10-14 September 2007
And so I aim to take pilgrimage to Our Lady of Walsingham to purge my sins.
I plan to join a party of pilgrims, some henious sinners I do not doubt. I hope that I will be able to bring them to a state of grace.
I will be turning my back on the 21st century to become one of a band of 14th century pilgrims, departing Norwich for Walsingham; one of the great pilgrim centres of mediaeval England.
We will begin with a mediaeval Latin blessing in Norwich cathedral, before making our way out through the cloisters and down to the River Wensum. There, a replica mediaeval boat will be waiting to ferry us upstream through the city to New mills, where we'll disembark and break our fast with ale and bread.
From there, shouldering our scrips, we'll begin the walk along Norfolk byways. Overnight accommodation will be basic, in barns and churches. 4 days on the road will bring us to the Slipper Chapel at Houghton St Giles, the final staging post. From there we will walk the last mile (some of us barefooted) to Walsingham where we will be joyously received with a feast, followed by a mediaeval mass in the Abbey Grounds for the feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September.
Of course, I will be doing this dressed from top to toe in medieval clothing and without modern accoutrements or comforts. No 3-season sleeping bags or snuggly PJs for us, but rather bedding down on straw and wrapped in a cloak for warmth.
Amazingly I don't have a photo of myself in my priest's cassock, but that's what I'll be wearing: essentially a floor-length black frock (perfect for hiking along muddy paths in). Under that I'll be wearing a shirt, braies (baggy mediaeval underpants), hose and a tunic and with flat soled ankle boots on my feet.
Apart from the clothes I'll be standing up in, my packing list includes a change of shirt and braies, a cloak, an eating knife, plate, cup and spoon, my rosary, a purse, a leather gourd, some soap, a linen towel and a large linen sack for stuffing with straw to sleep on. I will confess to also planning on taking a toothbrush and toothpaste, wet wipes and loo roll, but that's the extent of my concession to modernity.
I really hope it doesn't rain!
PLEASE SPONSOR ME!
I am aiming to raise at least �100 for The Mediaeval Trust, who are a Norwich-based charity who aim to set up a Mediaeval Life Centre to educate and entertain future generations in all aspects of our mediaeval history. The first phase is the building of a small yeoman tenant farm of the late 14th century. As well as education, they have specific aims around promoting and sustaining traditional crafts, skills and materials and helping disadvantaged local people.