Set up in 2021, the group has organised many trips, including walks around Chipping Campden and Longborough as well as talks on pilgrimage in Gloucester, with many more planned!  Fiona is very happy to give practical pilgrims support and welcomes both CSJ members and non-members from other regional groups! 

Group Leader: Fiona Busbridge
Email Fiona to find out more

Recent Events

Walking from Charlbury

On Saturday, 20th April, a group of 11 pilgrims met at St. Mary & All Saints, Charlbury, for two different walks forming a figure-of-eight round Charlbury. The first of the day’s walks was a 2-hour circular loop with All Saints, Shorthampton as our midway destination to view the impressive and interesting mediaeval wall paintings.

Luckily, the day was fine and the going underfoot was not too muddy, so we could focus on wonderful views across the Oxfordshire landscape, rather than the terrain underfoot! After a welcome coffee break in the churchyard, we walked back to Charlbury via the Oxfordshire Way, enjoying the early Spring sunshine and wonderful wide views over the countryside. Returning to Charlbury, we picnicked in the churchyard, before those remaining for the afternoon walk set out on a 6.5 mile loop via the river Evenlode and Cornbury Park loop, skirting the edge of the Deer Park to return to our starting point - and a well-earned beer!

Beautiful scenery, glorious skies, bluebells, a fascinating church and, above all, excellent company made for a most enjoyable outing.

St. James the Great, Stoke Orchard to Tewkesbury Abbey

Saturday, 8th June was the date of our annual pilgrimage, this year from St. James the Great, Stoke Orchard to Tewkesbury Abbey, and the day dawned clear and sunny.

The 11th cent. wall paintings at Stoke Orchard depicting the life of St. James are unique, and our small group was very fortunate to have CSJ member Roger Grimshaw, who pioneered the conservation and restoration of these remarkable paintings, to talk to us about them, pointing out many fascinating details, including the crosses scratched on the external walls by passing pilgrims.

Unfortunately, brambles, tall nettles and long grass had choked many sections of the footpath from Stoke Orchard so we drove to Deerhurst where we enjoyed visiting one of the most beautiful and important Saxon churches in the country, as well as the nearby Odda’s Chapel. Then, it was a short walk along the beautiful and peaceful path by the River Severn to Tewkesbury.

After a picnic lunch outside the Abbey, we met our splendid guide, the Rev. Charles Whitney, who gave us a pilgrim blessing before a fascinating tour of this magnificent building. Thereafter, it was a pleasant stroll returning to Deerhurst and our cars. Although we had missed out on part of the planned pilgrimage, we all agreed that visiting the four churches of such outstanding historical and architectural interest had made for a truly memorable day.

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