A Pilgrimage to the West Country: Journeys
Outward and Inward
Ready to make some long-term travel plans? Jim Rawls and Hugh Stevenson will be leading a fully-escorted, small-group pilgrimage
to Cornwall and the West of England, May 13-23, 2011. Known as the English Riviera, Cornwall boasts not
only the country’s mildest climate but also some of its richest history. The gentle countryside of
Somerset, Devon, and Dorset has been celebrated in English verse and song for generations.
Highlights include visits to the lovely Cornish seaside
village of St Ives and St Michael’s Mount in Penzance. We’ll explore together the Neolithic
mysteries of West Kennet Long Barrow and the great stone circle at Avebury, far grander and older than Stonehenge.
In historic Plymouth we’ll pay homage to our colonial ancestors at the Pilgrim Steps and visit an Elizabethan
House and the Hoe of Francis Drake. We’ll walk among the ruins of Tintagel Castle and reflect on King Arthur and the
Quest for the Holy Grail.
We’ll also attend Choral Evensong in magnificent Wells Cathedral
and Truro Cathedral, Sung Eucharist at Bristol Cathedral, and spend some quiet time in Exeter Cathedral. Along
the way, we’ll consider the legacy of John Wesley in his “New Room” in Bristol and Thomas Hardy in his thatch-roofed
cottage and garden in Dorchester. Just for fun, we’ll enjoy lunch aboard a chartered narrow boat
on the River Thames in bucolic Oxfordshire.
In
the spirit of the pilgrimages of old, our pace through this enchanted land will be leisurely with plenty of time for prayer
and contemplation. Our journey to a far destination is the means by which we make a journey inward.
We set off with an identified intention in our hearts and are encouraged by the spiritual riches we discover along
the way. No doubt we’ll bring home a computer chip or two of memorable photographs. If
so, may they reflect the broadening of our spiritual horizons and the deepening of our faith.
Some Really Good News
In these challenging financial times, our partners at ACIS have worked
a minor miracle by bringing down the Program Fee for the 2011 pilgrimage to less than what was charged for our trips during
the past several years. Also the currency exchange rate continues to move in favor of the dollar—which means, quite
literally, we’ll be getting more bang for our buck. In addition, we’ve secured an Early Registration
Discount with a reduction in fees of $200 per person if registered by November 1, 2010.
To learn more about “A Pilgrimage to the West Country,” please contact us and
we’ll mail to you a color brochure with all the details of our day-by-day itinerary.
Please note: You may register online at www.acis.com/register/participants. At the prompt, enter the Group Leader's ID Number: 20372
and the Group Leader's Last Name: Rawls. As always, we will limit
the number of pilgrims to thirty and maintain a waiting list.
Jam or Cream?
By Nicky Watts (Ed. note: Nicky has been our ACIS Tour Manager on many previous pilgrimages
and will be with us again in 2011.)
The biggest dilemma for me is always the question of which goes on the
scone first: the strawberry jam or the clotted cream? I am referring to the eternal question always asked by visitors when
they are served with a traditional ‘cream tea’ of the West Country. I was born in Somerset
not far from Bristol, but during my childhood our favourite at tea-time was not a cream tea – but ‘thunder and
lightning’ – a thick slice of home-made bread spread with cream and topped with a layer of golden syrup.
My paternal grandmother came from the county of Devon, the area south
of Somerset. In Devon the cream is spread on a warm scone first and a layer of jam on top. But in Cornwall,
the westernmost area of England, it’s the jam first and then the cream. Whatever you decide, it will
be delicious because it’s the lush pastures of the south west of England that ensure the dairy cows can produce the
rich milk needed to make the perfect cream to match the freshly baked
scone. And then there’s a ‘Cornish split’…but that’s another story again!
Labyrinths & Pilgrimage
By
the Revd Sarah V. Lewis (Ed note: Sarah is a veteran of several of our pilgrimages, most recently
to Wales in 2009)
In ancient times, if a person was
unable to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem, a shorter pilgrimage to a nearby holy site was considered to be
a substitute. If that was not possible, then one could trace the path of a labyrinth many more times instead.
A labyrinth is a sacred path, a path of prayer, a path of pilgrimage. Each step taken is a prayer—for yourself
and for others on the pilgrim path. The long, twisting path made through the airport security line is the labyrinth that marks the beginning of your pilgrimage. When you take off your shoes,
remember that wherever you walk you are walking on Holy Ground.
A few Words from the Revd Hugh Stevenson
My Auntie Betty lived
in the village of Newquay on the north coast of Cornwall. We went to see her every Easter for most of my childhood. Cornwall
has a different feel from the rest of England. There is no hurry. We drove down narrow country lanes which were lined with
wild primroses. When the sun was not shining (which was rarely) there were wild storms rolling in from the Atlantic. And I
looked forward to Cornish cream teas. So it’s
most appropriate that, as a preparation for our 2011 pilgrimage to the West Country,
we are having our very own Cornish Tea (with or without clotted cream) on October 9 at 5:30 pm.
When I came to choose
a university I selected Exeter in Devon, which was both a long way from London (a good thing!) and close to my beloved Cornwall.
Our 2011 pilgrimage will not take us to the traditional tourist destinations
of Stonehenge, Oxford and York. We will visit places that are not easily visited. Bristol and Plymouth are accessible, but
Tintagel, Penzance and Land’s End are not. In addition we will pass through “Wessex” (Dorset) made famous
by the novels of Thomas Hardy.
When the Celts were pushed westward by the Anglo-Saxon invasions, many ended
up in the southwest. Here is the same belief in the sanctity of every day life that one finds in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
My hope and prayer is that some of that holiness will rub off on us as we make our pilgrimage to the West Country.
An Invitation
You are cordially invited to attend an
informational "English (or Cornish!) Tea" in the fellowship hall of St Patrick's Episcopal Church at 5:30 on Saturday
evening, October 9, 2010. Think of it as a potluck with Cornish Pasties and Devonshire Cream on Scones. We’ll offer some highlights (and a few surprises)
of the upcoming pilgrimage. We'll also have color brochures, registration booklets, and other ACIS materials available, as
well as poster boards and maps to illustrate our itinerary. All are welcome who would like to learn more
about the pilgrimage.
If you wish to attend, please leave a message for Angela Stevenson at 707. 571.3743 so we'll know
how many places to set. Just bring a main dish, salad, or dessert to share (also BYOB). St Pat's is located at
9000 Sonoma Highway (Highway 12) in Kenwood. Hope to see you there!
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact either of
us.
