A Retired Rector's Reflections

During Lent this year I am walking the Finchale Camino beginning at Finchale Abbey on the banks of the River Wear near Durham. My plan is to walk the route that is within County Durham, about 25 miles.

It’s a splendid walk through a favourite part of England for me – south County Durham, the area where I was brought up, and which is also the land of many of my ancestors. The Camino will take me through Durham, and then on to Tudhoe, and my home town of Bishop Auckland then to Escomb, Witton Park, West Auckland, Gainford and finishing at Piecebridge.

On my grandfather’s side of the family (my mother’s father), the family honours the memory of my great uncle Godric Cockayne who died as a young man in the First World War. The name Godric continues in the family, and of course, has its origin in St Godric of Finchale. I m seeing St Godric as my ‘patron’ for my Lent walk and I will be carrying an icon of him, painted by, and a gift from, Sr Teresa Margaret CHN (herself a native of Bishop Auckland).

With my friend Stuart I walked the first section on the Friday after Ash Wednesday. This section is from Finchale Abbey via Brasside though to Durham Cathedral. I began at St Godric’s grave at Finchale, where I placed the icon for a moment.

The walk is part of what O’m doing in Lent this year, and I am inviting sponsors for the walk. I’ve chosen the fantastic charity Mary’s Meals to sponsor, a favourite charity. Mary’s Meals provides nourishing free school meals for underprivileged children throughout the world, especially in Africa. By doing this they encourage parents to send children to school and so improve their education. £20 given to Mary’s Meals provides a child free school dinners for a whole year. That is amazing.

I’d be delighted if you could sponsor me for the walk. My Just Giving page is here.