New Archbishop of Canterbury undertakes ‘deeply humbling’ pilgrimage ahead of enthronement
Sarah Mullally, the Church of England’s first female leader, embarks on a moving pilgrimage by walking from London to Canterbury and reflects on her “deeply humbling” experience ahead of her accession to the throne next week.
Ms Mullally, 63, who was elected the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury last October, chose to walk the “Becket Camino” route, which is approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles) following the historic route from St Paul’s Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral.
He arrived at Aylesford Priory on Friday, the fourth day of his six-day journey along riverside paths and traditional pilgrimage routes.
In this 13th-century site, famous for welcoming pilgrims, we see him wearing a red coat and trekking shoes.
Speaking before embarking on the journey, the artist said: “As I prepare for my installation at Canterbury Cathedral, it is an incredibly humbling feeling to follow in the footsteps of those who walked this ancient route.”
Carrying a staff with the words ‘Archbishop’s Camino’ (Spanish for ‘camino’ meaning path) he crossed narrow paths through Kent’s rolling green fields. The clam shell made famous by Spain’s Camino de Santiago dangles from his backpack, symbolizing his spiritual journey.
Confirmed as archbishop in January traditional ceremony It marks her legal acceptance into the post as the first woman to hold the most senior cleric position in the Church of England and the symbolic head of the global Anglican Communion of 85 million people.
Accompanied by her husband Eamonn and a small group of pilgrims, Mullally travels to Canterbury, stopping at churches, cathedrals and monasteries to attend prayer services, visit schools and meet local congregations.
The final stretch from the village of Chartham to Canterbury is expected to finish on Sunday, before Evensong, a traditional vespers service, takes place at the cathedral on March 25.
The “Becket Camino”, which has particular significance for Anglicans and English Catholics, follows the route believed to have been taken by Thomas Becket, the 12th-century Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by knights in 1170.
His mausoleum in Canterbury Cathedral made the city a center of medieval worship and pilgrimage in England.
Mullally’s pilgrimage marks the first time in modern history that an Archbishop of Canterbury has undertaken a journey of this nature on his way to the throne.
