Every year in July the arrival of St Birinus in Dorchester on Thames is remembered with a walk from Churn Knob above Blewbury to The Abbey Church at Dorchester on Thames.
The commemorative pilgrimage has an excellent website which can be accessed through Links button on our Homepage.
From mid afternoon walkers arrive singly and in groups at St Birinus Catholic Church where their Passport is stamped and tea, cakes and sandwiches available.
At 6.30pm a procession of participants and clergy moves fron St Birinus Church to Dorchester Abbey. Here we glimpse the procession still in Bridge End down the rose-walk which leads to the South Door of the abbey.
Within Dorchester Abbey an ecumenical service of remembrance of St Birinus arrival in Dorchester and Christian re-dedication is accompanied by a Salvation Army band. This year (2006) the preacher was Brother Mark Barrett from Worth Abbey. Anglican, Greek Orthodox and Catholic Clergy took part in the liturgy.
During the Service those who have completed the walk with a passport stamped in Blewbury, South Moreton, Brightwell, Little Wittenham, St Birinus and Dorchester Abbey receive their certificates from Fr John Osman.
At the end of the liturgy clergy and congregation enjoy a barbecue in the Abbey Garden.
