Even before we left the hotel car park to begin Day 3’s Wombwell to Sheffield stage of the pilgrimage, the lovely Julie volunteered for the vital role of luggage and lifts lady!
… and just in case anyone feared Queenie might not wake up in time for Day 3 … Here she is breakfasting at St Michael and All Angels in Wombwell, where the wonderful hospitality just kept on coming …!
Queenie and Frank were actually celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary, so Fr Declan gave them a special Blessing …
So it was ‘Happy Anniversary’ to our parishioners and Perpetual Pilgrims from St Augustine’s in Harehills – as well as ‘Happy Birthday’ to Our Lady!
Just time for a group photograph before waving goodbye to the lovely parish ‘family’ at St Michael and All Angels …
… and then we left the friendly former mining community to strike out over some beautiful South Yorkshire countryside in the direction of Sheffield …
Along the way, we remarked on how nature was now flourishing in sites once at the heart of Yorkshire’s Industrial Revolution. Our ‘native guides’ Ged and Tim showed and told us about the area’s industrial history and heritage – including Lord Fitzwilliam’s mine which has the only Newcomen-type engine still in its original pump-house – and we learned that Sheffield’s steel industry is far from moribund, but has gone into manufacturing of highly specialised types of steel…
As ever on a walking pilgrimage, there is a connection between the very ancient and the ultra modern; the rural and the urban – and, as Anna and our C13th St Peter demonstrated as we crossed the M1 by footbridge – between prayerful silence and thundering traffic noise!
After negotiating various stiles and fields of cows, Wentworth Woodhouse came into view …
We stopped for prayers led by Fr Andrew and our ecumenical group was welcomed hospitably at the Holy Trinity ‘New’ Church, which had been built by the 6th Earl Fitzwilliam to replace the nearby C12th ‘Old’ Church which still stands nearby.
What St Peter told Sheila about which church he preferred is unknown …
… but we think it may be this one …
The less said the better about what one local pilgrim described as ‘Meadowhell’ … although to be fair, the rail and tram links were excellent – and those pilgrims who travelled into Sheffield by tram found both the conductors and fellow passengers friendly and delightful!
Reaching St Marie’s Cathedral in time for Mass to celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin – complete with sung Marian Anthem – the pilgrims were full of admiration for the stunning building, which is where Bishop Ralph will be celebrating a special Pilgrims’ Mass tomorrow at 8am.
… and after the piety there was pie and tea (and sandwiches and other Cathedral comestibles, including several kinds of cake …) …
… and Ged rounded off the day with a short talk on what may be part of an altar table, perhaps once owned during the Penal Times by Recusants from the Hope Valley – which is where Day 4 will take us in the morning as we visit the Shrine of the Padley Martyrs!
Recent Comments