28 Apr 2025
St Albans Cathedral will be one of the stops on an epic 2,000 miles cycle around all 42 of the English Anglican cathedrals – with a cello.
But Kenneth Wilson, 66, is not just embarking on a bike ride. It’s also a pilgrimage, in the ancient tradition of Christian journeying, and it’s a concert tour, as Kenneth will be giving a performance of a specially-written Meditation in 40 of the 42 cathedrals.
Pilgrim Cello starts on May 18, and he will be performing in St Albans Cathedral on June 5 at 6.30pm.
The Meditation is a moving evocation of Jesus’s last hours on the cross, combining Kenneth’s short poems with the timeless solo cello music of Bach.
“It’s more than a religious work, though,” Kenneth explains. “The Meditation offers music and poetry that has meaning well beyond that. Even if you’ve never been in a cathedral before, I hope the Meditation – as well as the journey – will speak to you!”
The Very Reverend Jo Kelly-Moore, Dean of St Albans, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kenneth Wilson to St Albans Cathedral as part of his extraordinary Pilgrim Cello journey. His combination of poetry, music, and pilgrimage speaks deeply to the spirit of this sacred place, which has drawn pilgrims for centuries. Kenneth’s performance will offer a unique and moving reflection on faith, creativity, and resilience – and we look forward to sharing this moment of stillness and inspiration with all who attend.”
Three years ago Kenneth cycled, with his cello, from Hadrian’s Wall to Rome. On that journey he performed in tents, in halls, in the open on the highest paved road over the Alps, and at the Musei Capitolini in Rome, prompting a book, Highway Cello, about that journey.
Find out more at www.kennethwilsoncello.com/pilgrim-cello/
