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Pilgimage to honour east Norfolk Saint

2018: Fursey Pilgrims will be holding their annual pilgrimage in honour of St Fursey on Saturday, concluding with prayers on the site of the saint’s monastery in Burgh Castle. Tony Rothe reports.

 
The Fursey Pilgrims are an ecumenical group of Christians spanning a wide range of Christian traditions, including all the main UK denominations. They seek to encourage renewed interest in the life and times of St Fursey – the first, named known missionary to Norfolk – and a deeper understanding of the spirituality of that era.
 
St Fursey 750CFSeveral of the East Anglian participants in nationwide 'Pilgrim’s Way' pilgrimage in 1997 felt that Fursey should also be honoured, and arranged a pilgrimage that autumn to the traditional site of Fursey’s monastery at Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. A pilgrimage is now held annually on the first Saturday of October.
 
This year’s pilgrimage will take place at 2.30pm on Saturday October 6 with a service at Burgh Castle Church, pictured above, followed by prayers on the traditional site of Fursey’s monastery nearby. The preacher will be Revd. Rosie Bunn, Rector of Belton & Burgh Castle. The day will conclude with light refreshments in the village hall.
 
Fursey was born in Ireland in the closing years of the sixth century. He showed desire and aptitude to study the Bible, and his growth in the faith was matched by a monastic discipline of life. In his early twenties he received visions that focussed his life on the urgency of preaching the Good News of Christ, and his visions were also to play a pivotal role in the Western Church’s developing understanding of life after death and God’s continuing desire to show love and forgiveness. For some ten years, Fursey toured Ireland preaching, then he and his companions journeyed to England, where he was invited by Sigebert – the new and Christian King of East Anglia – to set up his base at Cnobheresburgh, which has been traditionally identified as the Roman Fort at Burgh Castle near Great Yarmouth.
 
For further information about the pilgrimage contact: 01493 781747
or info@furseypilgrims.co.uk
 
Visit : http://www.furseypilgrims.co.uk/default.htm
 
The image of Burgh Castle Church, above, is courtesy of Simon Knott at http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in East Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. 


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