The Confraternity of Saint James
Honorary President: H.E. the Spanish Ambassador
- was founded in 1983 to bring together people interested in the medieval pilgrim routes through France and Spain to Santiago de Compostela, and the rich heritage of art, architecture, history, music, faith and human interest associated with them
- was a non-denominational charity, registered (no. 294461) in the United Kingdom, which in January 2001 became a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered number 4096721. It retains its charitable status after the change. The Trustees' liability was (under UK law) previously unlimited: now all members share liability, but to a limit of £1.
- currently has some 2000 members
- holds regular meetings (our Programme), and publishes a Bulletin, on aspects of the pilgrimage in Britain, France and Spain. The Bulletin carries articles on all aspects of the pilgrimages, and includes news of exhibitions, activities and events in Britain and on the Continent, study tours etc.
- has run a pilgrim hostel or refuge, Refugio Gaucelmo, at Rabanal del Camino, west of Astorga on the Camino francés since 1991; and in June 2005 opened a second refuge, Refugio de Peregrinos de Miraz, a day's walk before Sobrado de los Monjes on the Camino del Norte.
- provides practical information in its Pilgrim Guides to the routes in France and Spain, which are updated at frequent intervals on the basis of feedback from pilgrims
- operates a library at the London office, which is open to the public (though only members may borrow books) and a slide library (available to members only).
- maintains this website, which includes an on-line Bookshop carrying a range of guides and other books about the pilgrimage.
- undertakes and promotes research into the history of the pilgrimage, and the cult of St James in Britain; and offers an annual Bursary to young people undertaking appropriate research projects
- takes an active part in identifying and safeguarding monuments and works of art connected with St James and the pilgrimage
- may be able to offer help to elderly, frail or disabled people otherwise unable to make the pilgrimage to Santiago
- participates in the activities of other European groups
- is not restricted to those who have made the journey to Santiago, but welcomes as members all who are interested in its aims and activities
For a full acount of our activities, you may read our Chairman's Reports, delivered each year at our late-January AGM:
To see our entry in the UK Register of Charities, go to the website of the Charity Commission, follow the link to the Register of Charities, and enter our name in the search box. Follow the second of the two results you will get to see all our legally-registered information; and to see our most recents accounts, follow the link "To view accounts documents" .
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To mark our 20th
anniversary in 2003, our former Chairman and Bulletin editor, Pat Quaife,
brought out "Give me my Scallop Shell ...": the Confraternity of St James,
1983 to 2003. Published as no 84 of the Bulletin (December 2003),
it has gone in the ordinary way to all members, but it is available for
sale to non-members (£7.50 + p&p) through the on-line
bookshop. Pat gives a vivid account of the early years, when the
pilgrimage to Santiago was known only to a few; of the heroic efforts of
a small number of dedicated inviduals to establish Refugio Gaucelmo at Rabanal;
and of the changes made to the structure and organisation of the Confraternity
to respond to the growing popularity of the Camino.
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By joining the Confraternity (and by maintaining your membership after you have made your pilgrimage)you will be helping to support the work described above. You will also receive our regular Bulletin, and be entitled to a Pilgrim Record when you make your pilgrimage, and to borrow books from our Library.
Thank you for visiting our website: we hope you will find the basic information
about the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, and about the Confraternity
of St James, that you are looking for. If you didn't, or have any comments on our site, please contact us.