This is a personal diary of one pilgrim. I live in Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk- a former pilgrimage centre based around the sacred shrine of St Edmunds. The Reformation suppressed pilgrimage but the locality is surrounded by ghosts of a former age. Walking provides clues to this evidence- old pathways, reasonable walking distances, medieval churches, old names.
Most pilgrims were illiterate and much evidence must be heresy or guesswork. I am intrigued by other ways of knowing, particularly from visual art.
The intention of this blog is to build up a diary of personal experience and learn more about pilgrimage as a metaphor for a journey in life, as well as a way of getting to know the locality and its rich history. The act of writing for me will, I hope, draw out some ideas
Thus, I set pen to paper with delight, And quickly had my thoughts in Black and white. John Bunyan The Pilgrim’s Progress 1678
- St Edmund
