Home   Bury St Edmunds   News   Article

Subscribe Now

St Edmundsbury Cathedral to mark 1000 year celebrations with pilgrimages




St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds is set to hold two pilgrimages to mark 1000 years since the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund.

The abbey was founded in 1020 by King Canute who had a stone church built for Edmund’s body. 13 Benedictine monks from St Benet’s Abbey and seven from Ely arrived, marking the beginning of the abbey.

The pilgrimages will continue that historical link by commencing from Ely Cathedral in April and from St Benet’s Abbey in Holme, Norfolk in May.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds is to hold two pilgrimages to mark 1000 years since the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund. Picture: Mecha Morton
St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds is to hold two pilgrimages to mark 1000 years since the founding of the Abbey of St Edmund. Picture: Mecha Morton

The celebrations had been delayed for the past two years due to the pandemic, but are now set to go ahead.

Sarah Friswell, visitor experience manager at the cathedral planned the pilgrimages and will undertake the 30-mile journey from Ely.

She said: “The pilgrimages are very much surrounded by prayer so we’ll begin and end with a time of prayer to route the rhythm of the day.

(From left to right) Sarah Gull, Ordinand at St Mary's Church; Canon Precentor, Philip Banks, and Sarah Friswell, visitor experience manager are among those to walk the pilgrimages. Picture: Mecha Morton
(From left to right) Sarah Gull, Ordinand at St Mary's Church; Canon Precentor, Philip Banks, and Sarah Friswell, visitor experience manager are among those to walk the pilgrimages. Picture: Mecha Morton

“It’s about the personal journey of exploration - enjoying the countryside and the conversation with other people. But also it’s about finding out about the places you pass through - it’s a journey of learning.”

Sarah added that she is glad that 2022’s celebrations can finally go ahead this year.

The first pilgrimage will be a 30-mile journey from Ely to Bury, the second starts from Holme in Norfolk. Picture: Mecha Morton
The first pilgrimage will be a 30-mile journey from Ely to Bury, the second starts from Holme in Norfolk. Picture: Mecha Morton

“It’s great. We got so close to being able to run these pilgrimages and all other related events in 2020 and then we had to put that on hold. Now it feels exciting to be able to get everything on track.

“The beauty of pilgrimages is that they're outdoors and so hopefully those are a good and safe activity for people to get involved in.”

It is anticipated that 30 people will take part in each pilgrimage but participants can walk at their own pace.

There will also be ‘Day Pilgrim’ option for people wishing to join the route for a day.

The first pilgrimage from Ely will take place across two days, April 4 to April 5, with an overnight stop-over in Mildenhall.

The Second pilgrimage from St Benet’s will be an 80-mile journey from May 9 to May 13, passing through Norwich, Dunston and Diss.

A service in the abbey ruins will take place once pilgrims arrive in Bury St Edmunds.

A firm commitment to either of the pilgrimages is needed by February 28.

For more information or to book a place, see here.