The Parish of Trellech and Penallt went on pilgrimage on 29th July, in response to our Bishop's call for a 'Year of Pilgrimage', and to make the connection that Penallt Old Church has with the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella, in Northern Spain, where it is said that the relics of St James are laid.

We couldn't walk to Spain in a day so we asked if we could instead link with St James's Church in Wyesham, and so began our plans to go on pilgrimage.

How does an ordinary local walk become a pilgrimage? It's all to do with what happens along the way. As Christians walked together, enjoying the natural beauty of the Wye Valley, we paused at various places along the way for short prayers and meditations, through which we got to know each other a little better; we got to know ourselves a little better; and we got to know God a little better.

We began our walk with a service for pilgrims, at Penallt, where 34 people and six dogs gathered to seek God's blessing for our journey before we climbed over the style and walked through the fields down to the River Wye.

In the fields we paused and listened to the words of the poem, "The Bright Field" by RS Thomas, to help us appreciate the splendour and the beauty of the nature surrounding us, and as we reached the river we paused to reflect on the words of Psalm 42 "As a deer longs for running streams, so longs my soul for you, My God."

The walk along the river bank towards the bridge to Redbook was great fun as we battled through head-height bracken and, in places, ankle deep mud, while negotiating around the young bulls that were a little too interested in us.

Some of us, in keeping with Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress, found ourselves a little deeper than others in the slough of despair.

We paused to remember the medieval chapel of St Denis which is recorded as being near the old ferry crossing, and thought about how we can become bridges for others, as we crossed from Wales to England.

The Vicar of Wyesham, Rev Kevin Cecil, met us in Redbrook, as we enjoyed hospitality at the Bell Inn with soup, sandwiches and a well earned pint, before walking us into Wyesham.

As we came out of the woodland to enter Wyesham Village, we could look back across the valley and see the Old Church of Penallt in the hills, and it was good to look back and see where we had come from before, some of us barefoot in traditional manner.

The Parish of Wyesham and related churches had already made their own pilgrimages earlier that day and had now prepared a wonderful tea to welcome us as we arrived, before we all met in St James's Church to celebrate the Feast of St James in traditional style and brought our day to a close with Holy Communion.

It was a wonderful day of friendship, exercise, and hospitality, and it did not rain.

Rev Sandra Howells

(Vicar of Trellech and Penallt)