'Jotown' and his Worldwide Adventures: Another Pilgrim Start

Friday, 8 April 2016

Another Pilgrim Start

6th April 16.

Although I had been grateful for somewhere to sleep it was rather chilly in the church over night and consequently I was up at 5:45 AM ready to go and start walking!

My bed in the church was hastily packed away and I was soon outside saying farewell to Stodmarsh - before any of the residents had even awoken! (I did leave a donation though!)

I made my way along the roads between Bluebell Forest Either side to Fordwich

- within the church there is a stone which is reputed to be either part of the stone from the tomb of Saint Augustine or whether it was a stone that was initially covering his tomb, as he died nearby !!

The village also has a wonderful old manorial hall.

Then I continued, relatively easily over the hills and into Canterbury.

I firstly went to Saint Martin's Church (which was closed), the oldest Christian church in Britain!

Then it was on past Saint Augustine's Abbey, or I should say the ruins of it, also closed as it was shortly before 10 AM as I wandered into the streets of Canterbury!

I found St Thomas' Catholic Church , where I managed a pilgrims confession,

and later mass; wonderful, exactly as I would've wished.

I was staying at the Pilgrim hotel. Although early, I managed to leave my heavy rucksack in their wells and I had an initial wander around Canterbury.
Early afternoon, and I was able to check in early and soon availed myself of the lovely hot bath!

Suitably clean, I then went to the Cathedral where as a bona fides Pilgrim I was given free entrance and also my Pilgrim Passport stamped !!
I hung around the Cathedral and it's precincts ready for Evensong at 5:30 PM, and immediately before it, I received the special Pilgrims blessing from the Cathedral Dean. I was given a Pilgrims prayer card with a lovely verse on it.