Spanish Pilgrimage

Engaging with Pilgrimage along the Camino to Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain.

You may perhaps be surprised to hear that 24 URC members led by the Moderator of General Assembly were travelling by minibus, and sometimes walking, along a pre-Reformation pilgrim route to worship at a Roman Catholic shrine, where the supposed remains of James the fisherman apostle are at rest, attending Latin masses and lighting candles along the way. However that was what we were doing for a couple of weeks between April and May, and a great time we were having.

It was a considerable spiritual adventure, allowing us to share our personal pilgrim journeys, worship using a simplified version of the Benedictine Office at various times and places, join with monks in ancient monasteries as well as raise our collective voices in ruined chapels, village squares, in open fields and on a torch lit beach.  Deep and earnest theological discussions arose at any time of day or night.

History was everywhere in the monasteries, cathedrals, village churches and the vernacular buildings, in a timber framed village, a restored mountain settlement and a village of thatched Celtic roundhouses.

There were strenuous walks for the more able and gentle ambles for the rest. We engaged with pilgrims along the route, walkers, cyclists and others. There was a joyous reunion with two British cyclists, who having faltered through illness were finally found to have reached their destination.

Many friendships were rekindled, forged or developed while travelling, in hotels and on the ferry from Plymouth to Santander. Laughter rang through the buses as absurd jokes were exchanged and frivolous stories related.

While not considering ourselves tourists we enjoyed tourist amenities, comfortable family run hotels, good Spanish food in small unusual restaurants, and the shops providing the souvenirs which we all wanted to bring home.

As well as the fascinating Spanish architecture, we relished God’s natural creation, waterways, mountains, wide open landscapes as well as a spectacularly deep gorge with huge birds of prey circling overhead, to say nothing of the storks rearing their young on every church tower.

Our journey reached its climax in the pilgrim mass in the Cathedral at Santiago, before James’ resting place, with glorious music and the spectacular flight of the giant censer as it swung in a huge arc through the sanctuary.

It was a multi faceted adventure masterminded by the Revd.John Marsh as a culmination to his two year Moderator-ship which had Pilgrimage at its heart. John and Jackie with the five co-drivers, the worship, music and walks leaders are to be congratulated on co-ordinating a fascinating holiday cum pilgrimage which included so many facets, all of which were shot through with a deep spirituality. I was very privileged and delighted to be part of it.

Wendy Morgan    May 2010

Double click on the thumbnails to view the full size image.

Double click again if you have a fast computer and some patience.  Its worth it for the altar pictures.

Here is a video/slideshow of our visit to the city of Santiago and the Cathedral