Christ Church Pilgrimage
This page describes a domestic pilgrimage around Christ Church, the parish church for Church Crookham and Crookham Village in Hampshire. A domestic pilgrimage is one in which you move around a home or any other premises such as a church. More information on the options for pilgrimage can be found on this page.
Christ Church was consecrated in 1841 to serve the needs of the growing community around it, which it continues to do to this day. On Tuesday 16th July 2024 I was invited to lead a group in a pilgrimage around the church, for one hour starting at 7:30 pm. This I undertook, following the Four Steps of pilgrimage as described on this page.
The following is the outline of that journey. However, this is not a Bible study as any conclusions drawn, or insight received, are not included here. Such understanding was personal to each of the participants, to react to and share as they felt appropriate. Instead, readers may be inspired to think about how they would have responded themselves.
Step [1] - Holy Longing
“Examine yourselves”, 2 Corinthians 13.5
The pilgrims assembled in the Church Hall. I gave a few words on the nature of pilgrimage, then introduced the passage of scripture that we were to reflect on during our pilgrim journey:
The Great Commission (Matthew 28.16-20)
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
On this occasion, participants were invited to reflect more deeply on verse 19 in particular:
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
A question posed was “What is our understanding of the need for the three Persons of the Holy Trinity?”
Step [2] - Pilgrim Journey
“Set your heart on pilgrimage”, Psalm 84.5
Having left the Church Hall, we made our way to the crossing place in the church, where the nave (the main body of the church) and the transept (the crosswise part) meet. On the floor is an inlaid design of a type called a ‘Triskele’.
Artistically, there are numerous variations on this pattern. However, all of them in Christian churches are intended to remind worshippers of the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
This is where we stopped to review and reflect on our thoughts and experiences, looking for anything new, or perhaps inconsistent, with our previous experience and understanding.
On this pilgrimage, the focus was on this verse:
”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Progress along the way was made by encouraging participants to focus on each person of the Trinity in turn, reflecting on how differently they felt as they came to each.
First, and silently, they were invited to speak to the God the Father:
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name - Matthew 6.9
Then to Jesus the Son:
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it - John 14.14
And finally, to reflect on how to pray in the Holy Spirit:
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love - Jude 20-21
Another concept discussed was Perichoresis, a theological term relating to the relationship within the Trinity. Figuratively, it can be translated as a ‘dancing together’, capturing something of the constantly moving interactions within the Godhead.
At the conclusion of this second step, we made our way along this decorative way to be West End of the church.
Step [3] - Prayerful Arrival
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”, Romans 12.2
This Step was spent around this decorative cross which again is inlaid into the floor.
Here, the reflections on the pilgrim journey were more formally brought before God, our thoughts and experiences from the previous Step, perhaps forming new thoughts resolutions.
As the theme has been the Trinity, participants were reminded of the hymn “Thou, Whose Almighty Word” by John Marriott. It contains the following Trinitarian lines:
Holy and blessed Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might!
As people prayed, they were encouraged to keep in mind the attributes of Wisdom, Love and Might that are exemplified at the cross.
Afterwards, the pilgrimage continued along the Decorative way again, to the North door of the church.
Step [4] - Servant Response
”Love one another”, John 13.34
The pilgrims met for the fourth and final step at the North Door, symbolising going out into the world.
“I sought to hear the voice of God and climbed the topmost steeple, but God declared: "Go down again - I dwell among the people”, John Henry Newman
This is where we considered the practical application of what we had learnt on our pilgrimage through the Scripture, committing to appropriate areas of service in God’s Kingdom.
This part is always personal, depending on the resources and gifting of any individual.
Afterwards we had a fellowship tea and biscuits.
