This happy band of pilgrims, (from the left, and not all in the picture) Andrew St Hill, Sylvester Small, Joan Small, Thomas Daly, Sue Pyke (Banner) Fr. Tom, Sabeeta Leghari, Xuan Tran, Bill Chesshyre, Bimal Chesshyre, Val Lashmar, Joe Lashmar, Jenny Ming Clarke, Barabara Liddell, Janet Murdoch, Tamsin Vaughan Williams and Clifford Smout all travelled to Bradwell on Sea in the Dengie peninsula, Essex for the annual Bradwell Pilgrimage organised by Churches Together in Essex.

At St Thomas's church in the village of Bradwell, the pilgrims were welcomed by a peal of ancient bells. In a commissioning service this message was given to the pilgrims 

Friends, as we prepare our hearts and our minds, our spiritsand our bodies to set out towards Bradwell Chapel today, let us remind ourselves why go on this holy pilgrimage:

Our destination is an earthly monument to the devotion ofthe people of God. They have gone there for many years in great numbers. They have gone to be strengthened by Christ. They have gone to give thanks to God for establishing a mission to the East Saxons, an inheritance of which we are the spiritual children. 

They have returned determined and equipped to devote themselves to the worship and work of God. They have returned, spreading the good news of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Friends, we too must go. The pilgrimage we make is but a short moment in our lives. We too must go, to be strengthened by God for our walking and our working in the world. We too must go, and go together, for we are followers whom God calls by name as his beloved people. We too must go and draw close to him, the very lover of our souls.

Leaving St Thomas's the pilgrims made their way along the mile long straight road and then path that took them to St Peter's. As they arrived the wind got up and the rain came down. The act of worship planned for outdoors had to be moved into the old chapel itself. It has stood for more than 1400 years, and probably hardly noticed the stormy weather of the day. The pilgrims huddled in to hear the Bishop of Bradwell, +Adam Atkinson, speak about three ways of 'bad prayer', prayer which is fearful, prayer which is a form of flight from reality, and prayer which dares not be heard. While challenging these 'bad prayers', familiar to all of us at some point in our lives, Bishop Adam spoke about the gracious love of Christ which hears and acts even on these prayers, however far they are from how prayer could be (a living relationship of speaking and listening with God). A wonderful silver band from the Salvation Army led singing of hymns old and new.

After they had eaten the packed lunches they'd brought and delicious cakes prepared by the people of the local churches the pilgrims were given the option of a guided walk led by members of the Othona Community to see the environmental work that is being done to support nature and natural diversity, an historical talk about the ancient building, a craft workshop, a worship workshop and a workshop on prayer led by Methodist Women in Britain. 

This is a wild flower meadow that the Othona Community have planted near their centre at Bradwell. Pilgrims heard about the Community and the opportunities to stay, study, pray and play at Othona. 

All too soon it was time for a closing act of worship, which by this point could be out in the open. Bishop Adam blessed the pilgrims on their way, and some of them took the opportunity to have their photo taken with him. Fr. Tom is pointing at a pectoral cross made for Bishop Adam by our own Jagoda Keshani out of recycled waste plastics!