When the Benedictine monk, Augustine, was instructed by Pope Gregory to sail to England on a mission to convert the pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, he was less than enthusiastic.
Such was the fierceness of the people of this far-flung Northern land that even the monks accompanying him pleaded to turn back. But he persisted and what happened next was to change Britain for ever.
Imagine a long-distance trail which walks backward through time in Kent to the very place where Augustine first set foot on British soil, and you are imagining the Augustine Camino, a pilgrimage through the orchards, woods and vineyards of Kent.
Beginning at the Anglican Cathedral in Rochester, we arrive seven days later at the shrine to Saint Augustine in Ramsgate, having visited the Carmelites as well as the UNESCO World Heritage site which is Canterbury Cathedral and its surroundings. We return to Canterbury for our final night’s accommodation and round-up celebration of our week together. Our ‘week’ ends the next day on Sunday 20th September after breakfast and our final liturgy together.
This walking week differs from our recent walking events in that it adopts a cumulative model where each day we progress towards a final destination, staying at different venues at night i.e. like a pilgrimage. The Augustine Camino is recognised by the Confraternity of St James and distances walked on this Camino can be added, if you wish, to a later Camino to Santiago de Compostela.
We will be taking on the simple life of a pilgrim, visiting ancient churches, monasteries and shrines for blessings, prayers and masses. In keeping with that simple life, we will be staying in hostels for five nights (with accommodation in single-sex dorms), one night in Aylesford Priory and one night in a pub with rooms. We hope to offer an authentic Camino experience, with an expert guide and baggage transfer for one backpack or small case per pilgrim (think overhead locker on a plane).
A level of fitness is required as the length of the walks range from 7miles on the shortest day to 13.5 miles on the longest. There are 4 steep gradients in the week and 5 descents. The last day is an almost level walk across a beautiful nature reserve and bird sanctuary, to the coast.
Each day there will be time for quiet reflection, for shared prayer and celebration and the all-important evening relaxation. We also hope to include time for short talks and discussion in the CPW tradition.
We will begin with Mass in Rochester on Sunday morning. For those coming from further afield we can offer beds with CPW members in London. If the start time on Sunday is still an issue, don’t give up, please talk to us.
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Chair / Organiser ~ Anne Dixon. Anne is a long-standing member of CPW. She chaired her first all-age event in 1997 in Teignmouth, Devon. Anne is fascinated by the idea of pilgrimage having completed the Camino Frances in 2024 and the Camino Ingles in 2025, with her husband Malcolm. She is currently attempting to cycle Via Francigena to Rome, in stages.
Chaplain ~ Fr Chris Hughes. Chris Hughes is a parish priest in the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese. He has a passion for Justice and Peace and puts this into action in practical ways in his home community.
Organiser & Guide ~ Andrew Kelly. Andrew has completed various long distance walks including the Coast to Coast, West Highland Way and the Dales Way. He can generally be relied upon to know the cosiest pub, prettiest village and most interesting historical fact around any point along his travels. He is also the current curator of the St Augustine Shrine in Ramsgate. -
£730 per person. This includes seven nights bed and breakfast and evening meals at the priory and the hostels. Pilgrims will have to pay for dinner at the pub and will have to buy a packed lunch each day – we will be passing supermarkets/village shops. If our numbers go above 20 the price will drop to below £700.
The deposit is £200 per person, and we will ask for payment of the balance two months before the event. Payment by instalments is available and do please ask for a bursary if this will enable you to come. As in previous years we are offering three payment options. Standard is the actual cost to CPW, 20% if this is a stretch, and 20% more if you can afford to pay extra. If the payment schedule causes any difficulties do please speak to the organiser.
We encourage people to take out travel insurance to cover any losses if you have to cancel. -
This walking week starts at Rochester Cathedral, and finishes in Canterbury
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