The Youth Pilgrimage to Worcester Cathedral
Last week, our brave young pilgrims and leaders set off on our annual St Margaret’s Youth Pilgrimage, journeying from Evesham across the sun-drenched Worcestershire countryside to the historic Worcester Cathedral. Walking through a summer heatwave, our young people demonstrated remarkable resilience, fellowship, and joy every step of the way.
Here is the story of our journey!
Day 1: Evesham to Cropthorne
Our journey began at St Margaret’s with a beautiful send-off Eucharist. Surrounded by parish family and well-wishes, we were sent on our way towards Cropthorne. With temperatures climbing to 25°C, the trek took a little longer than planned – partly due to the heat, and partly because our enthusiastic young pilgrims spontaneously decided to conduct a litter pick along the trail!
We arrived at our beautiful, welcoming accommodation ready to rest. After refuelling with a hearty chicken pie dinner, we launched into Round 1 of our famous annual pilgrimage quiz, followed by a lovely, relaxed evening of croquet on the lawn.
Days 2 & 3: Navigating the Heatwave — Pershore & The Millennium Way
As the heatwave intensified into the high 20s and low 30s, flexibility became essential. Setting off early from the historic grounds of Pershore Abbey to catch the cooler morning air, we made steady progress along the trail.
We were immensely grateful for our pitstops along the way. During a much-needed lunch break at St John the Baptist, Fladbury, Rev’d Sarah and Sally met us like a desert oasis with cold water, chocolate biscuits, and juicy fresh melon!
When temperatures peaked at a sizzling 33°C on Day 3, we modified our walking route along the Millennium Way to finish early back at Pershore Abbey. Though the countryside earth was dry, the famous local plums were delicious. We spent the hotter afternoons exploring town, enjoying delicious suppers, and gathering in the evenings for stargazing and viewing a solar eclipse through special safety glasses (we are blessed to have a physics student among our leaders!). Naturally, no evening was complete without Round 3 of our competitive annual quiz.
Day 4: St Mary’s Kempsey & Fellowship Indoors
Another early morning allowed us to complete the leg to Kempsey in the cooler part of the day. By the time we crossed the finish line at 11:00 AM, it was already a scorching 29°C!
The young people did exceptionally well pushing through the heat. They were warmly greeted at St Mary’s, Kempsey, with enthusiastic praise and plenty of cold drinks and biscuits. To stay safe and comfortable in the afternoon heat, we spent the remainder of the day indoors, enjoying games, laughter, and rest together.
Final Day: Reaching Worcester Cathedral
Our final day brought slightly cooler skies as we embarked on the last leg of our pilgrimage, walking alongside the peaceful waters of the River Severn directly into the heart of Worcester.
Arriving at Worcester Cathedral was a moment of deep gratitude and celebration. We were personally welcomed by the Very Rev’d Stephen Edwards, Dean of Worcester, who gave us a wonderful tour of the cathedral before celebrating a special Eucharist with us. It was a fitting, grace-filled conclusion to a week marked by endurance, faith, and fun.
Looking Ahead — Where Next?
We are all safely home, full of fond memories, a bit of a suntan, and deep gratitude for our incredible young people and leaders.
Cass has compiled a couple of videos to sum up our trip:
We are already looking ahead to our next trip: Where do you think St Margaret’s Youth Pilgrimage should go next year? Leave a comment below or share your ideas with the youth team!