Royal Kentish Camino – Canterbury to Folkestone 11/12th October 2025
Earlier this year I lost a friend to suicide. I had known Will since we were civil war reenactors together in the early 2000’s. I had lost touch with him for a while I was out of the country but had fairly recently reconnected and we were looking forward to doing more re-enactments together. Sadly that was not to be. Like his family and his other friends I felt a deep sense of loss and guilt – for things unsaid and opportunities missed.
Shortly after taking his funeral I went to see my parents in Kent, and whilst visiting my childhood church I saw that a new pilgrimage route had been created celebrating the Anglo-Saxon sainted women who were instrumental in bringing Christianity to England, including Queen Ethelburga of Lyminge, whose story had been influential in bringing me to faith growing up under the shadow of the church she founded 1400 years earlier in 633AD.
Whilst praying in her church, I thought I should walk this new pilgrimage in period clothing as a medieval pilgrim to honour and remember Will and his love for all things historical.
Walking can be intensely spiritual and I knew that walking this route would help me process the loss of Will, and help me to authentically blend my own love of history with my faith and my vocation. I have just returned to ministry after a break brought about by a deep trauma and this will be healing for me too.
I have been documenting my preparations and will be recording my thoughts on instagram and video – links below:
Part of Will’s Funeral address.
Starting from Canterbury Cathedral, and then onto St Martin’s the oldest church building in England in continuous use, I will be leading a service in every church along the route to Folkestone where the remains of St Eanswythe still remain.
You are invited to sponsor this pilgrimage to raise money for Pete’s Dragons – a charity that supports families following bereavement from suicide, and the local churches along this new pilgrimage route.
Follow on Instagram or Facebook to see all the videos – there will be lots of thoughts, reflections and historical notes from the walk that will be posted over the coming weeks
To donate click this link: https://gofund.me/b2abe46ee
You can see more information here www.theschooleofdefence.com
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