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Christian Pilgrimage

Sean Fletcher looks back on journeys to ancient and sacred places of pilgrimage, including Lourdes and the spectacular abbey of Mont St Michel in France.

Sean Fletcher introduces highlights of journeys Songs of Praise has made to ancient places of pilgrimage. He looks back at his own journey, walking barefoot across the sands to the breathtaking abbey of Mont St Michel in northern France, where he discovered why it has been one of Europe’s most important sacred sites for well over 1,000 years.

Further south in France, there is another chance to see Kate Bottley joining the six million pilgrims who visit Lourdes each year. She learns more about the visions of the Virgin Mary that first began drawing people to the site in the 19th century and shares a special experience with a pilgrim who has come to bathe in the waters.

Claire McCollum learns more about the spiritual significance of pilgrimage as she climbs Crough Patrick in western Ireland, and Pam Rhodes discovers the unique story of Walsingham – a place of deep spirituality for both Anglicans and Catholics.

With wonderful hymns and songs recorded before the current restrictions, celebrating the theme of pilgrimage.

Music:
• Every Time I Feel The Spirit - LSO St Luke’s
• Praise To The Holiest In The Height - Our Lady’s Church, York
• Praise To The Lord, The Almighty - St Patrick’s Church, Dungannon
• It Is Well With My Soul - Eastbourne Bandstand with Lou Fellingham
• When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Katy Treharne
• One More Step Along The World I Go - Nottingham Albert Hall
• Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah - St Asaph Cathedral

34 minutes

Stories

Mont St Michel

Sean Fletcher looks back to 2017 and his own journey, walking bare foot across the sands, to the breath-taking abbey of Mont St Michel in Northern France and discovers why it has been one of Europe’s most important sacred sites for well over a thousand years.

Croagh Patrick

Each year on the last Sunday of July, known as Reek Sunday, thousands climb Croagh Patrick in Western Ireland in memory of St Patrick. Claire McCollum joins the climb and learns more of the spiritual significance of pilgrimage

Walsingham

Pam Rhodes travels to Walsingham in Norfolk and discovers why it became a destination for pilgrims in the Middle Ages and why it is now a place of deep spirituality for both Anglicans and Catholics.

Lourdes

Kate Bottley joins the six million pilgrims that visit Lourdes in southern France each year. She learns more about the visions of the Virgin Mary that first began drawing people to the site in the 19th century and shares a special experience with a pilgrim who has come to bathe in the waters.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sean Fletcher
Presenter Kate Bottley
Presenter Claire McCollum
Presenter Pam Rhodes
Producer David Waters
Executive Producer Cat Lewis
Executive Producer Emyr Afan
Series Producer Matthew Napier
Production Company Avanti Media

Broadcast