Norfolk Pilgrim

Re-badging pagan places of worship as churches, as outlined in Gregory the Great's 7th C Letter  to Mellitus , made a great deal of sense in the conversion of  East Anglia. To what extent modern church dedications reflect the choice of a feast days to coincide with and replace pagan festivals is a moot point.  The spandrels above the west door  -  a lamb and flag on one side and the eagle on the other - a and the two empty niches of St. John the Baptist, Coltishall   reveal its original dual dedication.  That would have been very handy if  there was a pre-existing tradition of marking midwinter (St. John the Evangelist) and midsummer (St. John the Baptist). We cannot know, but we might guess,  that the tradition of midsummer fires that continues in some parts of the U.K, was part of a wider (pre-Christian?) tradition marking  all the solstices and equinoxes with fire. So one can imagine our yet to be converte...

A Humpty Dumpty word - Pilgrimage !  " When I use a  word ,"  Humpty Dumpty  said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean— neither more nor less."  The British Pilgrimage Trust .......  believes that pilgrimage in Britain today should not attempt to imitate Medieval forms of religious exclusivity. Instead, we are aiming to renew the tradition to fit with modern needs. To this end, the BPT aims to help pilgrimage become a spiritual activity open to all, without religious prescription. The path is open to everyone. (  http://britishpilgrimage.org/the-bpt/ )  This begs several questions. Even when turning a blind eye on what is meant by " Medieval forms of religious exclusivity" and a renewed tradition that fits with modern needs;  what turns a journey into a pilgrimage? or a long distance walk into a walking pilgrimage? Spiritual is another Humpty Dumpty word!  So I'll try and avoid it. Con...