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On Maundy Thursday our benefice in rural Norfolk has two groups of pilgrims walking through on their way to Walsingham, an ancient site of pilgrimage. There they join the other groups, called legs, to take part in worship at Easter.

This year I joined the Northern Leg  from Nottingham at St Botolph’s Church Grimston for sausage rolls and worship and then at St Nicholas Gayton with the Ely Leg, from Ely, for tea and worship.

A real joy for me was to follow them on the walk for some time across the Norfolk countryside. It was a beautiful warm April day and we shared songs and conversations before they went on their way to Harpley for the night before the final journey on Good Friday to the Shrine at Walsingham.

Rev’d Sue Martin

St Anne’s Church Stanley

Between the bus station and Stanley Market lies the Catholic Church of St Anne’s. It’s a place I have often visited and in April this year I walked into this beautiful church.

The way in or entrance, is through a door on the left of the nave, which is  close to the offices, so you are unaware of the peace to be found as you enter the nave.

The artwork above the altar is stunning, set against a backdrop of  cobalt blue.

Once I had sat down and given myself time for the heat to leave my body it was a real joy to spend time in this place once again, and bring all that lies heavily on my shoulders.

I returned to the apartment on the red double decker no 6X bus, feeling refreshed and happy, or should that mean blessed?

Rev’d Sue Martin

Ma Hang Park to Stanley, Hong Kong Island

My favourite walk from Ma Hang Park, site of the original village, into Stanley on Hong Kong Island. Really peaceful and passed a Buddhist monastery on the way. It’s well fenced off as there are wild boars and dangerous snakes in the scrub.

Hong Kong is such a place of contrasts. If I had travelled by bus the other way I would have been in the centre of Hong Kong, with the most enormous skyscrapers.

Rev’d Sue Martin

On Maundy Thursday we have two legs of the Pilgrim Cross who stop for refreshments and rest on their walk to The Shrine of Our Lady at  Walsingham(Anglican).

At At St Botolph’s Church in Grimston we had the Northern Leg, and at St Nicholas Church in Gayton the Ely Leg arrived. They had been in a rain storm for the last hour, cold, damp and hungry, but in such good spirits. After a brief stay, sausage rolls and cakes were eaten, prayers said and a welcome warm under the heaters, they set off for a further two hours before stopping overnight at Harpley.

The next day they would all journey on to Walsingham and meet with many other pilgrims at the end of their pilgrimage.

Rev’d Sue Martin

In a tiny and beautfiul corner of West Norfolk lies one of our benefice churches, St Mary’s East Walton. Every year on Palm Sunday we gather at the farm, and walk behind the donkeys Jimmy and Timmy into church.

This year we were joined by some keen young people, parents and friends, from one of our church schools. They led us with the readings and prayers and were a joy to have.

Farmer Bill returned with the donkeys and a small carriage and the children rode back in style.

The next day in our larger church at St Nicholas, Gayton we had two church schools into church for their end of term services. Delighted to see so many parents, 500 people in church that Monday!!

What a great start to Holy Week!

Rev’d Sue Martin