monarchs. Hymns and prayers go with you on the way, many texts in the
Bible speak of ‘being on the way’, many psalms are Pilgrimage psalms. The
journey can become symbolic for your life’s journey, and in talking to others
on the way you’ll find much blessing. Pilgrimage can be a kind of Prayer, a
Prayer with your feet, a means of contact with God.
The most famous Pilgrimage route is, of course, the St James’ way to
Santiago in Spain, a long-distance route stating particularly in France, but
with connections to sea ports in Britain as well. There are many traditional
Pilgrimage destinations in Britain, the most important one being to
Canterbury, but some lesser known ones in Scotland as well. Recently I
picked up a leaflet on the Whithorn way, a new pilgrimage route in
development between Glasgow and Whithorn. It is anchored in medieval
traditions of pilgrimage associated with St Ninian who brought structured
Christianity to Scotland through his ‘Candida Casa’, dedicated to his teacher
St Martin of Tours. (5 th century) St Ninian was buried in Whithorn which
became an important pilgrim site in Scotland. Early pilgrims included Alcuin,
the envoy of Charlemagne, King Kenneth III of Scotland, Robert the Bruce,
seeking a cure for leprosy, and King James IV of Scotland.
The Whithorn Way, a 149-mile-long distance trail, offers a structured
pilgrimage, reflecting on the growth of Christianity over the centuries in this
area, ‘following the stories of saints, monks and monarchs’ (according to the
brochure). The route details are based on the trail route successfully walked
by the Paisley 850 group, which was formed after the 850 th anniversary of
the Abbey. It follows established paths and cycle ways, in particular the
National Cycle Path Route 7 and the Ayrshire Coastal Path. Starting at
Glasgow Cathedral, it takes in historic churches and sites associated with
Christianity on the way, including Govan Old Church, Paisley Abbey,
St Miran’s Cathedral and Castle Semple Collegiate Church, Kilwinning
Abbey, St Nicholas 11 th century Church, Troon, Crossraguel Abbey,
Maybole, Glenluce Abbey and Whithorn itself with Northumbrian Monastery
and Medieval Cathedral, extending to St Ninian’s Cave and Chapel on the
Isle of Whithorn.
While researching on the route, I was amazed at the number of ancient
Christian sites along the route, truly in the steps of Saints, Monks and
Monarchs.
If you are a walker, you can, of course, follow only along one of the many
sections of the path, details of these you find on the Web Site, or just visit
Govan Old Church, which is said to contain, among others, a ’Sarcophagus’
(whose? - I must find out).
Brigitte Williams
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