“It was a heart-lifting day of faith, hope, and joy. A day of sunshine, wonderful countryside to walk through, inspiring and reflective prayers, and a poignant service led by Bishop Barry amidst the grandeur of Rievaulx Abbey’s Nave. This Lent Walk will live long in the memory, as will the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Bilsdale Silver Band accompanied by bold hymn-singing voices.” reflects George Gyte, from the SAPT Planning Group, as 150 people gathered for the 8.5-mile journey.

The walk formed part of the Archbishop of York's Faith in the North Lord's Prayer Tour, with passages from the Lord's Prayer guiding reflections at each church along the way. “The Trail, launched last September and mapped and planned by pathfinders Joyce Garbutt and Mal Gyte, was bathed in sunshine and temperatures of 15 degrees," adds George.

The trail is one of the ways in which the SAPT team is seeking to draw together the outreach and mission of the Methodist and Anglican churches in this area.

The Rt Revd Barry Hill and the Venerable Dr Amanda Bloor were joined by Revd Melanie Burnside, who leads the ecumenical SAPT team, alongside Revd Andy Lindley from the Ryedale Methodist Circuit, the Venerable John Day of the Diocese of York's Revitalise Project, and many supporters from Methodist, Anglican and Catholic churches across the region.

Bishop Barry says, “It was a great joy to spend the day walking and praying with people from across the region on this wonderful new pilgrimage route which I heartily commend to you. We were particularly reminded of St Augustine’s words that, ‘it is solved by walking’, that in the Christian life we can’t work out everything and then live it out; it is in the living that the rendering happens.”

Pilgrimage, tea and artwork

The Lent Walk began with 80 folks spilling onto the churchyard and village green outside the small historic medieval church of All Saints in Old Byland. The church displayed stunning textile artwork by Sue Wressell and a textile installation based on the SAPT by that artist and Bransdale farmer Trudie Sanderson.

The second stop brought pilgrims to the iconic church of Saint Mary's, Scawton, erected in the 12th century by the monks who later built the stunning Byland Abbey. Beautiful countryside paintings by local artists Katie Freeman, Barry and Vivienne Middlemass adorned Saint Mary's walls.

More walkers and horse riders from the Ryedale Bridleways Group joined at the third stop, Cold Kirby Village Hall, where everyone enjoyed lunch while admiring Daisy Barnes' mandalas. The Venerable John Day led prayers in the churchyard of Saint Michael's Church, a historic site recorded in the Domesday Book.

At Rievaulx Methodist Church, walkers paused for tea and appreciated more artwork from Trudie Sanderson before Archdeacon Amanda Bloor led prayers at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, the former slipper chapel – a place for pilgrims to light candles for their intentions - to Rievaulx Abbey.

"At this point the Lent Walk, which had swelled to over 150 strong, processed to Rievaulx Abbey’s ruins where they were welcomed by English Heritage's Gemma Jones and her team," says George. The gathering assembled in the Abbey Nave for a service introduced by Reverend Mel and led by Bishop Barry, accompanied by the Bilsdale Silver Band.

"A fitting end to a day of Lent walking, faith, friendship and Christian witness that will linger long in the memory," concludes George.