The Lindisfarne Gospels Pilgrimage

In September 2022 a remarkable journey took place that began at the start of the Way of Life in Gainford, and ended 140 miles later at the Holy Island of Lindisfarne.

The Lindisfarne Gospels Pilgrimage lasted for 13 days and criss-crossed many of the Northern Saints Trails, including The Way of Life, The Way of Learning, The Angel’s Way and The Way of the Sea. The pilgrimage was organised to celebrate the return of The Lindisfarne Gospels to North East England, when they went on display at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle (17 September to 3 December 2022). 

Photo caption: Pilgrims walking towards Fenwick with the end of the pilgrimage in sight - Holy Island.

• Day 1 - Gainford to West Auckland.
• Day 2 - West Auckland to Spennymoor.
• Day 3 - Spennymoor to Durham.
• Day 4 - Durham to Pelton.
• Day 5 - Pelton to Newcastle Upon Tyne.
• Day 6 - Newcastle to Killingworth.
• Day 7 - Killingworth to Blyth. 
• Day 8 - Blyth to Widdrington.
• Day 9 - Widdrington to Alnmouth.
• Day 10 - Alnmouth to Embleton. 
• Day 11 - Embleton to Bamburgh.
• Day 12 - Bamburgh to Fenwick. 
• Day 13 - Fenwick to Holy Island. 

Photo caption: Replica of St Cuthbert’s coffin showing carvings of angels in front of The Angel of the North.

The team of walkers had planned to carry a replica of St Cuthbert’s coffin which was especially made for the pilgrimage, but the death of the Queen just prior to the pilgrimage led to the decision for it to travel in a support vehicle which also carried a facsimile of the Lindisfarne Gospels valued at £7,000 and loaned by the Religious Resources Centre in Durham.

A total of 26 schools were visited during the pilgrimage, with around 3,000 children able to see the coffin and the Lindisfarne Gospels. After the pilgrimage, every school gave positive feedback including the following from Finchale Primary School:

"For us, as staff, we felt that the children got an awful lot out of the whole experience. They really enjoyed learning about the Gospels, carrying out some of the activities in class and then taking part in the walk. They were talking about it for days afterwards!".  

Photo caption: Pupils from Durham High School for Girls approaching Durham from Mount Joy on The Way of Life. 

Team leader David Pott, who is Pilgrimage Consultant for the Diocese of Durham, said: “Most of the schools also had 12 pupils join us for short stretches of the pilgrimage. The 200 or so who did so were often very moved to be able to carry a facsimile of the small St Cuthbert’s Gospel in a leather pouch or our County Durham flag with St Cuthbert’s Cross, both of which came with us every step of the journey.”

David continued: “This pilgrimage took place at an extraordinary time, following so soon after the death of the Queen. On many occasions we reflected on the similarity of St Cuthbert as a person associated so strongly with the gospels, and the Queen herself whose life of service was also influenced so deeply by the gospels.”

Photo caption: Pilgrims set off across the sands to Lindisfarne. 

“We were blessed with fine weather and only one day with rain which in no way dampened our spirits! The final day was sunny and cool and featured the famous walk across to Holy Island in bare feet following the pilgrim posts.

Photo caption: Malcolm Guite reads his Cuthbert poems as singer Alana Levandoski looks on.

The pilgrimage concluded in St Mary’s Church with a memorable concert by the Canadian singer Alana Levandoski and the well-known poet Malcolm Guite who read his poems about St Cuthbert and St Cuthbert’s Gospel, holding the facsimile in his hand.