10th April 2026

At Easter we recall the story of Jesus, risen from the dead, joining two of his followers walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Last month the new Archbishop of Canterbury undertook an 87-mile, 6-day walking pilgrimage from St Paul’s Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral in preparation for her installation. BBC TV has just aired the latest series of “Pilgrimage” – yet more walking. What is it about walking and perhaps especially walking in company … that can sometimes turn a simple activity into a profound experience?

It’s been suggested that walking slows us down, and can strip away life’s complexity and busyness, somehow making the bare essentials clearer to see. Do we sometimes have more open and meaningful conversations as we walk alongside one another, rather than perhaps sitting across a room from each other? Walking together makes it easier to leave space for silence and thought between the words.

Travelling through the beautiful North Yorkshire and Northumbrian countryside (as seen in the Pilgrimage series) adds another inspirational dimension – how can the heart fail to soar confronted by such beautiful landscapes? There were lovely moments when these TV “pilgrims” spotted dolphins from their walk, and when they crossed the causeway to Lindisfarne in the stunning early morning light. In such wonder-full surroundings, we can find ourselves pondering what we really value in life.

Researchers are discovering that a sedentary lifestyle is bad news for our health. Just as movement is good for our health, a preparedness to journey on in our faith is surely good for us too. The journey can change us – whether that be a physical one or a virtual one.

Ruth Allen