CSJNE is our local group in the North East of England. We cover a large geographical area bounded by Scottish border, the Cumbrian border, and the border with Yorkshire in the south. Our local areas are Northumbria, Tyne and Wear, County Durham, and Tees Valley. 

We currently have 27 members, always happy to welcome more, and we are widely spread across our region. 

We have a partnership with the Friends of Finchale Camino Inglés, some of whom are also CSJ members, which is based in the Durham area. This group was established to identify and explore origins of the original Camino Ingles on its route south to Santiago de Compostela. A starting point for the Camino Ingles at Finchale Priory, Durham has been officially recognised by the Xunta de Galicia and the Camino is waymarked as an accepted route. If you would like to know more please get in touch. 

If you live in the northeast of England and would like to join us, please email Clare Taylor. 

Events 2024

July 2024

We were invited to join the third annual St James’ Day celebration in Bishop Auckland on 21st July. A group met in the Market Place and made a symbolic pilgrimage through the grounds of the Bishop’s Park to the Bishop of Durham’s Chapel for a blessing and service to mark the feast of St James. This was followed by a celebratory meal in El Castillo Tapas Bar beside the Spanish Gallery.

The following day local CSJ members were invited to join filming for BBC Songs of Praise which is now available on iPlayer. Please note our long term member Peter who was interviewed for the filming and who brought along his original CSJ Pilgrim Passport from his first Camino years ago. 

March 2024

The St Cuthbert’s Day celebration was marked by a large gathering at Finchale Priory to celebrate the saint's day. The group met at the priory for a blessing and walked the section of the Camino Ingles from Finchale to Durham Market Place where we were greeted by a Northumbrian Piper who led the procession through the mediaeval streets to the Cathedral. Pilgrim passports were stamped at the Cathedral and we were all invited to join the sung service led by the Bishop of Ripon.