24/10/2023
In this short video, Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham shares his love of undertaking prayer walks throughout his ministry and reflects on this final walk in the Diocese of Durham:
The Archbishop of York will join the Bishop of Durham this weekend for a two-day prayer walk through parts of Durham Diocese, including blessing the new Camino Ingles Fountain in Bishop Auckland, visiting the recently opened Faith Museum, and having breakfast at a community café in Chester-le-Street.
This will be the Right Reverend Paul Butler’s final prayer walk as Bishop of Durham before his retirement in February next year.
The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell and Bishop Paul will begin their walk on Saturday morning at the Refuse Café, after sharing in Morning Prayer at St Mary and St Cuthbert’s Church, before heading onto the home of Durham Cricket Club at the Riverside Ground, and then on towards Durham City. They will be walking Cuddy’s Corse from Chester-le-Street to Durham in the footsteps of the monks from the St Cuthbert’s Community who carried the body of Cuthbert, the Patron Saint of the North, and the Lindisfarne Gospels to the Cathedral more than 1,000 years ago.
The following day they will walk around Bishop Auckland visiting some of the recent regeneration projects, which are transforming the town. This includes blessing and dedicating the new Camino Ingles Fountain in the town centre and visiting The Auckland Project, including the recently opened Faith Museum.
Archbishop Stephen said: “I’m looking forward to joining Bishop Paul on pilgrimage in the Diocese of Durham. It’s always encouraging to see where God is at work and how people are joining in His mission to share the love of the gospel. And getting to do it at three miles an hour means there are opportunities for conversations along the way.”
Bishop Paul commented: “We hope to be joined by as many people as possible over the weekend as we walk and pray together, in particular on the first day as we walk from Chester-le-Street to Durham following the route taken by the St Cuthbert’s Community as they carried Cuthbert’s body to Durham Cathedral. Our visit to Bishop Auckland on the second day will be a chance to celebrate the inspiring projects which are key to the incredible regeneration of this historic town.
“This will be my final prayer walk as Bishop of Durham and I am grateful that Archbishop Stephen has chosen to join me on our journey, which concludes with prayers in the chapel at Auckland Castle.”
To view the full itinerary visit the Diocese of Durham website
