News & Events
Concerts and Events
We are looking forward to a series of concerts this year . More details about forthcoming concerts and events will be featured on this page.
The Vigo Singers
Conducted by Elizabeth Clark are returning to Pilsdon at Malling's Barn Chapel for a second concert. "Music for a Summer Evening" is on Saturday 12th July at 7.30pm and will be accompanied by Barrie Menhams . Tickets are free (with a retiring collection) and can be obtained from Jane Jordan on 01732 848709. Refreshments will be served.
Pilsdon 50th Anniversary Pilgrimage
Here you can download a flyer and sponsorship form for Mike and Roberta who have walked 165 miles of the Anniversary Pilgrimage. We will be adding photos and a summary of our walk soon.
Follow Roberta's day-by-day 'blog' ...
Monday 2nd June: Mike and I set off, leaving late and therefore arriving late. In true Pilsdon style they spent the day waiting, eating and exploring. I also somehow managed to get very muddy and also in the true Pilsdon manner could be found doing the washing up! The group shared histories before evening prayer and bed.
Tuesday: The day began and ended with two different but beautiful services and the time in between was filled with exploration of Cambridge's links with Nicholas Ferrar and a 7 mile warm up walk in near constant rain while the floods and mud came up. However all was enlightened by the thriving companionship of the group. The tents were erected, good food prepared and eaten and great hospitality received from a vicar - all making for a warm group who still haven't worked out the real meaning of the word huggermugger.
Wednesday: We started the day with muesli porridge and the minibus started the day with a push and jump leads! We had a gorgeous straight walk with the sun and a clear East Anglian sky. The day ended at beautiful Turvey Abbey with a meal 'suitable for pilgrims'. The abbey is a restful place for the weary and yet challenging for the tired - a secret garden and a place where prayer is valid. Hope for Pilsdon and dry clothes again tomorrow? Wonderful!
Thursday: Beginning with a walk from Turvey Abbey and ending with a march in India for land rights it was a good day. I also have two blisters the share the fun with. The use of pesticides in the countryside obviously declined over the day and butterfly numbers went up. The hospitality at the Well at Willen is wonderfully generous. Another night in a bed - luxury!
Friday: A perfect day for walking. After a great breakfast we had a tour of the peace park and dry but cool weather. For the first time the afternoon walk was longer than the morning one. We walked through lovely woods and up a few more hills. The countryside continues to change. We had a good meal at Wendover with local United Churches people followed by losing one game of connect 4 out of many! Rested feet will be ready again tomorrow.
Saturday: Very civilised breakfast followed by an Anglican/Free church morning prayer. Walked to lunch stop while Gil and Richard caroused with a chocolatier. Probably the best day of walking yet. Met the Jones family at lunch time and they walked with us through the afternoon. Learnewd how to make a poppy doll and how not to fall over and wear your milk as Bennie (of Tobias Jones fame) demonstrated.
Sunday: Morning prayer around the picnic table followed by the longest walk yet. St Botolph's Church and Grim's Ditch made for lovely flat walking followed by the Thames, an ice cream and a meeting with wayfarer Gearge for some of us. New blisters have appeared. Gorgeous view. Supper and compline. Also saw two bi-planes, 4 hot air balloopns, a reed bunting and red kites - all made for some good watching. Nice hostel with crisp sheets so looking forward to an early bed.
Monday: One of Henry's famous fry-ups got us started for the day - the earliest yet and a long hot walk followed. We walked back along the path today - symbolically, due to Douai's temporary closure. Tomorrow we continue onwards but tonight ends in silence at St Mary's Convent, Wantage which has a similar ethos to our own.
Tuesday: Sad to leave the Sisters so early but grateful not to have to walk in the hottest part of the day. We walked above the Devil's Punchbowl and a white horse. Drove to Marlborough and met Rob and Graham at the hall. Good dinner and also rang bells. As with all groups we found people in common and there were links to Pilsdon too. Led compline with a meditation about changing perceptions and only viewing the good in change in order to help ourselves. Now ready for bed and for tomorrow to begin.
Wednesday: Up at the crack of dawn to vacate the hall pre- creche which we managed. Walked from Marlborough to Avebury where we saw a stained glass Jesus with a creative salute. Met Rob and Graham for lunch. Walked past a folly and another white horse that we couldn't see. A tea break at a golf club with Teresa before we split with some walking and some off to set up tents. Pasties for dinner then prayer and showers before the rain set in. Warm in bed hearing it on the canvas.
Thursday: Once again the rain stopped when we needed it to. Visited Caen locks before beginning the walk. We tried to buy ice creams off the army on Salisbury Plain but they didn't seem to have any. We're developing new yoga positions and a whole new vocabulary. Tents easily pitched and tasty dinner from Teresa. Hot showers - lovely.
Fiday: We visited the land Pilsdon did some work on, prayed on the swings and watched the sun set. We overlook a small lake and have a loo and cold tap. Basic but we are experts now. Heard an owl - lovely and eerie. evening prayer, tea and chocolate to end another good day. Yesterday I put on all clean clothes and it was wonderful. Not long til covered in mud and equilibrium was restored. Surprised it was so dry and sunny but there was the best kind of surprise. Merely 9 km but beautiful views and diversion to Hambledon Hill. Another changeover day so farewells and welcomes mixed in true Pilsdon fashion.
Saturday: The lack of hot running water wasn't great but the campsite was lovely. We had a very scenic walk through Dorset and so wonderful to see all the names I recognise. Enjoyable lunch next to another potential Pilsdon site and significant stained glass windows with St Francis and one about pilgrimage. Glad to get to Hillfield and rain only just started. Looking forward to tomorrow's celebrations but don't want walk to stop.
Sunday: A difficult day to explain. Such a wonderful ending but so sad it's over. We celebrated the Eucharist at Hillfield then got bussed to Charmouth to meet up with others from Pilsdon. We had lunch at the pilgrimage community of St Wite which was most welcome. Songs back to Pilsdon and welcomed to 'the saints come marching in'. A BBQ and no rain was followed by a service and eucharist to complete the day and walk. Would love to go on tomorrow and forever but then I do enjoy showers and real beds! Thanks to all for your support in all different ways. Signing off now. God bless.
This file here is a short piece written for local parish magazines detailing our walk.
Goslings - hatched on Wednesday 3 June
The geese seemed to be sitting on their eggs for ages, but two have finally hatched. The pictures aren't that clear but you can just see the tiny yellow balls of fluff with mum, aunts and dad.
