside Sturry church and collecting Fairtrade geobars to eat |
 Setting off from Sturry church |
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From Sturry the pilgrims went via Fordwich onto the cycle path into Canterbury
 Crossing the bridge into Fordwich |
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 Along the Stour from Fordwich |
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 Short break half way along the cycle path |
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 Walking down towards Northgate |
 Outside the Council Offices |
Having arrived in the centre of Canterbury, we crossed the main road to enter
Canterbury cathedral by the Quenin Gate.
 Walking through the precincts following Bishop Stephen |
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In Canterbury precincts we met up with other pilgrims who had either walked a different route
or arrived by car or bus. many of the youth groups then assembled their banners ready to
parade into the Cathedral .
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 Waiting for the service to start |
 The banners are paraded through the Cathedral |
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The Easter Monday Celebration Service 2008 was a chance for all pilgrims to
worship together and to proclaim the Easter message together:
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Taking part in the service were Archbishop Rowan, Bishop Stephen and Bishop Graham
with Matt Summerfield (from Urban Saints) giving the address and dance by Eximo.
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At the end of the celebration the banners were collected.
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Afterwards there were hot drinks in the Chapter House, along with an exhibition area.
Other years picnics have been eaten in warm sunshine in the cloisters .
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For photos of a previous Canterbury pilgrimage, see Easter Monday Pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral 2004