Little Gidding Pilgrimage 2024
Little Gidding Pilgrimage: a walk from George Herbert’s church at Leighton Bromswold to Nicholas Ferrar's tomb at Little Gidding
Date and time
Location
starting at St Mary’s Church
Church Lane Leighton Bromswold PE28 5AX United KingdomRefund Policy
Agenda
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Pilgrimage Communion at Leighton Bromswold Church
12:00 PM - 12:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM
First Station at Leighton Bromswold
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Second Station at Salome Wood
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM
Third Station at Hamerton Church
3:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Fourth Station at Steeple Gidding Church
4:15 PM - 4:30 PM
Fifth Station at the Tomb of Nicholas Ferrar
4:30 PM - 5:15 PM
Pilgrimage Evensong at Little Gidding Church
5:15 PM - 6:00 PM
Tea at Ferrar House
About this event
- 7 hours
Little Gidding Pilgrimage
A walk through the Huntingdonshire countryside from George Herbert’s church at Leighton Bromswold to Nicholas Ferrar’s tomb at Little Gidding.
This year's Little Gidding Pilgrimage will be led by the Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher. Bishop Graham studied as an ecologist and is the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment. He is the author of two books about spirituality and landscape: Places of Enchantment, Meeting God in Landscapes, and The Way Under Our Feet: A Spirituality of Walking. In 2023 he was seen by millions around the world as one of the two bishops supporting the Queen at the Coronation.
The walk from Leighton Bromswold to Little Gidding is about five miles, mostly along the country roads. Sturdy shoes are recommended. If sunny, don’t forget to bring hats and water. Drinks and toilets available at Hamerton. It will be possible to join in along the route, particularly at the Stations, where there will be a pause and a short act of worship and commemoration. Timing of intermediate Stations approximate. We will co-ordinate drivers’ return to Leighton Bromswold. For more information see www.littlegidding.org.uk/pilgrimage
We are using Eventbrite to take reservations and pre-payments for the Pilgrimage. This year you can buy an all-inclusive ticket which covers Lunch at Leighton Bromswold and Tea at Little Gidding, together with a donation to Leighton Bromswold and Little Gidding Churches and a contribution to other Pilgrimage costs. Large groups are invited to contact us directly at pilgrimage@littlegidding.org.uk before booking.
To assist with catering, the refund deadline is Saturday 11 May, one week before the Pilgrimage. Should you need to cancel after this date, you won't be able to do so through Eventbrite, but please get in touch with us via pilgrimage@littlegidding.org.uk and we'll do our best to sort things out.
Frequently asked questions
A walk through the Huntingdonshire countryside from George Herbert’s church at Leighton Bromswold to Nicholas Ferrar’s tomb at Little Gidding. There are services at the two churches, and several short stops for reflection on the walk.
Saturday 18 May 2024, beginning at 10.30 am at Leighton Bromswold church. The Pilgrimage finishes at Little Gidding after Evensong with Tea at about 5.30 pm. See below for more details.
The Pilgrimage leader this year is the Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich, author of two books about spirituality and landscape: “Places of Enchantment, Meeting God in Landscapes”, and “The Way Under Our Feet: A Spirituality of Walking”. He is the Church’s lead bishop on the environment.
Bishop Graham will preach at the morning Eucharist at Leighton Bromswold, give short addresses at the five stations between Leighton Bromswold and Little Gidding, and preach at Evensong at Little Gidding.
Little Gidding was made famous in the twentieth century when it gave its name to T S Eliot’s last great poem. But even before Eliot it was renowned as the home and burial place of Nicholas Ferrar.
Born in 1592, Nicholas Ferrar gave up a life in commerce and politics to move to Little Gidding, living a life of prayer and charitable work. Ordained deacon, he set an example of devotion and spiritual life that has stood as a beacon to those who have followed. He died on 4 December 1637.
Lunch will be available at Leighton Bromswold and Tea at Little Gidding. Please use the form below to reserve places and book and pay for meals online.
Cars can be left at Leighton Bromswold; we will co-ordinate lifts back at the end of the Pilgrimage. Leighton Bromswold is just north of the A14 a few miles west of Huntingdon and the junction with the A1.
Attendance at the Pilgrimage is entirely free, and all are welcome. Tickets for Lunch and Tea are available, or make your own arrangements.
We want the Pilgrimage to be accessible to as many people as possible. If your specific questions or concerns aren’t answered here, please do contact us, either using the contact form on this website, or via email at pilgrimage@littlegidding.org.uk