In the summer of 2025, a friend committed suicide. None of his family and friends had any idea that this would happen and we were all devastated.
Shortly after taking Will’s funeral, I visited my parents in Lyminge Kent and saw that a new pilgrimage route had been set up remembering the Anglo Saxon sainted royal women who helped set up the church in England. One of these, Queen Ethelburga, in her devastation following the tragic death of her husband King Edwin, founded a monastery providing care and support for the people of East Kent in Lyminge in 633AD.
As Will was a fellow reenactor who I’d known for over 20 years, and was passionate about history and historic places, I thought it would be a fitting honour to his memory to walk this new Camino in Medieval clothing. In doing so I hope to help other families like his by also raising money for Pete’s dragon’s, a charity that supports families after bereavement from Suicide, as well as the local churches along the Camino route.
I made the pilgrimage on the 11th and 12th October and held a service in each of the ten churches along the route.
I was overwhelmed with the support, we raised over £2000 – with all the money raised split equally – 50% to Pete’s Dragon’s and 50% to the churches on the Camino.
1 Cathedral, 10 churches, 12 services,
25 miles, 2 days and 0 blisters.
Over £2000 raised
Diocese News Article https://exeter.anglican.org/vicar-takes-on-medieval-walk-to-honour-friend-and-support-suicide-bereavement-charities/
BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8r01zgd7zo
Pete’s Dragons https://www.petesdragons.org.uk/
The Schoole of Defence https://www.theschooleofdefence.com/camino/
More Pilgrimages to follow…
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