Return of the Pilgrims
A Chapter of monks will mark the ceremonial conclusion of an ancient story tomorrow (THURSDAY) as they return to Chester on foot after a four-day walk of more than 70 miles.
The St.Werburgh Festival commemorates the return of the Saint’s bones from Hanbury in Staffordshire to Chester Cathedral, 1100 years ago. The monks and their supporters hope to have raised more than £10,000 for both the Cathedral and children’s charities during the walk.
David Pickering, chairman of the Festival, will lead the walkers as “Cedric the Conversus’ on the last leg of their trip. The Festival has also been a journey through history and culture, bringing together Viking camps, lectures about St Werburgh at the University of Chester and performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. More than 120 spectators attended the outdoor performance last night (TUESDAY) and there is another showing at 2.30am on Abbey Green during the Summer Solstice tomorrow (THURSDAY).
The Festival will culminate in the return of the Relics tomorrow (THURSDAY) with the Pilgrims being welcomed by Vikings and a Roman guard changing by the Newgate at 3pm. The Midsummer Watch Parade will conclude proceedings this weekend, with the giant figure of St Werburgh herself emerging from the West doors of Chester Cathedral, accompanied by Sunday School geese. The figure of St.Werburgh will be among the many giant figures towering over the crowds from 2pm at Abbey Square on Saturday and Sunday.
David Pickering said:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people who have walked the whole route from Staffordshire to Chester with myself and the rest of the Monks. We hope for a significant number of people and children to walk the last few miles into Chester to a reception at the Cathedral. We’ve covered a lot of miles and a lot of history and we are looking forward to bringing the Relics back to Chester. The choral concert should be a rousing Finale and we still have the Midsummer Watch Parades to look forward to, which will conclude the Festival.”
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Notes
EVENTS ON JUNE 21:
For those who wish to join the monks on Thursday in recreating this piece of Chester’s history, the pilgrims are scheduled to leave The Old Trooper Inn, Whitchurch Road, Christleton at 2pm and walk along the canal leading into the city. The less fervent can join the procession at 3.30pm when the pilgrims will walk up Bridge Street, Eastgate Street and St.Werburgh Street to Town Hall Square where they will be met by more than 200 pupils from local primary and secondary schools.
At 4pm, the Lord Mayor of Chester Cllr Jim Latham will receive the Relics of St.Werburgh and the Lord Mayor, pilgrims, children and congregation will enter the Cathedral, where there will be a Festival Service to celebrate the return of the Relics to their rightful home. The Service will start at 4.45pm and The Lord Mayor of Chester will present the Relics to the Dean of Chester Prof Gordon McPhate.
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