Bishop Barry's and Archdeacon Amanda's Gathering Lent Walk

What a brilliant day we enjoyed with Bishop Barry and Archdeacon Amanda as they led us on our 8.5 mile Gathering Lent Walk that was joined by 150 people along the route of the Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail (SAPT) on Sunday 9 March 2025. As you know this Lent Walk was part of the Archbishop of York’s Faith in the North Lord’s Prayer Tour, and so parts of the Lord’s Prayer were used as the focus for our prayers at each church along the route.

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. Bishop Barry and Archdeacon Amanda were joined by Reverend Mel Burnside, Priest-in-Charge of the Parishes of Helmsley, and Upper Ryedale, who leads the SAPT team. We were also joined by the Reverend Andy Lindley, the Ryedale Methodist Circuit Superintendent, the Venerable John Day of the Diocese of York, and many friends and supporters from Anglican, Methodist and Catholic churches in the region.

The Lent Walk began with 80 folk spilling onto the churchyard ad village green outside the small historic medieval Church of All Saints, Old Byland, where they were welcomed by churchwarden Ivan Holmes. Prayers led by Bishop Barry were held, and very welcome coffee and cakes consumed. The packed church was decorated with stunning banners and textile artwork by local artist and walker Sue Wressell, and an amazing textile installation based on the SAPT by that superb artist and Bransdale farmer Trudie Sanderson.

Second stop on the trail was the iconic Church of Saint Mary’s, Scawton, erected in the 12th century by the monks who later built the stunning Byland Abbey, where walkers were greeted by longstanding churchwarden Dorothy Garbutt, and prayers led by Reverend Andy Lindley. Beautiful and scenic countryside paintings by local artists Katie Freeman, Barry and Vivienne Middlemass decorated Saint Mary’s and were admired by the Lent Walkers.

Yet more walkers and horse riders from the Ryedale Bridleways Group (RBG) joined at the third stop, Cold Kirby Village Hall, where a welcome lunch of soup and rolls was consumed and Daisy Barnes ‘remarkable mandalas were admired. Bishop Barry enjoyed seeing the fine horses and chatted to Bill Tait and members of the RBG, This was followed by prayers led by the Venerable John Day in the churchyard of the closed Church of Saint Michael, Cold Kirby, a site where a church was recorded in the Domesday Book, and where the present one was rebuilt in 1842.

Fourth stop was Rievaulx, first for a very welcome cup of tea and biscuits at the Methodist Church and to admire yet more lovely artwork from Trudie Sanderson. This was followed by prayers, led by Archdeacon Amanda Bloor, in the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, the former slipper chapel to Rievaulx Abbey. Here we were also rejoined with our horse rider pilgrims.

At this point the Lent Walk, which had swelled to over 150 strong, processed behind Bishop Barry to Rievaulx Abbey where they were welcomed by English Heritage’s Gemma Jones and her fine team. Walkers gathered in the Abbey Nave for a wonderful and poignant service introduced by the Reverend Melanie Burnside and led by Bishop Barry, accompanied by the Bilsdale Silver Band. Prayers and readings were interspersed with lusty hymn singing which with the hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Bilsdale Silver Band echoed around the sunbathed grandeur of Rievaulx Abbey’s ruins and the surrounding valley.

The day was rounded off in the Abbey Café with hot drinks and excellent pasties and sausage rolls prepared by that talented English Heritage chef Stevan Davies.

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