https://www.facebook.com/events/408957459132142/
The journey so far:
After months of organising and unknown tribulation, all of which will end up filling the autobiographies of those concerned, we arrived on the steps of St Paul’s to receive a blessing from a Bishop Micheal Colclough for our Pilgrimage for Justice.
After an amicable return to the steps of St Paul’s we set off through rain and all, stopping off at a public house for rest and warmth before continuing our journey onto Blackheath.
Arrived at Blackheath in good spirits. Found a place to camp and settled in for an evening of food and conversation.
Our first night of camping involved a lot of rain, a couple of youths who objected to one of our members association to Greenpeace, and a valuable lesson in the need for a cover sheet.
Cynikal, a local musician, turns up at Blackheath with a couple of friends to keep us entertained.
The Plan:
This summer, a group of concerned citizens from all walks of life will come together to recreate a modern version of an ancient journey in the hope of building a more equitable future. A two week long walk from London to Canterbury will culminate in a conference on social, economic and environmental justice.
Events held along the route will explore how local communities, faith communities, cooperatives, social organisations and individuals can identify common concerns and work together, reinventing the idea of civil society – the commons – as a potent force for social change. The Pilgrimage for Justice will be a highly visible statement of people’s determination to see a better, fairer society – and it will also provide a focus for exploring what that kind of society might look like, and the policy changes to propose for getting there.
Why now?
We are living in extraordinary times. 2011 saw a profusion of social movements emerge worldwide. In their variety, those movements had one thing in common: ordinary people congregating to rediscover a sense of community and determine real social needs. With economic conditions becoming more and more difficult for many people in the UK, the impulse to reconfigure society on more socially and economically equitable lines is not going to go away.
The Pilgrimage for Justice aims to harness this popular energy in a way that does more than direct attention to the problems – although we will provide an opportunity for individuals to talk about their personal stories, as the Pilgrimage will be listening to each town as we pass through. Our long walk is a journey in which all who take part will move out of their respective comfort zones and work together to identify real solutions. A transformative communal experience will feed into a final conference and – we hope – a consensus on social principles and policy proposals that will carry the debate forward beyond the Pilgrimage itself.
What will we do
Over the course of two weeks, a group of latter-day pilgrims will walk the distance from London to Canterbury. The route will be set out in a sequence of discrete legs, with potential participants invited to join either for the full walk, or at whichever point they prefer, or simply for a particular leg of the journey.
There will be overnight stops in which we will be inviting in local communities, with two nights each in the larger urban areas, and one night at each of the smaller towns en route. The Canterbury conference will take place over three days, with sessions for discussion being partly fed in through the Pilgrimage, but also with set sessions with academics, experts, social and economic policy makers and potentially politicians. St Paul’s Cathedral will be giving the Pilgrims a blessing when they set off and Canterbury Cathedral will host a welcome for us with a reception, and we will hold an Interfaith Service in the Chapter House the day after arrival. There will be a variety of means for people to participate, both on the ground and online, for those who cannot join us on the ground.
Who we are
Occupy Faith UK is an autonomous organisation that has an affinity with the global Occupy movement and functions also as a working group in Occupy London, as well as sharing links with Occupy Faith in the USA. We engage with the values that faith communities and those with other spiritual and political faith share in order to raise awareness of issues of social, economic and environmental injustice as they affect communities across the UK. We welcome collaboration and are proud that the Pilgrimage for Justice is also supported by many organisations, including faith and campaigning organisations working on social and economic justice, including Zacchaeus Trust, Taxpayers Against Poverty, Jubilee Debt Campaign, CAMPACC, Churches Against Poverty, Justice and Peace (Diocese of Westminster), BARAC, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (Diocese of Southwark), and Canterbury Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral, United Reformed Church Wales, Ekklesia, The Quaker’s and many more who are supportive of this initiative.
What we need
Occupy Faith UK and the Pilgrimage for Justice have come about in the last four months, and what we are attempting is a new and refreshing means by which to both build community cohesion through engaging with local communities en route, as well as to seek an equitable future for all, through potential policy proposals through the “Building a Just Society” conference. The Pilgrimage for Justice is in need of funding.
Occupy Faith UK has dedicated people, a route and locations to stay along the way. What we need most of all to put on the Pilgrimage for Justice is funding or support en route. This does not have to break the bank, but we need individuals and charitable bodies to donate to help us to fund the Pilgrimage. As a charity, we are able to receive donations and can also receive online donations through the website.
What Pilgrims will need:
- good pair of walking shoes (not brand new)
- tent
- sleeping bag
- waterproof clothing
- lots of underwear, not much clothes
- sunscreen
- plasters (for feet!)
- personal medication
- toiletries
- sense of humour
- faith in a better society
- always carry a towel with you
- backpack to carry it all in!
Our core needs for the Pilgrimage are:
- Locations for us to camp (Churches that may have a little land or even letting us stay inside the Churches/Church halls)
- Host communities to help feed the Pilgrims
- Facilities where we can use toilets, washing facilities, get fresh water
- Vehicle support for carrying equipment
- Volunteers to help set up tents and clean up after Pilgrims leave to next town
- Food and water, Tea and coffee
- First Aid volunteers and first aid boxes
- High Vis Steward vests
The route for the Pilgrimage:
Start: 7 June - St Paul’s
Walk to Blackheath 6-7 miles
St Paul’s
Cheapside
Poultry
Lombard street
King William Street
London Brigade
Tooley Street
Jamaica Road
Lower Road
Evelyn Street
Creek Road
Evelyn Street (again)
Stockwell Street
Croom’s Hill
General Wolfe Road
and onto the heath at Blackheath.
Arrive: 7 June - Blackheath (2 nights)
Leave: 9 June – Walk to Dartford Heath 8-9 miles
east away from the heath at blackheath
s row
kidbrooke gardens
westbrook road
kidbrooke park road (A2213)
kidbrooke way
rochester way
well hall road
eltham high street
bexley road (A210)
blackfen road (A210)
blendon road (B2210)
bridgen road (B2210)
parkhill road
A222
bexley high street
A223 (bexley high street)
vicarage road (A2018)
dartford road (A2018)
old bexley lane (A2018)
oakfield lane
heath lane
dartford heath
Arrive: 9 June - Dartford Heath (2 nights)
Leave: 11 June – Walk to Gravesend 8+ miles
Dartford Heath
Oakfield Lane, then right at
Hawley Road and left into
Parsonage Road
Darenth
Darenth Hill, then right onto
Lane End (B260), then fork left into
Green Street Green (B262)
Sandbanks Hill (B262)
Betsham Road (B262)
Station Road
Hall Road
Earl Road
Perry Street
Pelham Road S, then at the double roundabout take the right exits onto
Old Road W (B261), then left into
Windmill Street then, right into
Lord Street and left onto the
A226 and follow it round into
Milton road (A226), straight on at
Berkley Crescent, back onto
Milton Road (A226) and keep on it until on the right
Eellerslie, leading into
Donald Biggs Drive
Arrive: 11 June - Gravesend (2 nights)
Leave: 13 June – Walk to Rochester About 6 miles
North out of Donald Biggs Drive and walk right, into
Milton Road (A226)
E. Milton Road (A226)
Rochester Road (A226)
Gravesend Road (A226)
Once you reach the junction with the A2 at
Watling Street, go left onto A2
London Road (A2)
Strood High Street and follow the A2, over
Rochester Bridge and into
Rochester High Street
Eastgate
Star Hill
Delce Road
Arrive: 13 June - Rochester (2 nights)
Leave: 15 June – Walk to Newington About 8 miles
Delce Road
Ross Street
City Way (A229)
New Road (A2)
New Road Avenue (A2)
New Road (A2)
Chatham Hill (A2)
Rainham Road (A2)
Watling Street (A2)
Sovereign Blvd (A2)
London Road (A2)
Rainham High Street (A2)
Moor Street (A2)
London Road (A2)
Newington High Street (A2)
Arrive: 15 June - Newington (2 nights)
A film viewing followed by a discussion with the local community at Newington
Leave: 17 June Walk to Bapchild/Templeton About 6 miles
Newington High Street (A2)
Keycol Hill (A2)
Key Street (A2)
Chalkwell
London Road (A2)
West Street, Sittingbourne (A2)
High Street
East Street
Canterbury Road (A2)
Bapchild
Fox Hill (A2)
The Street (A2)
Panteny Lane
Randle Way
Arrive: 17 June - Bapchild/Templeton (1 night)
Leave 18 June: Walk to Faversham About 6 miles
Arrive: 18 June - Faversham (1 night)
Leave: 19 June – Walk to Canterbury via Chartham Hatch 8 miles
A2 towards canterbury
canterbury road (A2)
london road (A2), then at the boughton bypass roundabout, go straight over, veering off the A2 and walking onto
canterbury road
boughton street
stocker’s hill
the street
staplestreet road
dawes road
hollyhill road
blean wood
Communities hosting the Pilgrims:
St Paul’s Cathedral will give a blessing to the Pilgrims before we set off.
Shri Guru Nanak Darbar Gudwara are graciously hosting a dinner for the Pilgrims at Gravesend.
Christchurch Chrurch in Gravesend will host a discussion with the Bishop of Rochester attending.
Canterbury Cathedral will be hosting an interfaith reception service in the Chapter House.
Strategic Plans:
Since the distance, stamina and strength required for this pilgrimage may be beyond the physical capabilities of some that wish to participate, it should be open for people to join in on any particular leg of the pilgrimage. There is increasing marginalisation of different communities and social groups within the UK, and this is a means by which to bring diverse groups of people together.
Some will wish to undertake the full pilgrimage and conference, some may wish to only undertake only part of the journey, and some of the public participation may be only in the conference. It will be clarified that both the conference and pilgrimage are open to the public at no charge, but donations will be welcomed. Both the Pilgrimage for Justice and the conference will be inviting people to participate from all backgrounds, those of faith and no faith.
A concerted effort will be made to encourage local faith communities to participate in their areas in the overnight stops for discussions, debates, teach-in and in public general assemblies. In addition, there will be a special effort to communicate to both faith and non-faith communities to become involved as part of this pilgrimage. There is a chance to engage the general public who are not in the local communities or participating pilgrims to join in with the public general assemblies.
Reasons for undertaking the Pilgrimage:
People undertaking a pilgrimage often do so at times of personal difficulty, crisis or transition, and they see pilgrimage as an opportunity for reflection and inspiration as they begin a new chapter of their lives. We are seeking a new chapter for our society, a place in which we can turn away from consumerism and apathy to valuing people over profit. The pilgrimage offers the chance for individuals to undertake this transforming journey. The pilgrimage symbolises something passionate, and since cathedrals have traditionally been places that people gather, it has symbolic strength in the pilgrimage starting and ending at cathedrals.
In undertaking a Pilgrimage for Justice, there is an opportunity for the pilgrims to reflect on their accountability and responsibility in, and also as consumers of, the existing system. Pilgrimage is an excellent way of improving relations between different age groups, backgrounds and beliefs, and offers an opportunity to find what we have in common as diverse groups. The Pilgrimage will show a different way of living and creating community spirit, so that the people can develop practices of community living. The listening dimension of the pilgrimage is important, as it is about sharing stories and gathering data for the conference feed in. The pilgrimage will seek to find new and interesting ways to get the people that the pilgrims come into contact with, to think about capitalism and how it shapes their lives.
As they pass through towns and villages, and through the overnight camping stops, the pilgrims will be able to engage in discussion, debate, reflection and conversation with members of the local communities, visitors and the other pilgrims sharing their journey. This will allow for discussion on real issues affecting our world today and through the general assemblies, allow for those whose voices are perhaps never heard to have a chance to be heard. The Pilgrimage for Justice will attempt to be a platform to highlight the problems that need systemic change in order to resolve the iniquities and inequalities that dominate the current system. Pilgrims will be encouraged to have banners relating to issues they wish to raise, and to rediscover the historical, spiritual and political significance of the towns and villages they pass through and stop at overnight. An effort will be made to get people interested in their environment, history and how injustice affects the structure of local society through to the wider world, so that people not only understand and embrace their responsibilities, but become the trustees of a better future for all.
Aims
The aim of the pilgrimage is to engage the public and local communities in becoming actively involved in understanding and sharing practices of civic deliberation of issues affecting all communities in the UK and beyond in relating to poverty, social, economic and environmental injustice and inequality, that is being propagated by government, banks and corporations in the currently unsustainable and undemocratic system.
Objectives
By the end of the Pilgrimage for Justice:
Participants should have a better knowledge of many of the current issues that affect local communities regarding poverty, and especially specific aspects of economic injustice directly linked to the City of London, Corporations, the British banking system, and be able to link these to global issues.
Local communities and participants contributing to debates and discussions will gain knowledge and understanding and, by being able to hear expert speakers of all beliefs and none. In addition, they will have the opportunity to have their voices heard, through joining in teach-in sessions and by participation in general assemblies.
General assemblies will enable people to think about their accountability and responsibility within not only their own communities, but also in civil society. These general assemblies will also feed into the conference, Building a Just Society.
We are also hoping to build a social network in collaboration with the Kent Enterprise Hub, with the ambitious goal of promoting grass roots positive social change. As well as working on an album sourced by artists local to Canterbury to raise funds for a food redistribution project in Canterbury.
Hazel Lamb
Hi! I should love to join you but I have to work Mon-Fri. Why are you not walking at weekends? This could alienate ordinary working people from being identified with the cause!
Occupy Faith UK
Hi! Sorry you cannot join us for the whole journey but you are of course welcome to join us on the 8th to the 10th of June, or on the 15th to 17th June, for the pilgrimage. The final days of the conference on the 22nd and 23rd
Keith Tyrrell
Hi! Good luck with your pilgrimage. I’m not sure I can join you but having done the Camino de Santiago in Spain twice (2 x 500 miles) I can maybe help with advice on how people should prepare and what to take. I wasn’t an experienced hiker before my pilgrimages so I advise people from the level of a novice upwards. If I can help, just let me know. Buen Camino! Keith
Amanda Lane
I am a member of the church of St Mary’s at Newington and wondered what kind of support you might be looking for when you are in Newington? Do you have anywhere to stay/arrangements for hospitality?
Occupy Faith UK
we’ll be in touch
Occupy Faith UK
Hi Amanda, thanks for your offer of support. We would really appreciate any support available at Newington in terms of an open space for community discussion, facilities to help us clean ourselves, rest, or eat. Please email occupyfaithuk@gmail.com if you think you can help. Love
Tony Robertson
Heard of this first from Ciaron O’Reilly. Have posted it on my blog and wondering how those of us in other countries can support this pilgrimage in local solidarity?
Occupy Faith UK
By donating or publicising our website!
John Courtneidge
I hope to walk and be part of the debate at Canterbury. If any would like to see to see the intersection of my Quaker faith and practice as a co-operative socialist, please see the collection of papers as a PDF ‘The Kingdom of Heaven – by Tuesday’ by Googling wholosophy at the Network Project web-site. God in the creation is crying out for this Occupy Faith work – and my thanks for it!
Occupy Faith UK
Be a pleasure to walk and talk with you.
John Sloboda
This is a wonderful and much needed initiative. As a Londoner I hope to participate in some way on June 7th, and have told all my Kent-based contacts.
Occupy Faith UK
Thankyou for the support. Really appreciated.
@alex_charnley
What a brilliant idea! This is exactly the kind of dynamic outreach initiative Occupy has been crying out for. Unfortunately I can’t participate, but I will follow and share your progress! All the best.
michael perry
Hi Occupy,Can you let me know what time people are meeting to start on the 7th. Due to
committments I hope to come and go on the
pilgrimage.
Occupy Joy,
Michael.
Occupy Faith UK
We will be blessed by St Paul’s at 1pm so encouraging attendance from 12.30. Thankyou for your interest.
Fran Hicks
What a brilliant initiative! Alas I am committed date wise or I would join you. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Fran
Muzammal
Fantastic initiative! I’m keen to attend the walk on Sat 9th (Blackheath to Dartford Heath). Would you be able to confirm what time the group intends to begin this leg of the journey? Thanks.
Occupy Faith UK
Early afternoon I imagine, as best as these things can be planned!
Katharine Harrison
For anyone who’s wavering about whether to come or not- There will be space in my car from Blackheath onwards for anything you can’t carry. (Well, maybe not anything- You might have to leave the sofa behind. But quite a lot of space.)