Kingdom Seeds in Local Soil

The Diocesan Pilgrimage 

May 2026

This May, all are invited to step into a nine‑day journey starting at Wanborough on Friday 15th May until we arrive at Bristol City Centre on Saturday 23rd May.  The journey weaves across the whole Diocese of Bristol—an adventure of prayer, story, and hope. 
 
You are invited to walk on our Bristol Diocesan Pilgrimage 2026, together we will walk, pray, and sow seeds of God’s kingdom in every corner of our diocese.  The Pilgrimage coincides with Thy Kingdom Come Week and will tie in with the Diocesan Rhythm of Life materials.
 
Please put the dates in your diary. You can come and walk for all or part of the pilgrimage.

Each day will follow a gentle rhythm of prayer, reflection, and fellowship. As we walk from parish to parish, we’ll pause at local churches and schools to pray for God’s work in each community and deanery—lifting up the people, ministries, and possibilities of every place we pass through. On your journey be open to encounter God through his word, creation and the people you meet along the way.  Along the way we will carry seeds from place to place & gift them to parishes & schools on our way—a simple, powerful sign of the growth that God brings. These seeds will mark our route and remind us that the kingdom of God is always taking root, often quietly, but always with promise.
 
The Pilgrimage route is rich with history and alive with present-day faith. We’ll hear stories of Christians—past and present—whose lives witness to God’s faithful presence. As we walk, we hope you will be encouraged, inspired, and renewed.

In Bristol West – 21 May

On Thursday 21 May the pilgrims will be walking through Bristol West (from Almondsbury to Sea Mills).  The hope is that lots of people from this Deanery would join in with some/all of the walk on 21 May, and there could be people in our churches who would like to do several days, or maybe even all, of the whole pilgrimage.  The Bristol West day concludes with a service at 7pm at St Edyth's, Sea Mills, which will be the celebration at the end of the Bristol West leg of the journey.
 
The Day’s Walk
 
Bristol West walk will begin at 9.00 am from St Mary's Church Almondsbury.
 
Leaving Almondsbury, we will walk through Easter Compton, where we will pause at All Saints Church. Dating back to 1170, this historic place offers a moment for rest, reflection, and refreshments before we continue our journey. We then head onward until we pass beneath the M5, a major artery of travel and commerce, symbolising connection and movement across the region.

Our walk continues on to St Mary’s Church, Henbury. Here, we will reflect on Bristol’s historical links to the transatlantic slave trade, prompted by the presence of the tomb of Scipio Africanus—a reminder of a painful and complex shared history.  From there, we pass through the beautiful grounds of Blaise Park, with a short detour up to Blaise Castle, where we can enjoy stunning views across Bristol and the surrounding countryside.


After leaving the park, we will stop at Stoke Bishop Primary School, pausing to recognise the importance of education, community, and the role of younger generations in shaping the future.  Finally, arriving in Sea Mills, where we will gather for a special Deanery celebration.
 
This is a Journey rooted in Prayer
 
Each day will follow a gentle rhythm of prayer, reflection, and fellowship. As we walk from parish to parish, we’ll pause at local churches and schools to pray for God’s work in each community and deanery—lifting up the people, ministries, and possibilities of every place we pass through. On your journey be open to encounter God through his word, creation and the people you meet along the way. As you prepare to join us we invite you to share our special pilgrimage prayer.