Seeing the Trail Through New Eyes: Mark Clook’s Photographs

One of the quiet delights of the Saint Aelreds Pilgrim Trail has been the steady stream of people who step into our churches each week. Walkers, riders, pilgrims, families on a day out, and those seeking a moment of pause all leave their mark. Our visitors books are filling with warm and thoughtful messages that speak of gratitude, surprise, and the sense of peace people find along the way.

Among those who have embraced the trail wholeheartedly is Mark Clook, a keen amateur photographer who lives within the Ampleforth benefice and is a regular member of the Oswaldkirk walking group. The group has completed many pilgrim routes and long distance paths over the years. They recently walked the whole of the Saint Aelreds Pilgrim Trail over a series of weeks, taking it in steadily and with real appreciation.

As they made their way around the trail, something about the character of the churches stayed with Mark. Each one has its own story, its own setting, and its own way of offering welcome. After completing the route he returned with his camera to revisit the places they had walked and to capture them in the gentle and attentive way only a familiar walker can.

His photographs reflect what so many of our visitors notice, the calm of these buildings, their place in the landscape, and the sense of care and prayer held within their walls. His images offer a fresh and affectionate perspective on spaces that are part of our everyday life yet always capable of surprising us.

We are delighted to share a selection of Marks photographs here on the website. They sit alongside the many stories that continue to unfold through our trail, stories written in photographs, in footsteps, and in the handwritten notes that fill our visitors books.

Our warm thanks to Mark for his generosity in sharing his work, and to all who continue to discover and enjoy the trail. May these paths and places keep offering rest, beauty and welcome to all who journey through them.